On Friday, a government mobile camp which reached out Kattike town just near her village provided her with the citizenship card. "They came by themselves and gave this," a delighted Dong said showing her citizenship card. "Now, I will also get facilities like other earthquake victims."
Soon after she was provided with the citizenship, the mobile team also registered her name for social security fund. "Earlier, nobody told me such facilities are there for us, now due to this citizenship I'm getting all this," she beamed with happiness. Even to reach the spot, Dong had to walk for four hours but she did not mind walking the stretch.
On Friday's integrated mobile camp, 15 several government offices had provided services to locals. People from several remote villages Gumba, Golche, Selang and Pangtang, among others, which are also called 'Karnali of Sindhupalchowk' benefited from the camp. As per the record, over 2500 people, most of who were from Tamang community got several types of services from the offices.
"We selected the most remote villages for the mobile service. Marginalized and poor communities have benefited, this was our aim," said Gorkarna Mani Duwadi, Chief District Officer of Sindhupalchowk. Even though the government had ordered for such camp much earlier, several hurdles had delayed it so far, he informed.
Apart from the administration office, offices of election commission, health, agriculture, woman and children department, education, telecommunication and drinking water, among others had provided service from the same mobile camp. Two hundred and eight people were reported to have made citizenship at the mobile camp. Similarly, 18 people were provided identity card as differently-abled persons, while seven received elderly identity cards.
Office of election commission collected name and photograph of 223 voting candidates. Education office provided education materials to 10 different schools. Veterinary office also provided health care to 2711 cattle of 135 families. District Agricultural Office provided seeds of seasonal and off-season vegetable seeds as well as pesticides to the people. Nepal Telecom sold 59 set of SIM card and balance recharge cards. Several administrative works were done for the attendees.
District Health Office and a team of Nepal Army jointly carried out health camp on Friday. Twenty eight pregnant women did their video x-ray at the camp. Similarly, DSP Bishwo Adhikari accessed information on security situation of surrounding villages and also provided counseling to 200 policemen.
Participants at the camp were delighted with the services and some said that the services would have benefited much more if they were availed earlier. They said that due to remoteness they have been deprived of access to such services and availing them on a periodic basis, around six months, would benefit the populace much more.
Kattike village is connected to the highway through a gravel road. However, during monsoon, vehicles do not ply in the road. Due to its remoteness, the villagers generally remain deprived of government services. More so, in case of those who cannot afford to come to headquarters due to poor health or financial condition. According to Adhikari, the lack of transportation service has cut off several villages from the town or headquarters.
According to the elderly woman Dong, it is not possible for aged people to reach out to even nearest village, let alone headquarters. Had there been no mobile service, she would never have acquired citizenship and the state facilities that a citizenship card holder is entitled to. Some villagers complained that they need to spare around 10 days at least for even making a simple official document. And if they have to live in the headquarters for some days the costs are way above most of their budget. Post Gorkha earthquake, situation in entire Sindhupalchowk is worse.
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