KATHMANDU, Jan 6: As per the commitment expressed in the annual budget speech in July, the cabinet on Wednesday endorsed a plan to introduce Smart Cards (National Identity Cards) and new electoral roll with voters´ photographs, fingerprints and digital signatures. [break]
According to the cabinet decision, the electronic Smart Cards will include photographs and bio-metric data of the card holders.
“The government will start introducing the Smart Cards after the completion of work on the new electoral roll to be developed electronically with photo and fingerprints of eligible voters,” government spokesperson and Minister Minister for Information and Communications Shankar Pokharel said.
According to government plan, the Smart Cards can be used as an alternative to the existing citizenship card. Those 16 years old or above will be eligible for such cards.
“The details and documents needed for electoral roll and Smart Cards are similar. Therefore, the government has decided to introduce the cards in coordination with the ministries concerned and the EC,” reads the cabinet decision.
The card, which will gradually replace the traditional citizenship cards, will be machine-readable, similar to an ATM card. Details collected by the Election Commission will be used by the government officials while developing Smart Cards.
“Data and other particulars collected for the electoral roll will be helpful in developing the Smart Cards," said Neel Kantha Uprety, Officiating Chief Election Commissioner.
According to Uprety, the new electoral roll is expected to be helpful in minimizing bogus voting.
The EC has made necessary preparations to launch a pilot project for the new electoral roll. The present electoral roll has only the voters´ names and addresses.
If implemented, Nepal will be the third country in South Asia to introduce electoral roll with voters´ pictures, fingerprints and digital signatures. India and Bangladesh have already introduced such electoral rolls.
“An electronically-processed electoral roll will be more reliable, authentic and credible," said Uprety.
Budget for House committee
The cabinet decided to provide budgetary support to a sub-committee formed to probe into the scam related to procurement of Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) by Nepal Police for its personnel deployed in UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan. Constituent Assembly Member Pradip Gyawali will led the probe committee.
NA honor for Kapoor
The cabinet meeting also decided to confer the title of honorary general of the Nepal Army on Indian Army Chief Deepak Kapoor during his upcoming visit.
Nod to Industrial Policy
The Cabinet also approved Industrial Policy-2066 and forwarded it to the Committee on Finance and Infrastructure of the cabinet and decided to forward a bill on Administrative Court to the bill committee of the cabinet.
The cabinet also decided to constitute a Foreign Employment Tribunal.