birth and marriage registration in nepal -...

BIRTH AND MARRIAGE REGISTRATION IN NEPAL1

BIRTH AND MARRIAGE REGISTRATION IN NEPAL

Understanding Trends, Causes, Barriers and Impacts


Forum for Women, Law and Development(FWLD)

2018

Working for non-discrimination and equality

Publication No. 202


BIRTH AND MARRIAGE REGISTRATION IN NEPAL

Understanding Trends, Causes, Barriers and Impacts

2018


STUDY TEAM

LEAD RESEARCHERS• AdvocateSabinShrestha• AdvocateDechenLama

DEMOGRAPHER• Dr.BishnuDasSinghDangol

QUESTIONNAIRE AND DATA SYSTEM DEVELOPER• AdvocateSubinMulmi• AdvocateSarojBista

DATA ANALYST• YoungInnovation

DISTRICT ENUMERATORS• AdvocateBiddyaSapkota-Ilam• AdvocateBidurKumarLamichhane-

Solukhumbu• AdvocateDeviPrasadSharma-Mustang• Mr.DineshKumarNepali-Bajhang• AdvocateHareramPrasadSarraf-Parsa• AdvocateHariDuttaBhatta-Baitadi• Ms.JyotiK.C.Apagain-Dolakha• Mr.KamalBahadurBuda-Dolpa• AdvocateMadhabaSubedi-Pyuthan• AdvocateMeenaGiri-Morang• Ms.PoojaSubedi-Kathmandu• Ms.PratisthaAryal-Kathmandu• AdvocateRameshPrasadChaudhary-

Nawalparasi• Ms.SabitraGhimire-Kailali• AdvocateSaritaThapaBhandari-Tanahun

• AdvocateSunilShrestha-Banke


BACKGROUND

Article 39 of theConstitution of Nepal ensures the registration of every birth alongwith the identity.Vitalevents registration, significantly thebirthandmarriage registrationcertificateareconsideredasoneoftheimportantdocumentstoacquirethecitizenshipcertificateinNepal.Infact,birthregistrationcertificateisamandatorydocumenttobesubmittedtotheschooladministrationwhileadmittingthechildattheschool.

FurthermoretheBirthRegistrationcertificateisconsideredasthefirstofficialdocumentthatacknowledgesthe existence of an individual and a document that recognizes an individual’s legal identitywhereasthe Marriage Registration certificate verifies and establishes the relationship between the couples.Consideringthesignificanceofthebirthandmarriageregistrationcertificate,thestudywasconductedin 15 different districts ofNepal to assess the status of acquisition of birth andmarriage registrationcertificateandtoidentifythetrends,causes,barriersandimpactsoftheacquisitionofthesameinNepal.

The Forum forWomen, Law and Development (FWLD) in 2018 conducted a Legal Analysis of CivilRegistrationLawsofNepalthatcriticallyanalyzedthecivilregistrationlawsofNepalbyaddressingthegapsandweaknessesinthecivilregistrationlawsandrecommendedthepotentialpositivereformsinthe same.The LegalAnalysiswas very accommodating in assessing the causes andbarriers for theacquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificateinNepal.

METHODOLOGY

The research has appliedbothqualitative andquantitative study to extract thedata on thebirth andmarriageregistrationcertificateinthe15districtsofNepal.Ahouseholdsurveywasconductedinthe15districtswhereasthecasesonvitaleventregistrationfiledatDAOswerecollectedunderthequantitativemethods while the KII, FGD, Non-participatory Observation, Service Seeker’s Interview, Cross-CaseStudyandreflectionofenumeratorswerecollectedunderthequalitativemethodsofstudy.

Atotalof1,499householdscovering6786householdmembersweresurveyedinthe15districts.Inordertoensuretheproperrepresentationofthedistricts,thesurveywasconductedintwodifferentareas.ThefirstareawasattheMunicipalityorRuralMunicipalityadjoiningtheheadquarters(HQ)ofthedistrictandthesecondareawasanyMunicipalityorRuralMunicipalitynotadjoiningtoHQofthedistrict.SincetheBirth,DeathandPersonalEvents(Registration)Act1976wasimplementedgraduallystartingfromfewdistricts,theActbecameeffectivenationwideonlyfromApril14,1990.ThusthepersonbornafterApril14,1990hasbeenconsideredasaneligiblepopulationtoacquirethebirthregistrationcertificateforthisresearch.LikewisethepersonmarriedafterApril14,1990hasbeenconsideredaneligiblepopulationtoacquirethemarriageregistrationcertificateforthisresearch.

EXECUTIVESUMMARY


In total30FGDswereconducted in15districts.Outof30,15FGDswereconductedwith thepeoplewithoutbirthregistrationcertificatewhereas15FGDswereconductedwith theLocalRegistrarsof15districts. Similarly, 14 caseswerecollected fromDAOsof 4districts, 101KIIswerecollected from15districts,35differentwardofficesof15districtswereobserved,39serviceseekersof15districtswereinterviewedandaltogether28casestudiesfrom14districtswerecollected.

FINDINGS

TRENDS, CAUSES AND BARRIERS

The researchdemonstrates that therearestill 22.1percent (forbirth registrationcertificate)and22.4percentof(marriageregistrationcertificate)thetotaleligiblepopulationswithoutthebirthandmarriageregistrationcertificate.Thefindingsalsodemonstratethatthereisavisiblegapinthepossessionratiooftheacquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatebygender.

Withregardtothereasonsbehindbirthregistrationapplicationamongwhopossessthebirthregistrationcertificate(2703),44percentof thepopulationapplied for thebirthregistrationcertificate inorder togetadmittedat theschool.Thisclearlyportrays the requirementofbirth registrationcertificatewhileenrollingatschools.Majorityofthepeoplei.e.34.49percentoftheeligiblepopulationpossessmarriageregistrationcertificate(1938)statedthatreasonsforapplyingmarriageregistrationcertificateistolegallyverify therelationshipbetweenhusbandandwife.However theresearchdemonstrates that themajorreasonsbehindlackingbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificateareprimarilyduetotheunavailabilityofthenecessarydocumentsparticularlythecitizenshipcertificateofthefatherandthelackofassistancefromthefamilymembers.

AcquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatebyCasteandEthnicitywerealsoassessedwhichportrays that dalits are less likely to possess thebirth andmarriage registration certificate. SimilarlythepopulationsfromMountainsandHillsaremorelikelytopossessthebirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatethanthepopulationsofTeraiduetotheopenborderandthecrossculturalmarriagebetweentheNepali andNonNepali citizens.This findingwas accommodated by the persons involved in thefocusgroupdiscussionoftheTerairegion.Theoccupationalbackgroundwasalsoassessedinordertounderstandthetrendofacquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatewhichreflectsthatthat89.94percentoftheeligiblepopulationtoacquirethebirthregistrationcertificatearestudents.


Similarlytheresearchreflectsthatthestatusofdisabilitiescanbeanimpedingfactorfortheacquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatebecausethereisapalpablegapbetweentheacquisitionstatusofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatebythepersonswithdisabilitiesandtheoverallpossessionofthebirthandmarriageregistrationcertificate.TheresearchalsoindicatesavalidresultthatportraysthehigherrateofthepossessionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatebythepopulationwhocanbothunderstandandspeakNepalilanguagewhilethepeoplewhocouldnotdobothhasaleastpossessionrate.

IMPACTS

Ifaperson lackscivil registrationdocuments,s/he isdeprivedofvarioussocialsecuritybenefits.Theresearchindicatesthatmanyoftherespondentsarenotbeingabletoclaimthesocialsecurityallowancesandotherfacilitiesendowedbythegovernment,andtheyarenotbeingabletoopenabankaccount.Thecasesstudiescollectedportraythestoriesofthepeoplewhohavebeensufferingwithoutthecivilregistrationdocuments,mostimportantly,thebirthregistrationcertificateandthemarriageregistrationcertificate.

Inabilitytoadmitthechildrenatschoolsappendedbythecomplicationintheapplicationprocessofbirthregistrationcertificatewas repeatedlycited issues in theFocusedGroupDiscussionswhichwasalsosupplementedbytheHouseholdSurvey.

CONCLUSION

Article47oftheConstitutionofNepalenumeratestheenactmentoflegalprovisionsfortheimplementationof fundamental rights guaranteed under the constitutionwithin 3 years of the commencement of theconstitution.Bythis,NepalGovernmenthasanobligationtoreframeandbringaboutthepositivereformsin linewith the constitution in the Birth, Death andOther Personal Events (Registration)Act thatwasenactedin1976andtheRegulation1977.

The state accountability and themandatory family supportwhile registering the vital events shall beexplicitlymentionedintheActandtheRulesalongwiththepenalprovisionsforthefamilymemberswhodeniessupportingthepersonandalsotheauthoritywhodeniesregisteringthevitalevents.FurthermoretheActandRulesshallalsohaveanexplicitmentionofthereferralmechanismincaseofdenialandagrievancehandlingmechanismthatwouldaddresstheconcernsofthepeople.

Thereisastrongneedofinterventionbythegovernmentandadvocacybythecivilsocietiestoeradicatetheunnecessaryproceduralcomplicationfacedbythesinglewomenwhileregisteringthevitalevent,beitthebirthofherchildorthemarriageofherselforanyothervitalevents.TheActandRegulationshallendowtheregistrationofthestreetchildrenandtheorphanstopreventthemfrombeingidentityless.

Theresearch thusurges for thecomprehensive legal frameworkregarding theregistrationof thevitalevents that would embrace the letter and spirits of the international human rights instruments thatproclaimtomakethebirthregistrationuniversalirrespectiveofanygrounds.Andtomakethishappen,the government shall bring about the awareness raising campaigns to disseminate the importance/proceduresofvitaleventsregistration,developamechanismtoestablishaneasyaccesstotheregistrationalongwithcreatingandmaintainingthecomputerdatabasesandefficientdatamanagementsystem.


1. Acquisitionstatusofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificate........................................................... 10

2. Genderbreakdownofacquisitionstatusofbirthregistrationcertificate............................................. 11

3. Genderbreakdownofacquisitionstatusofmarriageregistrationcertificate..................................... 11

4. Statusofacquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatebyreligion........................................................... 12

5. Statusofacquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificatebyreligion................................................... 12

6. Acquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatebycasteandethnicity....................................................... 13

7. Acquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificatebycasteandethnicity............................................... 13

8. Acquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatebyoccupation.................................................................... 15

9. Acquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificatebyoccupation............................................................ 16

10.Acquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatebylevelofeducation......................................................... 18

11.Acquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificatebylevelofeducation................................................. 18

12.Acquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatebypersonswithdisabilities............................................... 19

13.Acquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificatebypersonswithdisabilities....................................... 20

14.AcquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatebyfluencyinNepalilanguage......................................... 20

15.AcquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificatebyfluencyinNepalilanguage................................. 21

16.Acquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatebygeographicalregion.................................................... 21

17.Acquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificatebygeographicalregion............................................ 22

18.Acquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatebygenderineachregion................................................. 23

19.Acquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificatebygenderineachregion......................................... 23

20. Reasonsforapplyingbirthregistrationcertificate................................................................................. 24

21. Reasonsforapplyingmarriageregistrationcertificate......................................................................... 25

22. Timingofregistrationofbirth.................................................................................................................... 26

23. Reasonsforneverapplyingbirthregistrationcertificate...................................................................... 27

24. Reasonsforneverapplyingmarriageregistrationcertificate............................................................... 30

25.Applicationofbirthregistrationcertificatebygender......................................................................... 32

26. TApplicationofmarriageregistrationcertificatebygender............................................................... 32

27.Outcomeoftheapplicationofbirthregistration..................................................................................... 33

28.Outcomeoftheapplicationofmarriageregistration............................................................................. 33

29. Reasonsfordenialofbirthregistrationcertificate.................................................................................. 33

30. Problemsfacedasaresultofnonacquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificate.................................... 36

31. Problemsfacedasaresultofnonacquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificate............................ 36

ListofGraphs


1. ADalitgirldeniedfromobtainingbirthregistrationcertificate......................................................... 14

2. Denialtoregisterthebirthofachildbornthroughtheearlymarriage............................................ 14

3. SimilarSituationDissimilarService........................................................................................................ 19

4. LocalRegistraraskstobringcitizenshipcertificateofhusbandwhileapplyingforbirth registrationofachildbornasaresultofrape...................................................................................... 26

5. Husband’scitizenshipdemandedtoregisterthebirth........................................................................ 29

6. Citizenshipofmothergoesunnoticed................................................................................................... 29

7. Singlemotherunabletoregisterthebirthofherson......................................................................... 29

8. Singlemothersuccessfullyregistersthebirthofherson................................................................... 29

9. Fatheraloneconvenientlyregistersthebirthofachild....................................................................... 30

10. Birthandmarriagecouldnotberegisteredduetotheunavailabilityofhusband’scitizenship certificate................................................................................................................................................... 30

11. Birthregistrationofaminorwhoseparentsaredeceased................................................................ 31

12. Denialtoregisterthebirthandearlymarriage................................................................................... 34

13. Deniedthebirthregistrationbytheauthority...................................................................................... 34

14. Deniedthebirthandmarriageregistrationbytheauthority............................................................. 35

15. Denialfromtheschooltogetenrolledduetolackofbirthcertificate.............................................. 37

16. TheLocalRegistrarregistersthebirthofapersonafteracceptingthegraftofrupees500.......... 38

ListofCaseStudies


CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

LIST OF GRAPHS

LIST OF CASE STUDIES

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1

1.BackgroundoftheStudy 1

2.ObjectiveoftheStudy 3

3.ResearchSite 3

4.MethodologyoftheStudy 5

5.DurationoftheStudy 9

6.ScopeandLimitation 9

CHAPTER 2: FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS 10

1.TrendsofAcquisitionofBirthandMarriageCertificates 10

2.CausesforApplyingBirthandMarriageRegistrationCertificate 23

3.BarriersforBirthandMarriageRegistrationCertificate 26

4.Impacts 35

CHAPTER 3: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 39

1.Conclusion 39

2.Recommnendations 40

ACRONYMS 43

Annexes 43

Annex1: DetailBreakdownofHousehold 44

Annex2: HouseholdSurveyQuestionnaire

FormA:GeneralHouseholdQuestionnaire 47

FormB:QuestionnairetobeaskedtopeoplewithoutBirth RegistrationCertificate 51

FormC:Questionnairetobeaskedtopeoplewithout

MarriageRegistrationCertificate 54 Annex3: QuestionfortheKeyInformants 57

Annex4: FocusedGroupDiscussion(FGD) 61

Annex5: QuestionsfortheServiceSeekers 63

Annex6: DataCollectionForm 66

Annex7: ObservationformoftheVitalRegistrationOffice 68

Annex8: FocusedGroupDiscussion(FGD) 71

Annex9: CodeofConductfortheResearchers 72


CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.BackgroundoftheStudy

CivilregistrationisdefinedbytheUnitedNationsas“universal,continuous,permanentandcompulsoryrecordingofvitaleventsprovidedthroughdecreeorregulationinaccordancewiththelegalrequirementsofeachcountry.”1Therearefourbasicprinciplesunderlyingthecivilregistrationsystemthatare:universalcoverage,continuity,confidentialityandregulardissemination.2

TheConstitutionofNepal2015states“Everychildshallhave theright tonameandbirthregistrationalongwithhis/heridentity”.3NepalratifiedtheConventionontheRightsoftheChild(CRC)onSeptember14,1990andCRCensuresthat“Thechildshallberegisteredimmediatelyafterbirthandshallhavetherightfrombirthtoaname,therighttoacquireanationalityandasfaraspossible,therighttoknowandbecaredforbyhisorherparents.”4

Startupofamodernanddatabasedvitaleventregistration(VERS)inNepaldatesbackto1950managedthroughtheTownPanchayatAct19505andVillagePanchayatAct1962.Duringtheperiod,thevitaleventsregistration and related taskswere limited to therecord keeping of the personal events than asregistration. Central Bureau of Statistics althoughconductedvitaleventsregistrationinsomeoftheVillage Panchayat units (lowest tier of the localgovernment) of Kathmandu valley during the60s,itcouldnotcontinuetheprocess.TheVillagePanchayatthroughtheVillagePanchayatAct,1962started to keep the record of birth, death andsimilareventswithintheregionwhichisconsideredasthefirstlegalprovisiontotrackthevitalevents.Similarly, in 1963, theCentral Bureauof Statisticsstartedtheregistrationofthepersonaleventsin3districts i.e.Kathmandu, Lalitpur andBhaktapur.Again in1971, theFamilyPlanningandMother-infantWelfarePlaninordertoevaluatethefamilyplanningprocessstartedtoregisterthepersonaleventsasasampleregistrationwhichwasdiscontinuedin1975.6

1. PrinciplesandRecommendationsforaVitalStatisticsSystem:Revision3;DepartmentofEconomicandSocialAffairsoftheUnitedNationsSecretariat,2014;p.65.

