Two Senior Home Ministry Officials Transferred Amid ID Card Dispute

Two senior officials at Nepal’s Home Ministry have been transferred amid a dispute over the procurement of an Automatic Biometric Identification System (ABIS) for the country’s national ID card project.

According to sources, the transfers of Kaliprasad Parajuli and Suman Ghimire, both joint secretaries at the Home Ministry, were made without their knowledge or consent.

Parajuli, who was in charge of the ministry’s administration department, and Ghimire, who headed the policy, planning, and monitoring department, were transferred on August 13.

The transfers have been described as unusual by ministry officials, who say that the two departments are now without leadership.

The dispute centers around a contract with the French company, IDEMIA, to supply the ABIS for the national ID card project.

IDEMIA was selected as the supplier in 2018, but the contract has been delayed due to various reasons, including a dispute over the price.

The government has decided to proceed with the contract through a government-to-government (G2G) agreement, but the process has been slow.

The national ID card project has been delayed several times, and the latest development has raised concerns about the project’s future.

The Home Ministry has said that it will soon appoint new heads for the two departments, but the delay has raised questions about the government’s commitment to the project.

The national ID card project is seen as a crucial step towards modernizing Nepal’s identity management system and improving public services.

The project aims to provide a unique ID number to every citizen, which can be used to access various public services, including healthcare, education, and social security.

The delay in the project has been attributed to various factors, including a lack of coordination between government agencies and a shortage of funds.

The government has said that it is committed to completing the project, but the latest development has raised concerns about the project’s timeline.