Key Takeaways:

• Bajura residents can now obtain district recommendations through ward offices
• Online system has reduced journeys that previously took up to a week
• Remote wards without road access are among the main beneficiaries
• Initiative aims to make public services faster simpler and technology-friendly

BAJURA, NOVEMBER 1 Residents of some of Bajura's most remote settlements no longer need to spend days travelling to the district headquarters for routine administrative recommendations, after the District Administration Office introduced an online service through ward offices. The system, launched about a month ago, is transforming access to public services in a district where difficult terrain and the absence of roads have long forced citizens to undertake costly and time-consuming journeys to Martadi for basic paperwork. Under the new arrangement, residents submit applications and supporting documents at their local ward offices. The ward offices complete the required verification process and forward the documents electronically to the District Administration Office. Once approved, the recommendations are sent back digitally to the ward offices for delivery to applicants. Chief District Officer Muktiram Rijal, who initiated the service after assuming office, said the objective was to make government services simpler, faster and more accessible through the use of technology. The change has been particularly significant for residents of remote northern settlements. Previously, some residents spent up to a week travelling to the district headquarters to obtain routine recommendations related to disadvantaged groups, Indigenous communities, Khas Arya and Dalit certifications, among other services. Mangal Bahadur Budha, ward chair of Himali Rural Municipality-3, said residents who once needed several days to complete administrative work can now receive services within about an hour through their local ward office. The online facility has also benefited residents of four wards in Himali Rural Municipality that still lack road access. Rural municipality chair Gobindra Bahadur Malla said the service has reduced both travel expenses and the burden on citizens seeking official documents. Officials say the initiative reflects a broader effort to modernise public administration and improve service delivery in remote regions by making greater use of available technology rather than relying solely on traditional procedures. For a district where geography has often limited access to government services, the system is being viewed as a practical example of how digital tools can bridge the gap between citizens and the state.