2. Ibid,at11.3. Article39(1)oftheConstitutionofNepal.4. Article7oftheConventionontheRightsoftheChild(CRC).5. Section34(g)oftheMunicipalPanchayatAct,1950.6. PersonalEventsRegistrationProgram,AnnualReport,Jan.18,2004;MinistryofLocalDevelopment

Bir

thM

arria

geDivorce

Incountry MigrationD

eath

Vital Events


Realizing the importance of Vital Events Registration, the Birth, Death and Other Personal Event(Registration)Actwasenactedin1976thatcoveredfiveeventsnamely,thebirth,death,marriage,divorceandincountrymigrationasthevitaleventstoberegisteredundertheAct.TheregistrationprovisionsoftheActinthedistrictscameintoforceinaphasewisemannerandittookalmost15yearstocoverthewholegeographicregionofthecountry.7

During the initial phase, theActwasbrought into enforcement in 10 districts ofNepal from 13April1977.8Similarly,theActwasbroughtintoenforcementin4districtsofNepalfrom15January,1979(Bara,Parsa,DhanusaandSunsari).Furthermore,theActwasenforcedatSirahadistrictinFebruary13,1979;atRupandehiandNawalparasi inMarch14,1979;at7districts (Chitwan,Makwanpur,Bardiya,Kailali,Kavrepalanchok, Kaski and Palpa) inApril 14, 1979; at 3 districts (Lalipur, Bhaktapur and Surkhet) inFebruary13,1980;atDanginMarch15,1980;at3districts(Tanahun,NuwakotandDhading)inDecember15,1980;at2districts(IlamandDhankuta)inJanuary14,1981;atJumlainMarch14,1981;atGorkhainNovember16,1981;atSindhuliandUdayapurinDecember16,1981,atSyangjainJanuary14,1982;atSindhupalchokinFebruary12,1982;atRasuwainMarch14,1982andfinallyat35districts9inApril14,1990.

CivilregistrationsystemofNepalrepresentskeyaspectsoflegalidentityofpersonsinthecountry.Legalidentityofpersonsoperatesunder abroad frameworkof theConstitutionandanumberof lawsandregulations.10InNepal,civilregistrationincludestheregistrationofbirth,marriages,divorce,deathsandin-countrymigration.Divorceisgivenlegaleffectbasedonacourtdecision.Occurrenceofanyofthepersonalevents (birth,death,marriage,divorceand in-countrymigration) is the fundamentalbasis tocreateorchangethelegalidentityorlegalstatusofapersoninNepal.

Civilregistrationdocumentssignificantlybirth,marriageandmigrationcertificatesarerequiredbasedontheperson’scircumstancesastheevidencetoapplyforacitizenshipcertificate.Lackingcivilregistrationdocuments,includingabirthcertificate,leadstoapersonbeingdeprivedofvariousstatebenefits,andacquiringacitizenshipcertificate,whichasaresultmayputapersonatriskofstatelessness.Inthecaseof children, the absenceof abirth certificateprecludes children fromobtaining various entitlements,includingchildgrants, enrolment in school, and to sit for theDistrict Level (Grade8) andSecondaryEducationExamination(SEE)(Grade10)examinations.

In2014,aMulti-ClusterSurveywasconductedbyUNICEFandtheCentralBureauofStatistics(CBS)oftheGovernmentofNepal.Thestudyfoundthatonly58.1%ofthetotalreportedbirthsareregistered.Thisincludeschildrenbelowtheageof5.11

NepalinNovember2014showeditsfirmcommitmentonUNESCAPministerialdeclarationforAsiaandthePacific towardsuniversal and responsivecivil registrationandvital statistics systems that facilitatethechildren’srealizationoftheirrightsandsupportgoodgovernanceanddevelopmentbythedecade(2015-24)-“GetEveryoneinthePicture.”12MostimportantlytheDoCRwasestablishedinOctober16,2014i.e.beforetheMinisterialDeclarationasperthedecisionoftheNepalGovernment.ThedepartmentofficiallycameintoforceinMarch25,2014withthemajordutyandresponsibilitytoregulateandmanage

7. BasantaRajGautam,CivilRegistrationandVitalStatistics:PolicyandPracticesinNepal,DirectorGeneral/Registrar,DepartmentofCivilRegistration,January2016,availableathttp://hidrnepal.com/images/publications/reports/crvs-in-nepal-5-jan-2016.pdf

8. TheseareJhapa,Rautahat,Morang,Kathmandu,Saptari,Kapilvastu,Mahottari,Banke,SarlahiandKanchanpur.9. ThesearePanchthar,Taplejung,Tehrathum,Bhojpur,Sankhuwasabha,Solukhumbu,Okhaldhunga,Khotang,Ramechhap,

Dolakha,Lamjung,Manang,Myagdi,Baglung,Parbat,Mustang,Arghankhachi,Gulmi,Phythan,Salyan,Rolpa,Rukum,Dolpa,Mugu,Humla,Kalikot,Jajarkot,Dailekh,Achham,Doti,Bajura,Bajhang,Darchula,BaitadiandDadeldhura.

10.Theselawsinclude:ConstitutionofNepal,2015;TheBirth,Death,andOtherPersonalEvents(Registration)Act,1976;TheBirth,Death,andOtherPersonalEvents(Registration)Regulations,1977;CitizenshipActandCitizenshipRegulation,2006;LocalSelfGovernanceAct,1999;ThePersonalEventsRegistrationDirectives,2013;CircularsandDirectivesissuedfromtimetotimebyGoNtoclarifyonunclearissuesofvitalregistration.

11. CBSandUNICEF,MultipleIndicatorClusterSurvey2014,Kathmandu(December2015),p.viiihttp://unicef.org.np/uploads/files/597341286609672028-final-report-nmics-2014-english.pdf


thevitalevents likebirth,death,marriage,divorceandincountrymigrationalongwiththeoperationalmanagementofsocialsecurityprogram.13

Previously, after theenactmentofBirth,DeathandOtherPersonalEvents (Registration)Act, 1976, theMinistryofHomeAffairshadresponsibilityforvitaleventsregistration.IthousedaseparatedepartmentallevelOfficeofRegistraratthecentrallevel.Atthedistrictlevel,theDistrictAdministrativeOfficesusedtomobilizetheVillageDevelopmentCommitteesecretariesforbirthregistration.Since1994,however,central level responsibility has been transferred to the Ministry of Local Development, which has aseparatePopulationandRegistrationManagementSection.14Underthechange,adepartmentlevelofficebecamedownsizedtoaSectionleveloffice.Thisdownsizingreflectsthegovernment’slackofhigh-levelinterestinthismatter.

TheDoCRthatwasestablishedin2014whichwasundertheMoFAGAhasbeenrecentlyrestructuredintoMinistryofNationalIdentityCardandCivilRegistrationundertheMoHA.

Additionally,TargetofSDG16.9aimstoensurethelegal identityforall, includingbirthregistrationby2030.Accordingly, theNPChasendorsed“Proportionof childrenunder5yearsof agewhosebirthshavebeenregisteredwithacivilauthority,byage,”undertheirStatusandRoadmapofSDGasoneoftheindicatorsunderTarget16.9oftheSDGs.15

With the growing interest in civil registration in Nepal and the utmost importance of the registrationcertificates,FWLDdecidedtoconductaresearchtostudytrends,causesandbarriersofcivilregistration,inparticularonbirthandmarriageregistration inNepal.ThisStudyispreparedinparallel toanotherstudy that hasanalyzed the legalprovisionsoncivil registration.16 Both the studieswillbehelpful fornecessarylegalreformsoncivilregistrationinNepal.

2.ObjectiveoftheStudy

Theoverallobjectiveofthestudyistounderstandthetrends,causesandbarriersofregisteringbirthandmarriageinNepalaswellasimpactsoflackingofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificates.Specificobjectivesofthestudyare:

• To findout the statusof acquisitionofbirth andmarriage registration certificateswithpresentdemographicbreakdown

• Toidentifythetrends,causes,barriersandimpactsthatpreventorrestrictacquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrations

• Tostudytheimpactsoflackingofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificates

• Tosuggestrecommendationsfornecessaryreformsinthelawsandprocedures.

3.ResearchSite

Tomaketheresearchfornational indicative,researchsiteswerepurposivelyselectedthatreflectstheentirecountry.Fifteendistrictswereidentifiedtoconducttheresearchbasedonthefollowingfactors:-

• Thethreegeographicdivisions(Mountain,HillandTerai)

• Thesevenprovinces

• Thefivedevelopmentregions

12. http://getinthepicture.org/sites/default/files/resources/Ministerial.Declaration.English.final__0.pdfhttp://www.unescap.org/news/asia-pacific-governments-declare-decade-action-achieve-universal-civil-registration

13. http://www.docr.gov.np/14 CabinetDecisionofNovember11,2002;15. GovernmentofNepal,NationalPlanningCommission,SustainableDevelopmentGoals,StatusandRoadmap:2016-2030,

December2017.http://128.199.69.221:4444/media/resources/items/19/bSDG_Report_final_version.pdf16. LegalAnalysisofCivilRegistrationLawsofNepal,FWLD,2018


SN District DevelopmentRegion

Zone GeographicDivision

Province

1 Ilam Eastern Mechi Hilly 1

2 Morang Eastern Koshi Terai 1

3 Solukhumbu Eastern Sagarmatha Mountain 1

4 Dolakha Central Janakpur Mountain 3

5 Kathmandu Central Bagmati Hilly 3

6 Parsa Central Narayani Terai 2

7 Tanahu Western Gandaki Hilly Gandaki

8 Nawalparasi Western Lumbini Terai Gandaki/5

9 Mustang Western Dhaulagiri Mountain Gandaki

10 Dolpa Mid-Western Karnali Mountain Karnali

11 Pyuthan Mid-Western Rapti Hilly 5

12 Banke Mid-Western Bheri Terai 5

13 Kailali Far-Western Seti Terai SudurPaschim

14 Bajhang Far-Western Seti Mountain SudurPaschim

15 Baitadi Far-Western Mahakali Hilly SudurPaschim

Table

k;f{

Ilam

Province 1

Province 2

Province 3

Gandaki Province

Province 5

Karnali Province

Sudur Paschim Province

Mor

ang

Solukh

umbu

Parsa

Dolakha

Kathm

andu

Tanahun

Nawalparasi

Mustang

Dolpa

PyuthanBanke

Bajhang

Baitadi

Kailali

Asshowninthetablebelow,eachdevelopmentregionisrepresentedbythreedistricts.All thefifteendistricts uniformly represent the three geographic divisions. All the seven provinces have also beenrepresented.


4.MethodologyoftheStudy

The studyhasemployedbothqualitative andquantitativemethodsof research.Thevariousmethodsof researchhavebeenappliedwhileconducting this research.Belowmethodswereapplied fordatacollection:

QuantitativeMethodsofResearch

a. HouseholdSurvey

b. CollectionofCasesonVitalEventRegistrationfiledatDAOs

QualitativeMethodsofResearch

a. KeyInformantInterview(KII)

b. FocusGroupDiscussion(FGD)

c. Non-participatoryObservation

d. ServiceSeeker’sInterview

e. Cross-CaseStudy

f. ReflectionofEnumerators

QuantitativeMethodsofResearch

a.HouseholdSurvey

TheHouseholdSurveythroughsamplingwasconductedtofindoutnumericaldataonacquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificates.Forqualityassuranceanddatareliability,theDistrictEnumeratorswereprovidedTabletswithin-builtquestionnaire.Thequestionnairewasdividedintotwoparts.Thefirstpartincludedquestionsonthedemographicprofileandthestatusofacquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistration certificates of the respondents. The second part of the questionnaire was asked to therespondentswhodidnothavebirthormarriageregistrationcertificatedespitebeingeligibletodoso.

k;f{

Ilam

Mor

ang

Solukh

umbu

Parsa

Dolakha

Kathm

andu

Tanahun

Nawalparasi

Mustang

64

211

431

9477

12730

3047

94

No. of Households in each district

33141

45

30

45Dolpa

PyuthanBanke

BajhangBaitadi

Kailali

1499Households

6786Household

Members


As theresearchwasconducted in fifteendifferentdistrictswithvariednumberofhouseholds ineachwardofeachmunicipality/ruralmunicipalityofsurveyeddistricts,thenumberofactualrespondentswasnotuniformforeachhousehold.ThetotalnumberofHouseholdSurveyedwas1499and6786householdmemberswerecovered.Outofthem,3423weremale(50.44%),3362werefemale(49.55%)and1(0.01%)wasother.

Atotalof1499householdscovering6786householdmembersweresurveyedinthe15districts.(ForthedetailbreakdownofhouseholdsseeAnnex1).TheallocationofhouseholdsforeachdistrictwasmadebasedonProbabilityProportionaltoSizeofthedistricts.Inordertoensuretheproperrepresentationofthedistricts,thesurveywasconductedintwodifferentareas.ThefirstareawasattheMunicipalityorRuralMunicipalityadjoiningtheheadquarters(HQ)ofthedistrictandthesecondareawasanyMunicipalityorRuralMunicipalitynotadjoiningtoHQofthedistrict.Mostimportantly,twowardsfromeachmunicipality/RuralMunicipalitieswereselectedtoconductthesampleHouseholdsurvey.SelectionofwardsfromtheMunicipality/RuralMunicipalitiesweremadethosenotadjoinedeachother.

b.CollectionofcasesonvitaleventregistrationfiledatDAOs

Frequentincidentswerereportedregardingcasesoffalserepresentationorunlawfulprocessofregistrationofvitalevents.Tostudythis,caseswerecollectedfromtheDistrictAdministrationOffices(DAOs)17ofeachdistrictoncasesofprovidingfalseinformationtoregisterthevitaleventspursuanttoSection13(2)oftheBirth,DeathandOtherPersonalEvents (Registration)Act,1976.Thecaseswerecollected fromDAOsthoseregisteredinthelastthreefiscalyearsalongwiththeirstatusofhearingandthenatureofthecases.

