Residents of four rural municipalities in the central and southern parts of Humla have said they are facing difficulties accessing various government services as they have not received their National Identity Card (National ID) numbers even after more than two months since registering their details.
Citizens of Sarkegad, Chankheli, Adanchuli, and Tajakot rural municipalities said they registered their details for the National Identity Card at the Area Administration Office in Sarkegad but have yet to receive their National ID numbers. According to them, this has directly affected access to services where the National ID number is mandatory, including passports, social security allowances, banking services, and government subsidies.
Ambika Jaisi of Darma village, Ward No. 2 of Chankheli Rural Municipality, registered her application for a National Identity Card at the Area Administration Office in Sarkegad on May 31, 2026. However, she said she has not received her National ID number even after more than two months since submitting the application.
“We were told the number would be issued soon after registration, but no information has been received so far,” she said. “I have had to repeatedly contact the concerned office.”
Residents here have said they are compelled to travel to the district headquarters or the Area Administration Office even to obtain basic information. They said transportation costs, time, and financial expenses have added to their hardship. According to locals, the limited access to internet and communication services in rural areas has also made it difficult to obtain information related to the National Identity Card.
Some service recipients said they have been unable to access essential government services due to the absence of a National ID number. Jay Bahadur Sira, Ward Chairperson of Ward No. 2 of Chankheli Rural Municipality, said thousands of citizens in rural areas have been suffering due to ineffective service delivery.
According to him, between 20 and 25 people from his ward alone are facing the problem. He said citizens who registered their details during the National Identity Card mobile registration campaign conducted by the Humla District Administration Office in villages during Ashoj–Kartik last year have been facing even greater difficulties.
Ward Chairperson Sira urged the government to make the process of issuing National ID numbers after registration faster and more effective. Service recipients have also demanded an end to the delays and easier access to services for citizens in remote districts.
Ghaman Singh Rawat, Chief of the Area Administration Office in Sarkegad, said delays in service delivery occur because the office does not have an online system.
According to him, the office collects applicants’ details offline for up to one month. The records are then sent to the District Administration Office in Simkot, Humla, where they are entered into the online system. Once the process is completed, the National ID number is generally issued within two weeks, he said.
According to Chief Rawat, problems also arose during last year’s mobile registration campaign because some applicants had incomplete documents, had not registered their mobile phone numbers, or were unable to receive the OTP (one-time password) verification code.