Kathmandu: Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak has expressed confidence that the Nepal Citizenship (Second Amendment) Bill-2081 will address long-standing issues faced by Nepali citizens in acquiring citizenship identity cards.

Responding to queries in the House of Representatives on Sunday, Minister Lekhak emphasized that the Bill was designed to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles and resolve gender-based discrimination in the citizenship process.

Ensuring Equal Rights for Women
Lekhak highlighted the gender disparity in the current system, where a father’s presence or identity is required for citizenship issuance, but a mother’s credentials alone are not deemed sufficient.

"It is imperative to ensure equal rights to women. A situation where a mother is not sought when a man applies for citizenship, but a father’s whereabouts are required when a woman applies, cannot be considered equal," he stated.

The Bill aims to streamline the citizenship issuance process and remove gender-based discrimination, ensuring that both parents hold equal status in legal documentation.

Next Steps and Government Priorities
Minister Lekhak assured that following the endorsement of the Bill, regulations, criteria, and procedures will be formulated immediately to ensure its smooth implementation.

He further emphasized that the government is committed to:

-Policy reforms for effective governance
-Enhancing public service delivery
-Promoting economic progress and prosperity
The Minister also reaffirmed that all existing legislation will be reviewed and amended as necessary to achieve these national goals.