Altogether14caseswerecollected fromDAOsofBaitadi,Parsa,Nawalparasi,andBankedistricts.NocaseswerefiledinDAOsofother11researchdistrictsinthelastthreeyearsregardingvitalevents.

QualitativeMethods

a.KeyInformantInterview(KII)

Inordertocollectqualitativeinformationregardingthebarriersofacquiringbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificates,KIIswereconductedineachdistrict.Thekeyinformantsincludedwardsecretaries,concernedpersonnelintheDAO,DCC,DistrictWomenandChildrenOffice,representativesofNGOsworkingonchildrightsandalsocomprisedofpersonswhohadbeenregisteredunlawfully.Tolistthemdown,theKeyInformantswereasfollows:-

• Concernedperson/representativeofDAO(referredtoKII1)

• Concernedperson/representativeofDCC(referredtoKII2)

• Concernedperson/representativeofanyWardOfficeinHQ(referredtoKII3)

• Concernedperson/representativeofanyWardOfficeinOT(referredtoKII4)

• Concernedperson/representativeofDistrictWomenandChildrenOffice(referredtoKII5)

• Concernedperson/representativeofanNGOworkingonchildrights(referredtoKII6)

• Any personwho has acquiredbirth ormarriage registration certificate unlawfully (referred to KII7)

17. Section15oftheBirth,DeathandOtherPersonalEvents(Registration)ActstatesthattheChiefDistrictOfficershallhavethepowerstoproceedanddecidethecasesasreferredtoinSection13.


KII1 KII2 KII3 KII4 KII5 KII6 KII7

Ilam

Morang

Solukhumbu

Dolakha

Parsa

Banke

Kailali

Baitadi

Kathmandu

Nawalparasi

Tanahun

Pyuthan

Dolpa

Bajhang

Mustang

Atotalof101KIIswereconductedwhereKII1throughKII6wereconductedinallthe15districts,however,insomedistrictstheKII7couldnotbeconductedduetounavailabilityofproperrespondents.

ThefigurebelowenumeratesthetotalKIIsconductedineachdistrict.

b.FocusGroupDiscussions(FGDs)

ThebulkofthequalitativedatawerecollectedthroughFGDsorganizedinallthe15districts.TwoFGDswereorganizedineachdistrictmakingatotalof30FGDs.ThefirstFGDineachdistrictwasconductedwithpersonswhodidnotpossessabirthregistrationcertificate.Thistriedtoidentifythecausesaswellasimplicationsoflackingbirthregistrationcertificatesdespitebeingeligible.ThesecondFGDineachdistrictwasorganizedwiththeserviceproviders,inparticulartheWardSecretaries,inordertofindoutthebarrierstoregisterthebirthandmarriages.

ThefirstFGDdiscussedthefollowingtopics:

• Causesofdenialorlackingbirthregistrationcertificate• Particularproblemsfacedbythecommunitywithregardtobirthregistrationcertificate• Measuresadoptedtoresolvetheproblems• Impactsonthelivesofthosepersonsduetolackofbirthregistrationcertificates

ThesecondFGDdiscussedthefollowingspecificsubjects:

• Barrierstoregisterbirthsandmarriagesofapplicants• Supportingdocumentsthataredifficulttofurnishtoregisterbirthsandmarriages• Legal,proceduralandstructuralmeasurestobeadoptedto improvethevitaleventregistration

system.

c.Non-participatoryObservation

Thenon-participatoryobservationwasconductedintheWardOfficesineachdistricttostudythestructureandbehavioroftheserviceprovider;inparticular,thebehaviortowardswomenwasfocused.TheWardOfficeswereselectedinconsultationwiththedistrictenumerators(DEs).Atleastonewardofmunicipality/ruralmunicipalityadjoingtheHQofthedistrictormunicipality/ruralmunicipalitynotadjoiningtoHQwasobserved.Altogether35differentWardofficesof15districtswereobserved.

Districts and number of KIIs conducted


d.ServiceSeeker’sInterview

DuringtheobservationoftheWardOffices,twointerviewswereconductedineachofficewiththeserviceseekerswhowerepresentintheWardOfficewiththeintenttoacquirethebirthormarriageregistrationcertificate.This interview tried torecord the immediateresponse from theserviceseekersregardingthechallengesfacedbythemduringtheprocess.Atotalof39serviceseekersfromthe15districtswereinterviewedwhocametotheconcernedWardOfficestoregisterthebirthormarriage.

e.Cross-CaseStudy

InthepaststudiesFWLDhasfoundthatthediscretionoftheofficialsoftheWardOfficeplaysakeyroleindeterminingtheregistrationofbirthandmarriage.Inordertounderstandthisfurther,crosscasestudieswereconducted.Firstly,anatureofcasewas identifiedand for that samenatureofanothercasewasidentifiedwhereoneofthemwasdeniedandtheotherwasapproved.TheDEssubmittedatleastfourcasesfromeachdistrict.Altogether28casestudieswerecollectedfromthe14districtsoutof15exceptMustang.

f.ReflectionofEnumerators

Thismethodwasapplied forqualitativedata.Reflectionof theenumerators throughgroupdiscussionwasconductedafterthecompletionofphase1activitiesoftheresearchalongwiththetrainingforthehousehold surveyon26th, 27th and28thMay2017.Theenumerators shared theexperiences from thefieldthattheyfacedregardingcauses,barriersandimpactsoflackingbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificates.


5.DurationoftheStudyThefieldresearchwasconductedfromApril10,2017toOctober31,2017duringthetimewhenthefirstandsecondphasesofthelocallevelelectionswerebeingheldinNepal.Thedataentryandtableworkwasdoneafterthedatacollectedfromthefieldresearchofthedistricts.

6.ScopeandLimitationDespitethefactthatthestudyisrelatedtocivilregistrationinNepal,theprimaryfocusoftheresearchisonbirthandmarriageregistrationsonly.Thus,thestudyhasbeenlimitedonthetrendsofacquisition,causesandbarriersaswellasimpactsoflackingbirthandmarriageregistrationinNepal.

Thestudywasconductedin15districtsofNepalandisthusnationallyindicativebutdoesnotrepresenttheentirecountry’ssituation.

AnotherimportantconsiderationhasbeenmaderegardingthecutoffdateonthevalidityofdataonbothbirthandmarriageregistrationinNepal.ThoughtheBirth,DeathandOtherPersonalEvents(Registration)Act,1976wasimplementedgraduallystartingfromfewdistrictsandtheActbecameeffectivenationwideonlyfromApril14,1990.Forthehouseholdsurvey,thecutoffdatehasbeenregardedasApril14,1990.Personswhowerebornbeforethatdatehavenotbeenconsideredforthisresearchonbirthregistration.Similarly,marriageconductedbeforethatdatehasalsonotregardedasthoseeligibletoacquiremarriageregistration certificates. The Study demonstrated that the eligible household members for the BirthRegistrationwere3470andtheeligiblehouseholdmembersfortheMarriageRegistrationwere2466.


CHAPTER 2

FINDINGSANDANALYSIS

1.TrendsofAcquisitionofBirthandMarriageCertificates

a.Acquisitionstatusofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificate

Among the total householdmemberswhowere surveyed i.e. 6786, theeligible householdmembers fortheacquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatewhowerebelowtheageof28yearswere3,470andtheeligiblehouseholdmembersfortheacquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificatewhogotmarriedwithinlast28yearswere2,466.

Among the eligible population of the birth registration (3,470 individuals agedbelow 28 years)whoweresampled,22.1percent(767individuals)havenotacquiredthebirthregistrationcertificateatthetimeofthissurvey.Similarlyamongtheeligiblepopulationofthemarriageregistration(2,466individualsmarriedwithinlast28years)whoweresampled,21.4percent(528individuals)havenotacquiredthemarriageregistrationcertificateatthetimeofthissurvey.

Graph1:Acquisitionstatusofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificate

Possess Birth Certificate

Possess Marriage Certificate

Do not possess Birth Certificate

Do not possess Marriage Certificate

77.9% 78.6%

22.1% 21.4%

b.Acquisitionstatusofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatebygender

The graph 2 shows the birth registration certificate possession and non-possession rate of eligiblemale(1728)andfemale(1742).Thesurveyportraysacleardisparityinthebirthregistrationcertificatepossessionamongmaleand female.Amongthemalepopulation,81.83percent(1414)of theeligiblemale have acquired the birth registration certificate, compared to 74 percent (1289) of the eligiblefemale.Conjointly,therestillremains26percent(453)oftheeligiblefemalepopulationwithoutthebirthregistrationcertificateascomparedto18.17percent(314)oftheeligiblemalepopulation.


Graph2:Genderbreakdownofacquisitionstatusofbirthregistrationcertificate

Possession

NonPossession

81.83%

18.17%

Possession

NonPossession

74%

26%

Regardingthepossessionofthemarriageregistrationcertificate,thegraph3indicatesthattheredidnotremainasignificantgapbetweenthemarriageregistrationcertificatepossessionratebetweenmaleandfemale.Comparatively,thegapwaslittlelessthanthepossessionrateofthebirthregistrationcertificate.Thestudyshowedthat78.79percent(951)ofthemalepopulationpossessedthemarriageregistrationcertificate,whereas78.40percent(987)oftheeligiblefemalepopulationpossessthemarriageregistrationcertificate.

Thereasonbehindcorrespondingnon-acquistionstatusofmarriageregistrationcertificatemightbethecouple in thesamehousehold.Howeverwhilecalculating theacquisitionpercentageof themarriageregistration,themarriedcoupleswerenotidentifiedthatifthecouplebelongedfromthesamehouseholdorfromadifferent.Thusthestudyislimitedtothesampledrespondentseligibleformarriageregistration.

Graph3: Genderbreakdownofacquisitionstatusofmarriageregistrationcertificate

Possession

NonPossession

78.79%

21.21%

Possession

NonPossession

78.40%

21.60%

c.Acquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatebyreligion

Crosstabulationofacquisitionofbirthregistrationwithreligionshows(Graph4)thatBuddhist(87%)andHindu(77.6%)havethehighestrateofacquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatewhereasMuslimhavethelowest(60.7%)rateofacquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatefollowedbyChristian(75.7%).


Kirat Buddhist Muslim Sikh Hindu

Other

Christian

87.5

0%

75.7

6%

87%

60.7

4%

50%

77.6

8%

100

%

12.50% 24.24% 13% 39.26% 50% 22.32%

ThefindingsalsodemonstratedbasedonthehighestnumberofrespondentsthatBuddhist(81%)andHindu (78.8%) have the highest rate of acquisition of marriage registration certificate while Muslim(56.45%)hasthelowestrateofacquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificate.

Graph4: Statusofacquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatebyreligion

Possession

Possession

Non-possession

Non-possession

Graph5: Statusofacquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificatebyreligion

7.14% 25.93% 18.81% 43.55% 21.18%

92.8

6%

74.0

7%

81.1

9%

56.4

5%

78.8

2%

100

%

0%Kirat Buddhist Muslim Sikh HinduChristian

Other


d.Acquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatebycasteandethnicity

Withregard to thepossessionofbirthcertificatebycasteandethnicity, thesurveydemonstrated thatamongthevariouscasteandethnicitysurveyed,Indigenous(82.7percent),Brahmins(80.6percent)andChhetris (75percent) are themost likely to obtain thebirth registration certificatewhileDalits (72.7percent)slightlylagsbehindobtainingthebirthregistrationcertificate.

Graph6: Acquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatebycasteandethnicity

Possession

Possession

Non-possession

Non-possession

80.65% 19.35%Brahmin

75.08% 24.92%Chhetri

82.78% 17.24%Indigenous

72.71% 27.29%Dalit

26.49%Other

73.50%

Similarly,thestudysuggestedthat85.7percentoftheBrahminpossessthemarriageregistrationcertificatefollowedby79.5percentoftheChhetrisand80.5percentoftheIndigenous.WhileDalitsaretheleastlikelytopossessthemarriageregistrationcertificate(69.3percentoftheDalitspossessthemarriageregistrationcertificate).

27%

Graph7: Acquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificatebycasteandethnicity

Brahmin

Chhetri

Indigenous

69.3%

73%

30.7%Dalit

Other

80.5% 19.5%

79.5% 20.5%

85.7% 14.3%


TheleastlikelypossessionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatebyDalitscouldbetheexclusionarypracticethathasbeenpersistentinthesociety.Furthermore,parentslackingcitizenshipcertificatecouldbe another reasonbehind least likely topossessbirth registration certificatebyDalits as the surveyconductedbyNationalDalitCommissionfoundthatmorethan35percentamongDalitcommunitypeopledonothavecitizenshipcertificate.18Thecasescollectedfromthesurveyeddistrictsforcrosscasestudyportraysthatthepatternofdenialexecutedbytheconcernedofficeisslightlydifferentfromotherethnicgroups.

The significant number of cases collected through the survey demonstrated that the unavailability ofcitizenshipcertificateofthefatherandthenon-identificationoffatherhimselfisanimpedimentbehindtheacquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificate.Howeverintheabovementionedcase,theconcernedauthoritydenied toregister theBirthofa21yearoldDalitgirldespiteof the fact that thehusbandownedthecitizenshipcertificate.Themeredenialdespiteofrecommendingsomealternativeslikerequestingherhusbandtosendherthecopyofthehusband’scitizenshipcertificateplainlyportraystheignorancetowardstheDalitcommunity.

Thecasecollectedfromthe14districtsdemonstratethatthechildrenborntoNepalimotherwherefatherisunsupportiveand/orwithoutcitizenshipcertificate,childrenbornasaresultofearlymarriage,childrenwithoutparents,childrenofNepaliwomenmarriedtoforeignerhavebeendeniedtoregistertheirbirthbytheLocalRegistrars.Nosuccessfulregistrationofsuchnatureofcaseswereidentifiedinthecollectedcasestudies.

A Dalit girl denied from obtaining birth registration certificate

K, a 21 years old Dalit girl from InaruwaMunicipalityWardno.6hasbeenresidinginhermother’shomei.e.Morang,BelbariWardNo. 5. Her husbandwho owns a citizenshipcertificate and who has also left for foreignemployment has taken along the citizenshipcertificate with him. She does not have abirth registration certificate neither she hasamarriage registration certificate. She triedto obtain the birth registration certificatefrom Inaruwa but she failed. She was leftunassisted by her family members. ThusshecametoWard5withahopeofobtainingthebirth registrationcertificate.But shewastoldtoapproachtheconcernedofficeofherhusband’s address making her helpless forshehasnotbeenabletocompleteherSchoolLeavingCertificateExams.

