Nepali Congress pushes government service reform agenda featuring ‘One Citizen, One ID’

KATHMANDU: As the House of Representatives election approaches, Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has advanced an ambitious public service reform agenda, placing administrative efficiency, digital governance, and citizen dignity at the center of his political platform.

In a video message posted on Facebook on Wednesday, Thapa highlighted the persistent hardships citizens face when dealing with government offices, describing the current service delivery system as fragmented, cumbersome, and outdated.

He pointed to long queues and procedural hurdles at land revenue and survey offices, passport departments, driving license offices, and universities. According to Thapa, citizens are still frequently sent back due to “incomplete documents,” unclear procedures, and, in some cases, the expectation of extra unofficial payments. While acknowledging that some improvements have been made in recent years, he said the overall system remains structurally inefficient.

Thapa recalled that during his tenure at the Ministry of Health, the “Smart Health” program produced some positive outcomes, but he stressed that technology alone cannot solve governance problems. The core issue, he argued, is the lack of coordination among government agencies, with institutions developing systems in isolation rather than working within an integrated national framework.

“Minimum Government Bodies, Maximum Governance”

Thapa introduced the concept of “Minimum Government Bodies, Maximum Governance,” aimed at streamlining administrative structures while strengthening service delivery capacity. The goal, he said, is to shift from a bureaucracy-centered model to a citizen-centered model.

“Citizens should not have to run from office to office to access services. The government must reach people at their doorsteps. Even if physical presence is required, it should be only once. People should leave government offices saying ‘thank you, government,’ not ‘shame on the government,’” he said.

‘One Citizen, One ID’ Principle

A central pillar of his reform proposal is the implementation of a “One Citizen, One ID” system. Thapa said the National Identity Card would serve as the primary authentication tool across public services, reducing duplication and identity verification bottlenecks.

He proposed establishing a government data exchange platform to ensure interoperability among different state systems, enabling secure and seamless sharing of verified data between agencies.

‘Once Only’ Rule and Legal Recognition of Digital Documents

Thapa also outlined the adoption of the “Once Only” principle, under which citizens would not be required to repeatedly submit the same personal information to multiple government offices. Data provided once would be reused across services through integrated digital systems.

He further emphasized the need for legal reforms to allow the full use of digital documents in official processes, reducing reliance on physical paperwork.

Blockchain, Cybersecurity, and Inclusion

In a bid to improve transparency and accountability, Thapa proposed making government decisions and transactions traceable through blockchain-based systems. He linked cybersecurity to national security, underscoring the need for robust digital protection frameworks as public services become increasingly digitized.

At the same time, he stressed that digital transformation must be inclusive. Plans include establishing Digital Citizen Service Centers for those lacking digital access and using alternative channels, such as postal networks, in areas without reliable internet connectivity.

Governance as a Matter of Dignity

Thapa clarified that his campaign is not merely about technology but about restoring dignity to citizens. Accessing public services, he said, is a right of citizens, while delivering those services efficiently is the duty of the state.

With these proposals, Thapa signaled that public service reform and digital state restructuring will be key pillars of his platform as he heads toward the upcoming parliamentary elections.