Source:CasestudycollectedfromBelbariMunicipalityWardNo.5,Morang

Denialtoregisterthebirthofachildbornthroughtheearlymarriage

MTamtaandNTamtahadanearlymarriage.MTamtaaresidentofDaneshwarMunicipalityWard No. 5 and N Tamta had a child aftermarriage. When they went to registertheir marriage and birth of their child, theconcerned office denied to register bothinsinuatingthemthereasonofearlymarriagewhich is really unreasonable because theConstitutionofNepalhasexplicitlyendorsedtheuniversalprincipleofbirthregistrationofa child along with his/her identity. However,the practice is really different as what hasbeenmentioned in the law thathas resultedmanypeopletoencounterseveralchallengeswithoutthebirthregistrationcertificate.

Source:CasestudycollectedfromDaneshworMunicipalityWardNo.5,Baitadi

CASE STUDY 1 CASE STUDY 2

18. NationalDalitCommission,CITIZENSHIPANDLANDOWNERSHIPSTATUSOFDALITCOMMUNITYINNEPAL,2005,p.14


e.Acquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatebyoccupation

Theoccupationalbackgroundwasalsoassessedinordertounderstandthetrendofacquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationbythepeoplefromvariousoccupationalgroups.Sincetheeligiblepopulationof theacquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatewasthepeoplebornafterApril14,1990,outof3470eligiblepopulationtoacquirethebirthregistrationcertificate2007individualsi.e.89.94percentoftheeligiblepopulationwerestudents.

Cross-tabulation between occupation and acquisition of birth registration certificate reveals that thestudents(89.94%),businesspersons(86.21%),personsworkinginI/NGOs(80%)andpersonsworkinginsecurityforces(80%)aremostlikelytopossessthebirthregistrationcertificatewhilethedependentpopulation(31.09%),personsaffiliatedtothesmallscalebusinesses(34.15%),driver(41.67%)andhousewives(44.48%)arethelesslikelytopossessthebirthregistrationcertificate.

Graph8: Acquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatebyoccupation

Possession

NonPossession

86.21%

13.79%

Business

Possession

NonPossession

80%

20%NGO/INGO

Social Worker

Possession

NonPossession

62.26%

37.74%

Agriculture

Possession

NonPossession

34.15%

65.85%

Small Scale Business

Possession Possession PossessionPossession

NonPossession

NonPossession

NonPossession

NonPossession

44.48% 60% 66.67%

55.52% 40% 58.33%33.33%

House wife Domestic worker

Labor Driver

41.67%

Possession

NonPossession

80%

20%Builders/

Construction

Possession

NonPossession

66.67%

33.33%Private Sector

Possession

NonPossession

55.56%

44.44%

Traditional work

Possession

NonPossession

75%

25%

Animal Farming

Possession

NonPossession

75%

25%

Unemployed

Possession

NonPossession

68.91%

31.09%Dependent Population

Possession

NonPossession

59.46%

40.54%

Store vendors

Possession

NonPossession

89.94%

10.06%

Students


Possession

NonPossession

72.94%

27.06%Foreign

Employment

Possession

NonPossession

65.38%

34.62%

Teachers/Trainers

Possession

NonPossession

70%

30%

Government Service

Possession

NonPossession

80%

20%

Security Forces

Possession

NonPossession

76.19%

23.81%

Health Service

Possession

NonPossession

73.08%

26.92%Hotel/

Restaurant Owner

Possession

NonPossession

63.22%

36.78%

Others

Possession

NonPossession

33.33%

66.67%

Do Not Know

Similarly,withregardtothepossessionofmarriageregistrationcertificate,thepersonaffiliatedwiththeNGO/INGOhavethehighest(91.43%)rateofacquisitionofmarriagecertificatepossessionfollowedbythepersoninvolvedintheteachingprofessions(86.84%),personsinhealthservices(86.49%),personsinprivatesectors(84.27%)andpersonsingovernmentservices(83.78%),smallscalebusiness,privatesector, store vendors and foreignemployment (over 80%). In contrary, the students (54.05%),drivers(61.73%)andlabors(64.81%)aretheleastlikelytopossessthemarriageregistrationcertificate.

Graph9: Acquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificatebyoccupation

Possession

NonPossession

68.09%

31.91%

Business

Possession

NonPossession

91.43%

8.57%NGO/INGO

Social Worker

Possession

NonPossession

75.76%

24.24%

Agriculture

Possession

NonPossession

83.14%

16.86%

Small Scale Business

Possession

NonPossession

77.49%

22.51%

House wife

Possession

NonPossession

76.92%

23.08%

Domestic worker

Possession

NonPossession

64.81%

35.19%

Labor

Possession

NonPossession

61.73%

38.27%

Driver

Possession

NonPossession

84.27%

15.73%Private Sector

Possession

NonPossession

75%

25%Builders/

Construction

Possession

NonPossession

75.86%

24.14%

Traditional work

Possession

NonPossession

73.33%

26.67%

Animal Farming


Possession

NonPossession

75%

25%

Dependent Population

Possession

NonPossession

72.73%

27.27%

Unemployed

Possession

NonPossession

84.43%

15.57%

Store vendors

Possession

NonPossession

54.05%

45.95%

Students

Possession

NonPossession

80.92%

Foreign Employment

19.08%

Possession

NonPossession

86.84%

13.16%

Teachers/Trainers

Possession

NonPossession

83.78%

16.22%

Government Service

Possession

NonPossession

78.95%

21.05%

Security Forces

Possession

NonPossession

86.49%

13.51%

Health Service

Possession

NonPossession

78.87%

21.13%Hotel/

Restaurant Owner

Possession

NonPossession

100%

0%Real Estate

Possession

NonPossession

100%

0%Experts/

Counselors

Possession

NonPossession

0%

100%

Fishery

Possession

NonPossession

81.89%

18.11%

Others

Possession

NonPossession

50%

50%

Do Not Know

f.Educationandstatusofacquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificate

As academicqualification couldbe considered as one of themost important elements to determinepossessiontrendsofthebirthandmarriageregistrationcertificate,thestudyhasoutlinedtwobreakdownsfor the respondentswhoacquiredanddidnotacquire thebirthandmarriageregistrationcertificate.Thestudyhasanalyzedthepercentageanddistributionoftheacquisitiontrendofbirthandmarriagecertificatepossessionbyacademicqualification.Thepercentageportraysthecalculationofacquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationamongstthetotalpopulationofthelevelofeducationwhilethedistributionbeing thecalculationof acquisitionofbirthandmarriage registrationamongst the totalpopulationofacquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificate.

Percentage reflects the calculationwhere each component part hasbeendividedby the total of thecomponentwhereasdistributionreflectsthecalculationwhereeachcomponenthasbeendividedbythetotalofthewhole.

Graph10demonstratesthatonly51percentoftheilliteratepeoplepossessthebirthregistrationcertificate.Thefindingsindicatethatmorethepersonsareeducated,themorepossibilitytogetbirthregistrationcertificateexists.The tableshows that literatehave77percentofpossessionofbirth registrationandover80percentof thosewhohaveeducation levelofprimary,secondaryandbachelorpossessbirthregistrationcertificate.


Graph10: Acquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatebylevelofeducation

Possession

Possession

Non-possession

Non-possession

High School

Illiterate

Primary

Secondary

Literate

Bachelor

Masters

Do not know

Do not want to say

42.86%

74.07%

80.06%

76.84%

84.09%

80.02%

50.97%

82.6%

57.14%

25.93%

19.94%

23.16%

15.91%

19.98%

49.03%

17.4%

100%

Graph11: Acquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificatebylevelofeducation

High School

Illiterate

Primary

Secondary

Literate

Bachelor

Masters

Do not know

86.11%

85.94%

75.93%

80.54%

76.72%

54.59%

82.77%

13.89%

14.06%

24.07%

19.46%

23.28%

45.41%

17.23%

100%

Graph11belowon theacquisitionofmarriage registrationcertificatealso indicates that the illiteratepersonsareleastlikelytopossess(only54.59%)marriageregistrationcertificateandliterateandeducatedpeoplearemostlikelytopossess(above75%and80%respectively)themarriageregistrationcertificate.


g.Acquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatebystatusofdisabilities

Disability status and birth registration certificate possession has a very important linkage becauseit is obvious that personswith disabilitiesmight face several complexity to access the nearest officeconvenientlyunlikethegeneralpeople.

Thestudydemonstrated that67percentof thepersonswithdisabilitiespossess thebirth registrationcertificatewhile33percentofpersonswithdisabilitiesdonotpossessthebirthregistrationcertificate.TheGraph12belowindicatesthatthereisavisiblegapbetweenthestatusofdisabilitiesandthepossessionofbirthregistrationcertificateandtheoverallpossessionofbirthregistrationcertificatebecausethenonpossessionrateofbirthregistrationcertificateofthepersonwithdisabilitiesi.e33.33percentishigherwhencomparedwiththeoverallnonpossessionofthebirthregistrationcertificatei.e22.1percent.

Graph12: Acquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatebypersonswithdisabilities

PossessorsNon-possessors

66.67%33.33%

ThecasestudycollectedfromSolukhumbupresentsthedifferentscenarioforpersonswithdisabilitiesandthehardshipstheyhavetoundergowhileapplyingforthevitalregistrationdocuments.

CASE STUDY 3

SimilarSituationDissimilarService

OTamangfromSolukhumbuDistrict,DudhkundaMuncipalityWard5,Rosivillagewasbornnormalbutsheislivingwithdisabilitynowandherfamilymembersalsoleftherunassisted.Theoffice isabout2hours faraway from theplacewhereshehasbeen living.Due toherdisability,shecannotaccess theconcernedofficesandshehasnotbeenable tomakeherbirthregistrationandcitizenshipcertificatethathasdeprivedherfromclaimingbenefitsandallowancesprovidedbytheGovernment.

Sheapproachedto thevariousgovernmentbodies throughthewrittenapplicationhoweverduetothelackofsupportfromherfamilymemberstotakehertotheconcernedofficeshehasbeenleftunregistered.Herdisabilityhasleftherwithoutthebirthregistrationandcitizenshipfollowedbythenoncooperativeattitudeofherfamilymembers.

(Source:CaseStudycollectedfromDudhkundaMunicipalityWardNo.5,Solukhumbu)

Howeverincontrasttotheabovementionedcasestudy,PGiritheresidentfromSolukhumbu,JubuVDCisapersonwithdisability.Withthesupportofherfamilyshewasabletomakethebirthregistrationcertificateandcitizenshipcertificate.SheisaLawgraduateandholds thelawyer’s licenseand she is also thepresidentofDisabilityCoordinationCommittee.She isissuedthedisabilitycertificatefromWomenandChildren’sOfficeandshehasbeenreceivingallowancesfromtheGovernment.

(Source:CasestudycollectedfromJubuRuralMunicipalityWardNo.7,Solukhumbu)


Graph13: Acquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificatebypersonswithdisabilities

PossessorsNon-possessors

76.47%23.53%

Graph13 indicates that there isavisiblegapbetween thestatusofdisabilitiesand thepossessionofmarriageregistrationcertificateandtheoverallpossessionofmarriageregistrationcertificatebecausethe non possession rate ofmarriage registration certificate of the personswith disabilities i.e. 23.53percentishigherwhencomparedwiththeoverallnonpossession21.4percent.Thegraphthusreflectsthatdisabilitieshasbeensomehowimpedingthebirthandmarriageregistrationacquistionprocess.

h.AcquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatebyfluencyinNepalilanguage

Havinganalyzedthegeographicaldimension, thestudyalsotargetedthepossessionrateofbirthandmarriagecertificatebythepopulationdependingontheirfluencyandexpressivenessinNepalilanguage.ThestudyindicatesavalidresultthatportrayedthehigherrateofthepossessionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatebythepopulationwhocanbothunderstandandspeakNepalilanguagewhilethepeoplewhocouldnotdobothhasleastpossessionrate.

Givengraph14plainlyindicatesthepossessionofbirthcertificaterateisledbythepopulationwhohasagoodcommandofNepali inunderstandingandspeaking.Literally,80percent (2341 individuals)ofthepopulationwhocanunderstandandspeakNepalilanguagepossessthebirthcertificatethatisthehighestrateofpossession,whileonly61percent(162individuals)of thepopulationpossess thebirthcertificatewhocannotunderstandandspeakNepali language.Regarding thepossessionofmarriageregistrationcertificate(Graph15),againthepopulationwhoaregoodinunderstandingandspeakinginNepalilanguageareaheadofpossessingthemarriageregistrationcertificate.

Graph14: AcquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatebyfluencyinNepalilanguage

Can under-stand little but cannot speak

Cannot do both

Can do both Can under-stand and

speak a little

can under-stand well but cannot speak

Do not know Other

58

.49

%

60

.9%

79

.76

%

79

.29

%

66

.67

%

100

%

60

%

41.

51%

39

.1% 20

.24

%

20

.71%

33

.33

%

40

%

Possession Non-Possession


Graph15: AcquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificatebyfluencyinNepalilanguage

Possession Non-Possession

Can under-stand little but cannot speak

Cannot do both

Can do both Can under-stand and

speak a little

can under-stand well but cannot speak

Other

64

.29

%

65

.38

%

79

.47

%

79

.44

%

60

%

100

%

35

.71%

34

.62

%

20

.53

%

20

.56

%

40

%i.Acquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatebygeography

Geography is taken into special consideration in terms of access to birth andmarriage registrationcertificates.TheGraph16belowspecificallysuggeststhatthepopulationsofTeraiareleastlikely(about75%)topossessthebirthregistrationcertificateincomparisontoHilly(about80%)andMountain(87%)regions.

Graph16: Acquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatebygeographicalregion

Hill

Mountain

Terai

Possession

Non-Possession87.47%

79.71%

74.53%

12.53%

20.29%

25.47%


SimilarlythepossessionofmarriageregistrationcertificateinTeraiislow(73%)whileHilly(84%)andmountain(82%)regionsaremostlikelytopossessthemarriageregistrationcertificate.

Graph17: Acquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificatebygeographicalregion

Hill

Mountain

Terai

Possession

Non-Possession82%

84%

73%

18%

16%

27%

ThereasonbehindthelesspossessionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificateinTerairegionaspertheFGDsconductedinMorang,Parsa,Nawalparasi,BankeandKailaliareduetothecrossculturalmarriagebetweentheNepaliwomenandnon-Nepalimen.Becauseoftheopenborder,thereisatrendofcrossbordermarriagebetweentheNepaliandnon-Nepalicitizens.Andwhileregisteringtheirmarriageorbirthoftheirchildren,theyhavetoencounterthedenialfromtheregistrationoffice.

Similarly,thecitizenshipofmotherisoverlookedbythedenyingauthorityandtheyareaskedtosubmitthecitizenshipcertificateoffatherwhichfurthermultipliestheproblem.

Furthermore, theFGDconductedamong therefugeesatMorang(Jhapa)demonstrated that they lackbirthregistrationcertificatebecausetheyareunawareabouttheimportanceofthevitalregistrationandalsoalsoduetotheabsenceoftheircitizenshipandmarriageregistrationcertificate.


Graph18: Acquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificatebygenderineachregion

Region Mountain Hill Terai

Gender

PossessionNon-

Possession

88.24%

11.76%

82.43%

17.57%

80.11%

19.89%

86.77%

13.23%

76.96%

23.04%

68.95%

31.05%

Graph19: Acquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificatebygenderineachregion

Region Mountain Hill Terai

Gender

PossessionNon-

Possession

82.52%

17.48%

84.17%

15.83%

73.38%

26.62%

81.90%

18.10%

84.34%

15.66%

72.59%

27.41%

With regard to thepossessionofmarriage registrationcertificate, thecross tabulationdoesnot showsignificantdifferencebetweenmaleandfemaleinacquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificateinalltheregions.

j.Acquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatebygenderineachregion

CrosstabulationofpossessionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatebygenderineachregiondemonstratesthatthemalesareaheadthanfemalesinpossessingofbirthregistrationcertificateinHill(82%)andTerai (80%).Most importantly, there remainsahugegapbetween themaleand femaleofTeraiinpossessingthebirthregistrationcertificateasonly69percentofthefemalesinTeraipossessthebirthregistrationcertificatewhile80percentofthemaleshavebirthregistration.Similarly,thefemalesofHillsareleastliketopossessthebirthregistrationcertificatethanthemalesinHillas82percentofthemalespossessthebirthregistrationcertificatecomparingtoonly77percentofthefemaleshavebirthregistrationcertificate.Graph18belowwouldclarifymore.

2.CausesforApplyingBirthandMarriageRegistrationCertificate

a.Reasonsforapplyingbirthregistrationcertificate

Withregardtothereasonsbehindbirthregistrationapplicationamongwhopossessthebirthregistrationcertificate(2703),44percentofthepopulationappliedforthebirthregistrationcertificateinordertogetadmittedattheschool.Thisclearlyportraystherequirementofbirthregistrationcertificatewhileenrollingatschools.While18percentofthepopulationappliedforthebirthregistrationcertificateaftertheywereinformedthatthebirthregistrationisfreeofchargeifdonewithin35daysofthebirth.Thisdemonstratesthattheexemptionintheregistrationprocessencouragespeopletoregistertheirvitaleventsappended


Graph20: Reasonsforapplyingbirthregistrationcertificate

To get admitted at school 43.80%

To ensure the legal rights 6.73%

After being informed that the registration is free within 35 days of the birth 18.53%

Due to the convenient procedure of the registration 5.66%

To claim the child nutrition allowance 3.40%

To sit for the entrance/district level exams 9.66%

Nearby location of the registration office 4.51%

To claim the post natal allowance 0.55%

After being informed through the medium of communication 0.70%

To claim the services provided for the endangered groups 0.18%

Suggested by the Village Executive/Local Registrar 0.92%

To claim the services provided by the government for the children with disability 0.18%

Do not know 1.89%

Suggested by the neighbor 0.52%

Don’t want to say 0.04%

Other 2.70%


bythefactthatstilllargenumbersofpeoplearenotawareofthefactthatbirthregistrationisfreeofchargeifdonewithin35daysofthebirth.

Similarly,birthregistrationcertificateisalsoappliedinordertoattendthedistrictlevelexamsas9percentof the population applied for it to sit for the district level exams.Conjointly, around 7 percent of thepopulationappliedforthebirthregistrationcertificateinordertoexercisetheirlegalrights.

The FGD conductedwith the peoplewithout the birth registration reflects that albeit the people areacquaintedwiththeregistrationofbirthandmarriage,theyarenotverymuchconcernedtoregistereachandeveryeventuntiltheseareneededforthem.Forinstance:ItwasobservedintheFGDconductedwithpeoplewithoutbirthregistrationcertificateinDolpadistrictthatnotablenumberofparentsregisteredthebirthoftheirchildreninordertoclaimthechildallowance.TheFGDParticipantsalsoclaimedthattheyapplyformarriageregistrationcertificateinordertoapplyforthecitizenshipcertificate.

b.Reasonsforapplyingmarriageregistrationcertificate

Majorityofthepeoplei.e.34.49percentoftheeligiblepopulationpossessmarriageregistrationcertificate(1938)statedthatreasonsforapplyingmarriageregistrationcertificateistolegallyverifytherelationship

Graph21: Reasonsforapplyingmarriageregistrationcertificate

To legally verify the relationship between husband and wife

To ensure legal and family rights

To register the birth of the children

To make the voter’s id card

To apply for the passport

Other

To ensure the property rights

To make the citizenship acquisition process convenient

To make the citizenship certificate of the children

Do not know

34.49%

11.40%

8.40%

3%

0.70%

0.20%

2%

4%

10.20%

26%


betweenhusband andwife.While 26percent of thepopulation applied for themarriage registrationcertificatetoexercisethelegalandfamilyrights,whereas11percentofthepopulationappliedforthemarriageregistrationcertificatetoensurethepropertyrights,while10percentofthepopulationstatedthat they applied for marriage registration certificate to register the births of their children. Amongrespondents,8percentofthepopulationfelttheimportanceofmarriageregistrationcertificatetomaketheprocessconvenient toacquire theircitizenshipcertificate.While3percentpopulationapplied formarriageregistrationcertificatetoacquirethecitizenshipcertificateoftheirchildren.Thisindicatesthatmarriage registration certificate is consideredoneof the importantdocuments to apply for thebirthregistrationcertificateandcitizenshipcertificate.

c.Timingofregistrationofbirth

The study further demonstrated the timing of theregistrationofbirth.Thestudyfoundthat59percentof the people registered their birth after 35 daysdespite having legal provision for free registrationwithin 35 days of birth. In contrary, only about 24percentofthepeopleregisteredtheirbirthwithin35dayswhichisundersizedcomparatively.

Correspondingly, the KII collected from 101 KeyInformantsdemonstratedthatmajorityofthepeopledonotknowthatthevitaleventsshallberegisteredfreeofcostwithin35daysoftheoccurrenceoftheincidence.

3.BarriersforBirthandMarriageRegistrationCertificate

a.Reasonsforneverapplyingbirthregistrationcertificate

The research demonstrated that the major reasons behind lacking birth and marriage registrationcertificateisprimarilyduetotheunavailabilityofthenecessarydocumentsparticularlythecitizenshipcertificateofthefatherandthelackofassistancefromthefamilymembers.TheFGDconductedwiththepeoplewithoutbirthregistrationclaimedthatduetothenonacceptanceofrelationshipbythehusbandand lack of citizenship certificate of the husband, they have not been able to acquire themarriage

Graph22: Timingofregistrationofbirth

WITHIN AFTER DO NOT REMEMBER

WHEN REGISTERED

23.57% 59.08% 17.35%

CASE STUDY 4

LocalRegistraraskstobringcitizenshipcertificateofhusbandwhileapplyingforbirthregistrationofachildbornasaresultofrape

YapermanentresidentofABCVDCgotmarriedin2004whileherhusbandleftforforeignemployment.In2014,shewasrapedbyadriverbelongingfromBRuralMunicipalityWardNo.4whenshecametovisitJinaBoleroJeep.Sincethenshestartedlivingwiththedriver.In2015,whenshehadason,thedriverabandonedthemfromthehouse.Currently,shehasbeen living inashelterhomecalled“XYZNepal”.Herson isnow2yearsold.Whensheaskedherhusbandtoprovidearecommendationforthebirthregistrationcertificateofhersonandmarriagecertificateofthem,hethreatenedtokillherson.SheapproachedtheLocalRegistrarbuttonoavail.Insteadtheyaskedhertosubmitthemarriageregistrationcertificateandcitizenshipcertificateofherhusband.

(Source:CasestudycollectedfromABCRuralMunicipality,DDistrict)


registrationcertificateandbirthregistrationcertificateoftheirchildren.19Thecasestudybelowfurthersupplementsthementionedfindings.

Graph23belowshowsthat346(outof767)i.e.45.11percentofthepeopleneverappliedforthebirthregistrationcertificateduetovariousreasons.Amongthem,24.5percentofthepopulationneverapplied

Graph23: Reasonsforneverapplyingbirthregistrationcertificate

Unavailability of necessary documents

Lack of support from family or unavailability of family members

Can be done anytime

Birth registration is not really necessary to the children

Other reasons

Do not want to tell

Did not feel the necessity

Faraway location of the office

Cumbersome Process

Do not know

24.5%

23.1%

3%

0.6%

27.5%

0.9%

7%

4%

4%

5.4%

for thebirthregistrationdueto theunavailabilityof thenecessarydocumentsand23.1percentof thepopulationdidnotreallythinkthatbirthregistrationisnecessary.Anotherreasonofneverapplyingforbirthregistrationislackofsupportorunavailabilityoffamilymembers(5.4percent).

TheFGDconductedwiththepeoplewithoutthebirthregistrationstatedthatthemajorreasonsbehinddenialofthebirthregistrationcertificateisduetotheunavailabilityofthecitizenshipcertificateofeitherof theparents, especially the citizenship certificate of the father.While the respondents also claimedthatthechildrenofsinglemotherwhohasbeendeniedtherelationshipbythefatherhasbeenfacingcomplicationwithregardtotheacquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificateastheconcernedofficialasksforthecitizenshipcertificateofthefatherorthefathertobepresenthimselfattheoffice.

19. FGDconductedwiththepeoplewithoutbirthregistrationinBaitadi,Dolakha,Ilam,Kailali,Kathmandu,Morang,Mustang,Nawalparasi,Parsa.


Theconcernedstakeholdersof theKII highlightedregardingthebarriers that the faraway locationofthevital registrationofficeand inadequatedevelopmentof skillsand trainingcanbe recordedas thesignificant hindrancesbehind the non-acquisition of birth registration certificate.20Half of the officialsoftheconcernedofficewithwhomtheKIIwasconductedclaimedthattheserviceseekershavebeenfacingthehurdleswhileregisteringthebirthduetotheambiguousdirectivesandprocedures.Whilelackofsafeguardofgoodfaithoftheofficialsalsohappenstobetheinfluencingfactorofthenon-acquisitionof the birth registration certificate. The KII also observed the insensitivity towards the gender andmarginalizedgroups.Theofficialshavealsofacedthepoliticalpressurewhileperformingtheirduty.AspertherespondentsofKII,themajorreasonsbehindtheinsensitivityofthepeopletowardstheVERisduetothehighlydevelopedtendencyamongthepeopletoregisterthevitaleventswhenutmostnecessary,andalsotheyareunconsciousandinsensitivetowardsthelawsregardingthevitalevents.Forexample:OneoftherespondentsoftheHouseholdatDakchhinkaliMunicipalitywassurprisedtoknowthatdivorcecomeunderoneofthevitaleventsandissubjecttoregistration.TheLocalRegistrarsclaimedclaimedthatduetothelessnumberofofficialsintheregistrationofficeandalmostnointernetservice,theyhavetocounterlotsoftechnicalproblems.21Theyalsohighlightedthatpeopledonotknowwhicheventshavetoberegistered.

Theunawareof theexact ageof thechildby the fatherandmotherof the sameoftenputs the localregistrarintoperplexity.22Moreoverthepeoplecometotheofficetimeandagaintomakeacorrectioninthebirthregistrationcertificatewhichisnotpossible.

Furthermore, the local registrars frequently confront with the registration of the couple who haveconsummatedanearlymarriage.Theregistrationofthemarriagesolemnizedwithoutreachingthelegalagetogetmarriedhasbeenstoodasabarriertothelocalregistrarsbecausetheconcernedadministrationhasdirectedthemtohalttheregistrationwherethecouplesaretheminor.23ItwasalsofoundfromtherespondentsoftheFGDthattheyneverappliedforthebirthregistrationcertificatebecausetheywereunaware24abouttheimportanceofthebirthandmarriageregistrationcertificates,therefore,theyneverappliedforit.MostvisiblereasonsbehindtheinsensitivityofpeopletowardsaspertheKeyInformantswere theunavailabilityof theenough informationby theLocal on thevital registration to thegeneralpublic,themselveswerenotwellinformedaboutlawsabletoprovideinformationtothepublic.

The FGD participants of Dolpa asserted that geographical complexity is one of the challenges inaccessingthebirthregistrationcertificateasthelocalregistrar’sofficeisfarawayandtheyhavebeenneglectedsincetheycouldnotmeettheconcernedofficialintheregistrar’soffice.25

ThestudyalsoobservedthroughtheFGDthat,particularlythechildrenwithoutguardiansortheorphans26 andthechildrenwhohavebeenabandoned27,childrenbornoutofsecondmarriagehavebeenhavebeenfacingdifficultiesinaccessingthebirthregistrationcertificate,whiletherespondentsalsoclaimedthattheyweredeniedofthebirthregistrationduetothelackofmarriageregistrationcertificate.28

Conjointly the FGD conducted with the people without the citizenship certificate opined that theawarenessabouttheimportanceofvitalregistrationandthelawsandawarenessraisingactivitiesshouldbeconducted.regardingthesameshallbedone.

20. KIIconductedwiththeLocalRegistrarOfficeinKathmanduandWardOfficeinDakshinkali.21. FGDconductedwiththeLocalRegistrarofMustang.22. FGDconductedwiththeLocalRegistrarofBaitadi.23. FGDconductedwiththeLocalRegistrarofBaitadi.24. FGDconductedwiththepeoplewithoutbirthregistrationcertificateinBajhang,Kailai,Morang,Mustang,Pyuthanand

Solukhumbu.25. FGDconductedwiththepeoplewithoutbirthregistrationcertificateinDolpa.26. FGDconductedwiththepeoplewithoutbirthregistrationcertificateinIlam,Mustang,Nawalparasi,PyuthanandTanahu.27. FGDconductedwiththepersonwithoutbirthregistrationcertificateinDolakha,Ilam.28. FGDconductedwiththepeoplewithoutbirthregistrationcertificateinKathmanduandTanahu.


CASE STUDY 5

Husband’scitizenshipdemandedtoregisterthebirth

D,amotheranda residentofBelbariMunicipalityownsacitizenshipcertificate.Shecameto register the birth of her sonwho is studying in grade 8 after the school administrationdemandedtosubmitthebirthregistrationcertificate.However,theconcernedofficeoverlookedtheidentityofherandaskedhertobringcitizenshipcertificateofherhusband.

Source:CasestudycollectedfromBelbariMunicipality,WardNo.4,Morang

CASE STUDY 6

Citizenshipofmothergoesunnoticed

16yearsoldZwenttoobtainthebirthregistrationcertificateinWardNo.7,ofKalangMunicipalityofficeofDolakhadistrictalongwithhermotherandhermother’scitizenshipcertificateinordertoattendthedistrictlevelexamination.Butthelocalregistrardeniedtoregisterherbirthontheaccountthatmotheraloneisnotenoughtoregisterherbirthandthepresenceoffatherisamust.Sherevisitedtheofficealongwithherbrotherandcitizenshipcertificateofhermotherandfatherthistimeandobtainedherbirthregistrationcertificate.

Source:CasestudycollectedfromKalangMunicipalityWardNo.7,Dolakha

CASE STUDY 7

Singlemotherunabletoregisterthebirthofherson

KThapacouldnotobtainthebirthregistrationcertificateofhersonbecauseshedoesnothavemarriageregistrationcertificateandcitizenshipcertificate.

In contrast to the above mentioned cases, the Local Registrar and other officials of theMunicipalityofficeofSuklagandakisupportedawomantoregisterthebirthofhersonwholackedthemarriageregistrationcertificate.

Source:CasestudyfromShuklagandakiMunicipalityWardNo.10,Tanahu

CASE STUDY 8

Singlemothersuccessfullyregistersthebirthofherson

J Thapa from Shuklagandaki Municipality, Tanahu was able to obtain the birth registrationcertificate of her son. TheWard Secretary and Chairperson were very supportive whiletheyassistedinregisteringthebirthofhersondespitetheywereawarethatshelackedthemarriageregistrationcertificate.However,theyissuedthebirthregistrationcertificateinthenameofherhusband.

However,thecasestudycollectedalsoindicatedthatunlikemothers,ifthefatheralonegoestoregisterthebirthoftheirchild,noofficesseemedtoobjectregistrationofbirthofthechildbecauseofthepresenceoffather.

Source:CasestudycollectedfromSuklagandakiMunicipality,WardNo.6,Tanahu


b.Reasonsforneverapplyingmarriageregistrationcertificate

Withregardtomarriageregistrationcertificate,thestudyfoundoutthat222personsoutof528i.e.42.04percentneverappliedforitbecauseofvariousreasonsmentionedbelow.Thestudyrevealedthat14.9percentofthepopulationwhodidnothavemarriageregistrationcertificateneverappliedforitduetotheunavailabilityofthenecessarydocumentswhile10.4percentoftherespondentsstatedthatreasonsbehind never applying for marriage registration certificate is no support or unavailability of familymember(s)responsibleformarriageregistration.

CASE STUDY 9

Fatheraloneconvenientlyregistersthebirthofachild

SJhagar(father)toadaughterwhohasbeenstudyingingrade8cametoregisterthebirthofhisdaughteranddidtheregistrationconveniently.

Source:CasestudycollectedfromBiratnagarMetropolitanCity,WardNo.5

Graph24: Reasonsforneverapplyingmarriageregistrationcertificate

Unavailability of necessary documents Lack of support from

family or unavailability of family members

Do not know

Do not want to tell

Other

14.9%

10.4%

4%

35.1%

35.6%

CASE STUDY 10

Birth and marriage could not be registered due to the unavailability of husband’scitizenshipcertificate

P Mandal owns a citizenship certificate by descent while her husband could not acquirecitizenship certificate due to death of her father-in-law and her husband does not havecitizenship certificate. She has two daughters. Due to lack of citizenship certificate of herhusbandtheyarenotbeingabletoobtain themarriageregistrationcertificateandshehasalsonotbeenabletoobtainbirthregistrationcertificateofhertwodaughters.Eventhoughthemotherhascitizenshipcertificatebydescent,LocalRegistrarrefusedtoregisterthemarriageandbirthoftheirchildrenduetolackofherhusband’scitizenshipcertificate.

Source:FGDconductedinBelbari,WardNo.4,Morang


Subsequently,FGDsconductedwith theLocalRegistrars indicate that theydonotregistervitaleventsinabsenceofnecessarydocumentsandnotfollowingtheproceduresinplace.Forexample,thelocalregistrarcouldnotregisterthebirthofachildwhenthereisnoonetonotifythebirthofthechildorwhenboththemotherandfatherofthechildareunidentified.29

Furthermore, local registrar claimed that people are unaware about the importance of vital eventsregistrationappendedbythelackofsupportorassistancefromthefamilymembers.

Faraway locationof theregistrationofficewithveryminimumoralmostno transportation facilitywassignificantlyhighlightedbythelocalregistrarsofMustangandDolpa.Moreover,thelocalregistrarsoftenfacewiththeduplicationofthevitalregistrationi.etheytrytoregistertheeventtwicewhilesomeserviceseekers tend toprovide the fake information to theofficials andsomedonotprovide thenecessary/correctinformationtotheofficial.30OneofthelocalregistrarsofNawalparasiclaimedthatsomeserviceseekers come to register thebirth of others’ children claiming their own.While the local registrar ofPyuthanclaimedthatinordertocorrectsomeofthedetailssuchasageandnameinthebirthregistrationcertificate,theserviceseekersapproachedtheofficetoregisterthebirthresultinginduplication.

29. FGDconductedwiththeLocalRegistrarofDolakha.30, FGDsconductedwiththeLocalRegistrarofTanahun,Banke,Nawalparasi,Pyuthan,IlamandKathmandu.31. NepalGazettenotificationofMinistryofLocalDevelopmentpublishedonMarch10,2003.32. FGDconductedwiththeLocalRegistrarofIlam.

CASE STUDY 11

Birthregistrationofaminorwhoseparentsaredeceased

JLawad,age4hasbeenlivinginhermaternalhomeinDehimandu2,Baitadiafterthedeathofherparents.ThelocalregistrarhasbeendenyingtoregisterthebirthofJLawadonaccountofherparentsunavailability.

Source:CasestudycollectedfromDehimandu,DaneshworMunicipalityWardNo.2,Baitadi

Theabovementionedcase study is highly condemnable as there is no reasonbehindexploring thewhereabouts of parents who are already deceased. Most importantly the directives31 issued by theMinistryofLocalDevelopmentstatesthatincaseofabsenceofparentstoregisterbirth,theelectedlocalrepresentativehas theauthority toregister thebirthand if suchpostsarevacant, theofficialsof localgovernmentareresponsibletoregistersuchbirth.Butinpractice,thebirthregistrationofchildrenwithouttheparentsisafarcry.

Whileattimesthewomencomesalongwiththechildbornthroughthefirsthusbandtoregisterthebirthwhich isnot thatconvenient legallybecauseof thesocial tabooattached to thestatusofwomenwhoconsummatesecondmarriage.32Ingeneral,theFGDwiththelocalregistrarportrayedthatthecommonbarrierstheyrepeatedlyfacewhileperformingthedutyarethenon-identificationofthefatherandmother(inmostspecificcasesthefather),theunorganizeddocumentation/recordkeepingintheLocalRegistrarOfficeandthepoliticalpressure.

TheparticipantsoftheFGDconductedwithpeoplewithoutbirthregistrationstressedontheabsenceoftherequireddocuments(mostimportantlythecitizenshipcertificate)oftheparentsasamajorreasonbehindthenon-acquisitionoftheBirthRegistrationCertificate.Conjointly,theFGDconductedwithpeoplewithoutbirthregistrationin15districtsinsinuatedthatanothercommonreasonbehindnotapplyingforbirthregistrationisthenon-acceptanceoftherelationshipbythefatherorhusband.Inmostofthecases,theLocalRegistrarsdenyregisteringthebirthofachildwithoutthemarriageregistrationoftheparentsandseekthecitizenshipcertificateoffatherinabsenceofthemarriageregistrationcertificatediminishingtheimportanceoftheidentityofmotheranddeprivingthechildrenfromhis/herlegalidentity.


TheKIIcollectedfrom101KeyInformantsdemonstratethatpeopleareunawareand/ornegligentregardingregistrationoftheirvitalevents.ThenotablenumbersofKeyInformantshavestatedthatpeopleusuallycontacttheconcernedofficestoregisterthevitaleventsonlywhenitisnecessary.Otherwise,theydonotbothertoregistertheirvitalevents.Peoplewereuninformedabouttheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofvitalregistration.Theyhadneitherfeltthesignificancesofthevitaleventregistrationnorrealizedthehindrancesand impediments itmayaccompany.TheKII alsounveiled the requirementof the specialprogramstomakepeopleawareabouttheimportanceofthevitaleventsregistrationbecausemajorityofthepeoplewereinattentiveaboutthepurposeofthebirthregistration.ThecomplexgeographiclocationoftheLocalRegistrars’OfficeswerealsofoundtobeoneoftheleadingreasonsbehindnothavingaccessofthepeopleattheLocalRegistrars’Officesthatmadethepeopleevenmoredifficulttoobtaintheproperinformationonvitalregistration.

c. Application for birth registration and reasons for denial

Thestudysuggestedthatamongthosewhodidnotpossess thebirthregistrationcertificate(767),21personsi.e.2.73percentappliedbutdidnotpossessbirthregistrationcertificate.Similarly,amongthosewhodidnotpossessthemarriageregistrationcertificate(528),15peoplei.e.2.84%percentappliedbutdidnotpossessthemarriageregistrationcertificate.

52.4%of themalepopulation (11 individuals) applied for thebirth registration certificate among the21eligiblepersonsbutdidnotpossessthebirthregistrationcertificate.Similarly,47.6%of thefemalepopulation(10individuals)appliedforthebirthregistrationcertificateamongthe21eligiblepersonsbutdidnotpossessthebirthregistrationcertificate.While40%ofthemalepopulation(6individuals)appliedforthemarriageregistrationcertificateamongthe15eligiblepersonsbutdidnotpossessthemarriageregistrationcertificate.Whereas60%ofthefemalepopulation(9individuals)appliedforthemarriageregistration certificate among the 15 eligible persons but did not possess the marriage registrationcertificate.

Belowaretheoutcomesontheapplicationforthebirthandmarriageregistrationcertificate:

Graph25: Applicationofbirthregistrationcertificatebygender

Graph26: Applicationofmarriageregistrationcertificatebygender

Male52.4%

Female47.6%

Male40%

Female60%


Graph 27 below specifically presents that 47.58 percent of the people (10) who applied for birthregistrationcertificatewereaskedfortheadditionalsupportingdocuments.While23.8percent(5)weredeniedunderthefollowinggroundsfromacquiringthebirthregistrationcertificateand19.1percent(4)hadcompletedtheapplicationandarewaitingforbirthregistrationcertificate.

Graph27: Outcomeoftheapplicationofbirthregistration

47.58%

23.8%

19.1%

9.52%

Asked for additional documents

Denied

Completed but waiting

Do not know

Group28belowdemonstratesthat20%ofthepeople(3)weredeniedthemarriageregistrationcertificate.Similarly,13%ofthepeople(2)wereaskedforadditionaldocumentsand53%(8)hadcompletedtheapplicationandarewaitingforthemarriageregistrationcertificate.

Graph28: Outcomeoftheapplicationofmarriageregistration

53%

20%

13%

7%

7%

Asked for additional documents

Denied

Completed but waiting

Do not know

Other

Amongthosewhodeniedforthebirthregistrationcertificate,25%ofthepopulationweredeniedonthegroundofnonidentificationofparentswhileotherreasonswerebeingthemandatorypresenceoffather,fatherandmotherleftforforeignemployment,deniedbythefathertorecommendthebirthcertificatesoonandsoforth.Iftheoutcomeofthebirthandmarriageregistrationcertificateiscompared,thepersonswhowereaskedtosubmittheadditionaldocumentsofbirthregistrationcertificateisquitehigherthanmarriage registration certificate which portrays that the acquisition of birth registration certificate iscomparativelychallengingthanmarriageregistrationcertificate.

Graph29: Reasonsfordenialofbirthregistrationcertificate

12.5%Mandatory presence of father

12.5%Father and mother left for foreign

employment

12.5%Death of both the parents

25%Parents not identified

12.5%Denied by the mother to recommend for the birth certificate

12.5%Denied by the father to recommend for the birth certificate

12.5%Denied the relationship by the father; Denied the relationship by the mother


TheFGDsconductedwiththeLocalRegistrarinsinuatesthatthechildrenbornthroughanearlymarriagehavebeen facingdifficulties forbirthregistrationsince themarriageof theparentsofsuchchildrenisunregisteredbythelocalregistrars.33

Despitethefactthatthecircularwasissuedtoregistereventhechildmarriage,theconcernedauthorityofDaneshworMunicpalitydeniedthemarriageregistrationthatindicatesbythemereuseofdiscretionbytheconcernedauthority.

Withregardtothemarriageregistration,singlespousecomestotheofficetoregisterthemarriagewhichislegallynotacceptable.34OneofthelocalregistrarsofPyuthanstatedthatinthecaseswherethecouplesaremarriedhoweverdidnotregistertheirmarriageandthedeathofthehusbandwhileinthecourseofforeignemployment,whenthewifecomestoregisterthemarriage,thelocalregistercannotvalidatesuchmarriageandthechildrenbornthroughtheparentswhereeitherofthespousedieswithoutregisteringthemarriageundoubtedlyhastogothroughtheproceduralhurdles.Similarlythelocalregistrarseemstogetconfusedwhenthecouplecomestoregistertheirmarriagewherethelegalidentityofeitheroneofthemisunidentified.35

FGDconductedinBaitadiclaimedthatduetotheopenborderwithIndia,lotsofNepalesegirlhadbeenmarriedtoIndiancitizen,whohadbeenlaterneglected,abusedandabandonedbythehusbandandthechildrenborntosuchcoupleareunabletoobtainthebirthregistration.

33. FGDsconductedwiththeLocalRegistrarofTanahun,Banke,Kailali,Parsa,Baitadi,Ilam,Kathmandu.34. FGDsconductedwiththeLocalRegistrarofPyuthanandSolukhumbu.35. FGDconductedwiththeLocalRegistrarofPyuthan.

CASE STUDY 12

Denialtoregisterthebirthandearlymarriage

MaheshTamtaandMayaTamtahadanearlymarriage.MaheshTamta,aresidentofDaneshworMunicipality,Ward.No.5andMayaTamtahadachildaftertheirmarriage.Duetotheirearlymarriage,theconcernedofficedeniedtoregistertheirmarriageandbirthoftheirchild.

Source:CasestudycollectedfromDaneshworMunicipality,WardNo.5,Baitadi

CASE STUDY 13

Deniedthebirthregistrationbytheauthority

FTamta,daughterofGTamta,residentofDaneshworMunicipaltyWardNo.10ofBaitadidistrictmarriedtoanIndiannational.TheyhaveasonnameHTamta.Afterthebirthoftheirson,herhusbandstartedneglectingherandabandonedthemcompellingGTamtatocomebacktoherfather’shome.Whenhersonwas3-4yearsold,GTamtamarriedanothermanandwentbacktoIndiaandherwhereaboutsisunknown.FTamta,thegrandfatherofHTamtafrequentlywenttotheconcernedofficetoobtainthebirthregistrationofhisgrandsonhoweverhisattemptshavealwaysbeenunsuccessful.Themunicipalityaskstosubmitthecitizenshipcertificateoffather.

Source:CaseStudycollectedfromDaneshworMunicipalityWardNo.10,Baitadi


TheServiceSeekersinterview,collectionofvitaleventsregistrationfiledatDAOandCross/Casestudyconductedbythesurveyunderscoresthatthedenialofthebirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatebytheconcernedoffice,underthedifferentpretextisnotjustifiableandrational.Forexample:aserviceseeker from Ilamcouldnot register thebirthdue to theabsenceofLocalRegistrarat theoffice.Shecomplained of the improper record keeping and insufficient staff at the office.While surprisingly aserviceseekerfromParsawasmadeamonetarydemandbytheofficialwhocametoregisterthebirthofhisnephewanddeathofhisbrother.HowevertheyregisteredonlyafterhepaidextraRs.500totheassistantsecretary.WhereasaserviceseekerfromKailaihadtowaitfor12yearstoregisterhermarriage.Somedenialswerebasedonthegroundsofrequirementeithertosubmit thecitizenshipof thefatherdepreciatingthevalueofthemotherscitizenshipcertificate.

Crosscasestudyportrayedthatinhalfofthecasesthematernalinformantswerenotsubscribedbythelocalofficersagaindepreciatingthevalueofmother.WhileaserviceseekerfromBaitadiwasdeniedtoregisterthemarriageandthebirthofherchildduetotheabsenceofherhusband.WhileinDolakha,theofficersdeniedtoregisterthebirthofthechildrenwhowasbornasaresultofrapebyclaimingthatthefatherisneeded.Whensoughthelpfromthefather,hethreatenedtokillthechild.Theurgetoregisterthebirthandmarriagefromthepermanentaddresswasalsoobservedwhiledoingcrosscasestudy.

4.Impacts

Graph 30 demonstrate that in absence of birth registration certificate the people have been facingnumerous impactsas theyarenotbeingable toapply for thecitizenshipcertificate,birthregistrationcertificateandtogetadmittedatschool.

ThegraphextensivelysupportstheFGDsconductedwiththepeoplewithoutbirthregistrationcertificateof15districtsastheystatedinthediscussionthattheyhavebeenfacingacomplicationintheapplicationprocedure for citizenship certificate and birth registration certificate while significant number of therespondents claimed that they are not being able to admit their children at school since the schooladministrationasked them to submit thecopyofbirth registrationcertificate.FGDconducted in Ilamrevealedthattheschooladministrationaskedthechildtoquitthestudybecauseofinabilitytosubmitthebirthregistrationcertificate.36

Unemployment and psychological problems were also addressed by the participants of the FGDconductedwiththepeoplewithoutbirthregistrationcertificate.InfacttheFGDsof13districtsclaimedthattheirchildrenhavebeenfacinghumiliation,inferiorityanddiscriminationfromthesociety.37

CASE STUDY 14

Deniedthebirthandmarriageregistrationbytheauthority

YNepali,whobelongstoDaneshworMunicipality8,TripurasundariVDC,marriedtoanIndiancitizenandhastwosons.Themunicipalityplainlydeniesregisteringtheirmarriageandbirthoftheirchildren.

Source:CaseStudycollectedfromDaneshworMunicipalityWardNo.8,TripurasunderiVDC,Baitadi

36. FGDconductedwiththepeoplewithoutBirthRegistrationCertificateofIlam.37. RespondedbytheFGDParticipantsoftheBaitadi,Dolakha,Ilam,Kailali,Kathmandu,Morang,Nawalparasi,ParsaDistricts


Graph31indicatesthatsignificantnumberofpopulationispreventedfromregisteringthebirthofthechildrensincetheydonothaveregisteredtheirmarriages.Similarly,duetolackofmarriageregistrationcertificatetheyarenotbeingabletoapplyforthecitizenshipcertificate.

Graph30: Problemsfacedasaresultofnonacquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificate

PROBLEMS FACED

Others

Unable to participate in the underage

games

Do not know

Unable to get admitted

at school

Unable to apply for the

citizenship certificate

Unable to open bank

account

Do not want to tell

1.17%

2.05%

3.82%

3.23%

0.5%6.76%

0.5%

63.2%

1.17%

17.35%

Unable to

register for the District level Exa- mination

Unable to apply forthe birth registration certificate

Unable to claim the

gover- nmental

allowanc- es and relief

Graph31: Problemsfacedasaresultofnonacquisitionofmarriageregistrationcertificate

PROBLEMS FACED

Others

Unable to testify in the

court

Do not know

Unable to make the voters id

card

Unable to apply for the

citizenship certificate

Unable to open bank

account

Do not want to tell

1.34%

0.44%

0.44%

7.62%

8.52%

1.34%0.89%

0.44%

57.39%

2.24%

20.62%Unable to migrate

Unable to register the birth of the children

Unable to claim the

gover- nmental

allowanc- es and relief


38, Section6(4)(c)ofSocialSecurityProgramOperatingGuidelines,2016.39. SabinShrestha,LegalAnalysisofCivilRegistrationLawsofNepal,January2018,FWLD.p.440. Section13(2)ofBirth,DeathandOtherPersonalEvents(Registration)Act,1976.41. Section15ofBirth,DeathandOtherPersonalEvents(Registration)Act,1976.

Ifpersonslackcivilregistrationdocument(s),theyaredeprivedofvarioussocialsecuritybenefits.SocialSecurity Program Operating Guidelines, 2016 specify required documents to access social securitybenefits.Birthregistrationcertificate is required toapply forchildallowance togetherwithcitizenshipcertificate ofmother or guardian in casemother is not available.38Therefore, all identity documentsaccessingtosocialprotectionarecloselylinkedtocivilregistrydocumentandcitizenshipcertificates.39

Additionally,thestudyalsodemonstratesthatstatusofdisabilityhassomekindofimpactontheacquisitionofbirthregistrationcertificate.

Whilemany of the respondents also stated that they are not being able to claim the social securityallowancesandotherfacilitiesendowedbythegovernment,andtheyarenotbeingabletoopenabankaccount.Thecasestudiescollectedunfold thestoriesof thepeoplewhohavebeensufferingwithoutthe civil registration documents, most importantly, the birth registration certificate and the marriageregistrationcertificate.

Inability toadmit thechildrenat schoolsappendedby thecomplication in theapplicationprocessofbirthregistrationcertificatewasrepeatedlycitedissuesintheFGDswhichwasalsosupplementedbytheHouseholdSurvey.Thesinglewomenhadtofaceseveralproblemsastheconcernedadministrationdemandedthecitizenshipcertificateofthehusbandorthehusbandhimselfintheoffice.Insuchsituation,thesinglemotherandherchildwhohasbeenabandonedbythehusbandandneglectedbythefamilymemberswerevulnerabletostandandclaimtherightsinthesociety.

Fraudulent practices in birth and marriage registration

TheBirth,DeathandOtherPersonalEvents(Registration)Act,1976hasprovisionstopenalizethepersonwhoprovidesfalseinformation.Thepunishmentisfineupto100Rupeesoranimprisonmentuptoonemonthorboth.40TheCDOhaspowertoproceedanddecidethecasesfiledundertheAct.41

Atotalof14casesonvitaleventsregistrationfiledintheDAOwerecollectedduringthestudy.Thecaseswerefiledagainstbirthormarriageregistrationwithmisinformationorfraudulentdocuments,duplicationofbirthregistrationcertificateandrevocationofthebirthregistrationcertificate.

FourcaseswerefiledintheDAOofNawalparasiwithregardtorevokingthebirthregistrationcertificate,where3areongoing.Onecaseofthebirthregistrationhasbeenrevokedasitwasobtainedbyprovidingfalseinformation.

CASE STUDY 15

Denialfromtheschooltogetenrolledduetolackofbirthcertificate

SShrestha,aresidentofWardno.6ofIlamMunicipality,Ilamdistrict,wasbornin2003.Sheiscurrentlystudyingingrade9.Sheisworriedaboutthecontinuationofherstudysinceshedoesnothavebirthregistrationcertificate.Swasabandonedbyhermotherafterherbirth.Shehasbeenlivingwithhergrandmotherinhermaternalhome.Sheiscompelledtostudyinaschoolwhichisfarawayfromherhomewhenshewasdeniedtoenrollherintheschoolnearbyherhomedueto lackofbirthregistrationcertificate.Shealongwithhermaternalgrandmotheranduncleapproachedtheconcernedofficeseveraltimesbuttheyalwaysfailedtoregisterherbirth.

Source:CasestudycollectedfromIlamMunicipalityWardNo.6,Ilam


Similarly,5caseswerefiledintheDAOofParsaontheissueofprovidingfalseinformationtotheoffice.Amongthe5casesfiled,4caseswereinrespecttothesubmissionoffalsecitizenshipcertificatewhileonewasabouttherevocationofbirthregistrationcertificate.

Furthermore,3caseswerefiledinDAOofBankeonbirthandmarriageregistration.While2caseswerefiledattheDAOofBaitadiwhichwererelatedtoestablishingtherelationshipandregisteringbirthofthechildren.

The trend of fraudulent practices could be the demand of the concerned authority to submit theunnecessarydocumentswhile applying for the vital events registartion appendedby the ambiguousprocedureof theregistrationprocess.Furthermore therigidityof theregistrationauthorityneglectingthebirth registration as a universal registration compels the people to opt for the alternatemethodsofregistration.Thetendencyof the fraudulentpracticesare inevitableuntilandunlesspeoplehavetoencounterprocedural hurdles and they are asked to submit unnecessarydocuments. If the authorityexhibitsrigidapproachwhileregisteringthegenuinevitalevents,therewillbeaspontaneousriseinthetrendsoffraudulentregistrationofvitalevents.

Thedatacollected fromBaitadi,Parsa,Nawalparasi andBanke insinuates that apart fromestablishingtherelationshipinordertoregister thebirthandmarriage, thepeoplearealsooptingforregistrationofvitaleventswithfakeinformationwhilesomecasesrelatedtoduplicationandrevocationofthebirthregistrationindicatestheunawarenessofthepeoplethatbirthregistrationcouldbeamendedthroughadueprocess.

Similarlythereisnoschemeofpunishmentagainstanemployeewhodeniesthepersonthatapproachestheoffice toregister thevitaleventsorwhoaskssubmissionofadditionaldocumentsor fulfillmentofadditionalproceduresnotenvisagedbythelawoncivilregistration.Ifrisksofbeingliabletosuchactcouldbecreated,noncooperativeattitudeamongemployeeswouldbeeliminated.41 Andsometimessuchnoncoperativeattitudesoftheemployeescompeltheserviceseekerstofulfilthepersonalbenefitsoftheserviceprovidersinordertogettheregistrationdone.

CASE STUDY 16

TheLocalRegistrarregistersthebirthofapersonafteracceptingthegraftofrupees500

I came to registermybirth at PakahaMainpur RuralMunicipalityWard no. 2 office (Parsadistrict).IwasaskedtosubmitthecitizenshipcertificateofmyfatherwhichIdidnothave.ButtheLocalRegistrarregisteredmybirthaftertakingRs.500frommeasagraft.

Source:CasestudycollectedfromPakahaMainpurRuralMunicipalityWardNo.2,Parsa


CHAPTER 3

CONCLUSIONSANDRECOMMENDATIONSConclusions

Thefindingsoftheacquisitiononbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatestudydemonstratethatthevital event registration including thebirthandmarriage registrationhasnotbeen fully covered.Non-possessionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatestillremainshigh-22percentofpopulationswithoutthebirthregistrationcertificateand21percentwithoutthemarriageregistrationcertificate.Nonpossessionofsuchdocumentshasresultedthemtofacenumerouscomplicationsintheirdailylives.

Thepalpablegendergapinpossessionofbothbirthandmarriagecertificatedepicts theconvenientaccessandcapacityofmalesinpossessingthesame.82percentofthemalespossessthebirthregistrationcertificate,while74percentofthefemalepossessthebirthregistrationcertificate.

Significant numberof peopleweredeniedby the concerned authoritydue to non-recognition of themotherasinformantofthechild.CitizenshipcertificateofthefatherofthechildwasdemandedbytheLocalRegistrar.Thestudyalsodemonstratedthatthemajorreasonbehindnonapplicationofthebirthandmarriageregistrationcertificateareduetotheunavailabilityofnecessarydocuments,particularlythecitizenshipcertificateofthefather.TheLocalRegistrarsalsosoughtthepresenceoffathertoapplyforthebirthregistrationcertificate.Themostcommonreasonforneverapplyingbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatewaslackofnecessarydocumentsdemandedbytheconcernedofficialsandtendencytoapplyforitwhenneeded.

The current vital registration laws ofNepal possess somegapswhich is subject to amendment.TheActof1976takescivilregistrationasastand-alonefunctionof thestatetoregisterpersonaleventsforthepurposeofmaintainingrecordsofpersonsandfamilies.42Furthermore,theActdoesnotmaketheregistration of vital eventsmandatory.43Though theAct and Rules do not specify to register the vitaleventsatthepermanentaddressoftheconcernedperson,ithasbeenpracticedthatthevitaleventhastoberegisteredintheirpermanentaddress.Thismandatoryrequirementofregisteringaneventatitspermanentlocationmeansthataneventcouldnotberegisteredatanyplaceotherthanthepermanentplaceofone’sresidence.44

The requirement to submit the citizenship certificate of a fatherwhile applying the birth registrationcertificateofachilddoesnotmakeanyreasoningespeciallywhenthefatherhasabandonedboththemotherandchildren.

42. SabinShrestha,LegalAnalysisofCivilRegistrationLawsofNepal,January2018,FWLD.43. Ibidp.3144. Ibidp.31


The requirement to mention citizenship certificate number of father or mother or of the concernedpersonisonlyforthepurposeofrecordkeepingandcitizenshipcertificateassuchisnotrequiredtobeproduced43butinpracticethelocalregistrarsandtheconcernedofficialsmandatorilydemandsforthecitizenshipcertificateofthehusbandeventhoughthemotherownsthecitizenshipcertificatediscardingthelegalidentityofawomenoramother,thathasfurthercreatedunnecessarydelayintheregistrationprocess.

AlbeittheGovernmentissuedacircularonJanuary26th,2006directingthelocalregistrarstoregisterbirthofachildwhosefatherisunidentified,however,thesinglemotherareplainlydeniedtoregisterthebirthoftheirchildrenwhentheycomealonetotheconcernedoffice.

With regard to thepossession ofboth thedocuments, the eligiblepopulationdid not apply forbirthcertificatebecausetheydidnothavetherequireddocuments.Sincetheserviceseekersweredemandedwith thesupplementarydocuments like thecitizenshipcertificate,marriagecertificate theycouldnotreallyacquirethebirthregistrationcertificateinabsenceoftheformerdocumentsprecludingthemfromclaimingthevariousallowancesprovidedbytheGovernment.

Thedataindicatedthatthepercentageofacquisitionofbirthandmarriageregistrationcertificatehasaneffectuponthelanguage,thegovernmentshallinitiatetodisseminatetheimportanceofvitalregistrationdocumentstothepeoplewhohavedifficultyunderstandingandwritingNepali.

Necessaryinterventionfromthegovernmentshallbeneededtoendorsetheuniversalconceptofbirthregistration.Thepeopleshallbemadeawareoftheimportanceofthevitalregistrationanditslinkagewith economic and social rights.The concernedofficial shall beprovidedwith the capacitybuildingtrainingsinordertominimizetheproceduralhurdles.TheessenceofConstitutionandotherinternationalhumanrightsinstrumentclaimingtheuniversalprincipleofbirthregistrationshallbeacknowledgedbytheGovernment.

Recommendations

The study thus, to ameliorate the laws and policies regarding the vital registration urges for severalrecommendations.

LegalRecommendations

• Birthregistrationshouldbeavailabletoallchildrenregardlessoftheprofileandstatusoftheparents

• ExistingBirth,DeathandOtherPersonalEvents(Registration)Act,1976andRegulation1977needtobeamendedtoaddressthechallengeshighlightedabove.

• ThesituationhighlyrecommendsfortheneedofaprogressiveamendmenttothevitalregistrationlawsthatwouldenunciatetheregistrationofchildrenbythematernalinformantssincetheBirth,DeathandotherPersonalEvents(Registration)Act1976providestheprimarydutytoregisterinformationofbirthordeathtotheheadofthefamilyandinhisorherabsencewithothermemberofthesamefamilyhavingattainedtheageofmajority45preventingthepersonorrelativesnotlivinginthesamefamilytoregistertheevents.TheActdoesnotallowotherfamilymembers,ifanyofthemarenotlivingtogetherasamemberofthesamefamilyandislivingseparately.46

• Allowregistrationofvitaleventstoberegisteredeitheratthepermanentaddressorplaceofusualresidenceorattheplaceofevent.

45. LegalAnalysisofCivilRegistrationLawsofNepal,FWLD,2018,P.1646. Section4oftheBirth,DeathandotherPersonalEvents(Registration)Act,1976.


• Appointtheseparateanddedicatedlocalregistrarsatthewardlevelinordertoensurethateverybodygetsaneasyaccesstoregistrationinspiteofgeographicalchallenges.

• SpecifyandsimplifytheprovisionsoftheActtopreventambiguityandtomakeitmoreunderstandable.For instance: Simplify the recommendation and registration procedure to prevent the delay inregistration, specify the procedure regarding the registration of the orphans, children under theguardianshipandothersimilarcases.

• Make free and timely registration of vital events by stressing it as both a parental duty and stateresponsibility.Conjointly,theParentsshouldbemadeliableandaccountabletoregisterthebirthoftheirchild.However,whiledoingsoitistobenotedthattheparentswhohavestruggledorputanefforttoregisterthebirthshallbereprieved.

• Penalizetheofficialwhocausesdelayordeniestoregistervitaleventsorasksforadditionaldocumentsnotexpresslyrequiredbylaws.Inaddition,thereshouldbeaclearprovisiononapropergrievanceredressmechanism.

AdministrativeandProceduralRecommendations

• MaketheVitalRegistrationOfficewellequippedwithabundantinfrastructure,technologyfriendlyandproperhumanresources.

• Sufficientapplicationformshouldbeavailableatthelocalregister’soffice.

• All persons should be treated equally without discrimination irrespective of gender, caste, class,marital status, sexual orientation, profession, political or ideological beliefs, religion and physicalcondition.ThelanguageshallnotbethebarriertotheservicethustheconcernedofficeshallkeepintoconsiderationoftheserviceseekersbelongingtovariousethnicdiversitywhomayhaveadifficultyinunderstandingandwritinginNepali.Suchcommunicationbarriershallbesmoothlyprevented.Thepeoplecomingovertotheconcernedofficeshallbeassistedbytheofficersandtheyshallbemadetounderstandthebenefitsofvitalregistration.

• Establishavitalregistrationofficeatlocallevels(Ward)inordertoensurethateverybodygetsaneasyaccesstoregistrationtominimizethegeographicalcomplexity.Forinstance:RunaMobilecamp(atleastonceayear)forsuchserviceseekerswhodonothaveaneasyaccesstotheofficebecauseofgeographicalcomplexity.

• Minimizethepoliticalinterventionintheprocessofvitalregistration.

• TraintheconcernedofficersregardingtheBirth,DeathandPersonalEvents(Registration)ActsandRegulationsothattheyshallbefamiliarwiththecurrentlaws.

• Createanenvironmentwheretheabsenceofonesinglepersonwouldnothindertheregistrationoftheevents.

• Localregisters’presenceattheofficeisensuredduringofficehours.

• Mindsetoftheofficers:serviceprovidersassumethatrefugeeshaveseparatebody/officesthatlookover their vital eventwhile the law states that theCRVS service providers shall have the duty toregistertheVERofanyperson.

• Establishingareferralmechanismtohigherauthoritiesifbirthregistrationisdelayedordeniedbytheconcernedauthority.Suchsituationmustnotbelinkedtodisincentives.

• Having special procedures for making available prompt civil registration services to persons indifficultiessuchasdisplacedpersons,childrennot in fosteror institutionalcare,personswhohavebeenvictimsofvariousdisasters.

• Asystemofmobileregistrationshouldbeintroducedinordertoreceivemaximumcivilregistration.Forthis,mobileregistryteamsmustbesenttoschools,industries,hat,melasandchild-focusedpublichealthprogramssuchasImmunizationDayandtothetargetedcommunitieswhichhavelowerrateof


accesstocivilregistrationdocument.

• Removeproceduralrequirementoffather’scitizenshipcertificateforbirthregistrationtobeconsistentwiththeactandtoensuregenderequality.

• SimplifytheBirthRegistrationProcedure.Thecolumnrequiringdetailsoffatherormother’scitizenshipcertificateshouldbedeleted,ratheritcandemandforevidencefrombirthdeliveringpoints.

• Ensureintherulesanddirectivesthatrequirementofsupportingdocument(s)e.g.,requirementstosubmitclearanceofhouse/landtaxes,shouldbeminimalinordertoavoidunnecessaryadministrativeandproceduralburdens.

OtherRecommendations

PublicAwareness

• Establishaneasyaccessforthepersontoacquiretheinformation.

• Encourageeveryone to register thevitaleventsbymaking themawareof thesignificanceofvitalregistrationcertificate.Forinstance:Startamovementtoregisteralltheeventsandstartcounselingforthesame,orstartamobilecamptoregistertheeventsofthepeopleandmotivatethemarginalizedandimpoverishedpeoplebyprovidingthemwithallowanceforbirthregistrationinordertoencouragebirthregistration.

• LaunchawarenessraisingactivitiesincludingimportanceofCRVSandinformationonhowtoaccessthe registration services such asmedia campaigns, theprinting anddistributionof posters, streetdramas,massmeetings,andsooninnationalaswellaslocallanguagesofparticularcommunitiesonimportanceofcivilregistrationtomotivatepeopletovisitregistrar’sofficeandregisterthevitaleventsratherthangovernmenttovisitcommunitiestoregistervitalevents.Thisiscrucialtochangepeople’sperceptionandbehavior.

• Ensure through legal provisions and directives that comprehensive training is provided to theconcernedofficialsontheprovisionsoftheCivilRegistrationlawsandproceduressothattheytakeactionsaccordingtothelawstoachievetheuniversalcoverageofcivilregistration.

Infrastructureanduseoftechnology

• Maketheofficestructurewomen,childrenandpersonswithdisabilityfriendly

• Adoptanefficientdatamanagementsystem.

• MaketheVitalRegistrationOfficewellequippedwithsufficientinfrastructure,technologyfriendlyandwithproperhumanresources

• Creationandmaintenanceofcomputerdatabasesforrecordingfamilydetailsandtheregistrationofpersonaleventsinallthelocallevelsandatthedistricts,alongwithadequatebackupfacilities.


CBS CentralBureauofStatistics

CCS CrossCaseStudy

CDO ChiefDistrictOfficer

CRVS CivilRegistrationandVitalStatistics

DAO DistrictAdministrationOffice

DCC DistrictCoordinationCommittee

DE DistrictEnumerator

DoCR DepartmentofCivilRegistration

FGD FocusGroupDiscussion

FWLD ForumforWomen,LawandDevelopment

HQ Headquarters

KII KeyInformantsInterview

MoFAGA MinistryofFederalAffairsandGeneralAdministration

MoHA MinistryofHomeAffairs

NGO Non-GovernmentalOrganization

NPC NationalPlanningCommission

OT OtherMunicipality

RM RuralMunicipality

SDG SustainableDevelopmentGoal

UNHCR UnitedNationsHighCommissionforRefugees

UNICEF UnitedNationsChildren’sFund

VERS VitalEventsRegistrationSystem

ACRONYMS


ThetablebelowillustratesthehouseholdsforsurveyofeachdistrictfollowedbythewardsofHeadquartersandnon-adjoiningMunicipality/RuralMunicipalities.

S.NO District HouseholdsforSurvey

Headquarters WardNo.

Municipality/RuralmunicipalitynotadjoinedtoHQ

WardNo.

1 Ilam 64 Ilam 7,9 Rong 1,3

2 Morang 211 Biratnagar 5,7 Belbari 2,4

3 Solukhumbu 30 Solududhkunda 5,7 Dudhkaushika 2,6

4 Dolakha 45 Bhimeshwor 3,5 Jiri 4,6

5 Parsa 94 Birgunj 21,24 Sakhuwaparsauni 2,5

6 Kathmandu 431 Kathmandu Met-ropolitan

17,6 Dakchhinkali 1,5

7 Nawalparasi 127 Ramgram 1,10 Pratappur 1,4

8 Tanahu 77 Byaas 1,10 Suklagandaki 6,8

9 Mustang 30 Gharapjhong 4,3 Thasang 3,4

10 Pyuthan 47 Mallarani 3,5 Mandabi 3,5

11 Banke 94 Nepalgunj 2,12 Baijnath 6,8

12 Dolpa 30 Thulibheri 3,8 Jagdula 1,3

13 Kailali 141 Dhangadi 1,13 Gauriganga 1,6

14 Bajhang 33 Jayaprithvi 10,3 ChabbisPathivara 1,4

15 Baitadi 45 Dasrathchand 4,8 Dilasaini 2,5

EvenforeachWard,thenumbersofhouseholdsweredeterminedbasedonpopulationproportionratioofeachWardwhichisdescribedinthetablebelow:

Ilam

Municipality/ RuralMunicipality

Ilam(HQ) Rong(Others)

Ward WardNo.7 WardNo.9 WardNo.1 WardNo.3

NumberofHouseholds 23 22 7 12

ANNEX 1

DETAILBREAKDOWNOFHOUSEHOLD


Morang


Biratnagar(HQ) Belbari(Others)



Solukhumbu


Biratnagar(HQ) Belbari(Others)



Dolakha


Bhimeshwor(HQ) Jiri(Others)



Parsa


Birgunj(HQ) Sakhuwaparasauni(Others)



Kathmandu


Kathmandu(HQ) Dakshinkali(Others)



Nawalparasi


Ramgram(HQ) Pratappur(Others)



Tanahu


Byaas(HQ) Suklagandaki(Others)




Mustang


Gharapjhong(HQ) Thasang(Others)



Pyuthan


Mallarani(HQ) Mandabi(Others)



Banke


Nepalgunj(HQ) Baijanath(Others)



Dolpa


Thulibheri(HQ) Jagdula(Others)



Kailali


Dhangadhi(HQ) Gauriganga(Others)



Bajhang


JayaPrithvi(HQ) ChabishPathivara(Others)



Baitadi


Dasrathchand(HQ) Dilasaini(Others)




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B:Q

UEST

IONNAIR

ETO

BE

ASK

EDT

OP

EOPL

EW

ITHO

UTB

IRTH

REG

ISTR

ATIO

NC

ERTI

FIC

ATE


2C.

Wha

tkin

do

fdoc

umen

twhi

chw

asn

otw

ithy

ouw

asn

eces

sary

tos

ubm

ital

ongw

ithth

eap

plic

atio

n?

Citi

zens

hipC

ertif

icat

e

C

itize

nshi

po

fHus

ban

d/W

ife

C

itize

nshi

po

fFat

her

C

itize

nshi

po

fMot

her

C

itize

nshi

po

fBro

ther

s

C

itize

nshi

po

foth

erc

hild

ren

from

sam

efa

ther

C

itize

nshi

po

fgra

ndpar

ents

C

itize

nshi

po

foth

errel

ativ

es

C

itize

nshi

po

fAdop

tive

Gua

rdia

n

C

itize

nshi

po

fcom

mun

itym

ember

s

Oth

ers:…

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

….

Oth

erC

ertif

icat

es

C

ertif

icat

em

aint

aini

ngrel

atio

nshi

p

M

arriag

eC

ertif

icat

eof

Par

ents

Vo

terId

entit

yC

ard

C

ertif

icat

ere

noun

cing

For

eign

Citi

zen-

ship

M

igra

tion

Cer

tific

ate

Educ

atio

nalC

ertif

icat

e

C

ertif

icat

eof

Gov

ernm

entJ

ob

La

nda

ndH

ouse

ow

ners

hipc

ertif

icat

e

Ref

ugee

cer

tific

ate

Bi

rth

Cer

tific

ate

ofa

bro

ad

Pa

sspor

t/Visa

Oth

ers:…

……

……

……

……

……

……

…

Rec

omm

endat

ion

Lette

ran

do

ther

doc

umen

ts

Rec

omm

endat

ion

Lette

rof

Mun

icip

ality

/Rur

al

Mun

icip

ality

Rec

omm

endat

ion

Lette

rof

Pol

ice

Offi

ce

Rec

omm

endat

ion

Lette

rof

Chi

ldH

ome/

Or-

pha

nage

D

ocum

ents

ofI

den

tific

atio

n/In

vest

igat

ion

Rec

omm

endat

ion

Lette

rof

Gov

ernm

entE

m-

plo

yee

D

ocum

ents

ofH

ospita

l

Oth

ers:…

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

…

2D.

Wha

tkin

do

fpro

ble

ms

did

you

face

dur

ingth

eap

plic

atio

npro

cess

forre

ceiv

ingth

ebirth

cer

tific

ate?

M

ore

than

one

optio

nca

nbe

ticke

d(√)

.

Le

ngth

yPr

oced

ure

La

cko

ffam

ilys

uppor

t

Lack

ofs

uppor

tfro

mth

egov

ernm

ente

mplo

yees

an

dth

eirm

isbeh

avio

r

Diff

icul

tyto

col

lect

all

nece

ssar

ydoc

umen

ts

Tog

oto

the

pla

cew

here

the

citi

zens

hipo

fpar

ents

w

asissu

edra

ther

th

anth

epla

ce

whe

reth

ebirth

took

pla

ce

D

eman

dfo

rex

tra

fee

O

ther

s(ifa

ny):…

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

…..


3

Ifyo

uha

ven

otfi

leda

nap

plic

atio

nin

mun

icip

ality

/rur

alm

unic

ipal

ityfo

rre

com

men

dat

ion

then

wha

tis

the

reas

onb

ehin

dit

?

Lac

kof

nec

essa

ryd

ocum

ents

Citi

zens

hipo

fHus

ban

d/W

ife

Citi

zens

hipo

fFat

her

Citi

zens

hipo

fMot

her

Citi

zens

hipo

fBro

ther

s

Citi

zens

hipo

foth

erc

hild

ren

from

sam

efa

ther

Citi

zens

hipo

fgra

ndpar

ents

Citi

zens

hipo

foth

errel

ativ

es

Citi

zens

hipo

fAdop

tive

Gua

rdia

n

Citi

zens

hipo

fcom

mun

itym

ember

s

Chi

ldc

ente

r/C

itize

nshi

pc

ertif

icat

eof

the

cha

ir-per

son

ofth

eor

pha

nage

Chi

ldc

ente

r/Rec

omm

endat

ion

lette

rof

the

or-

pha

nage

Rec

omm

endat

ion

lette

rfrom

the

pol

ice

offic

er

Oth

er

Lac

kof

Fam

ilyS

uppor

torAbse

nce

Den

iedrel

atio

nby

fath

er

Den

iedrel

atio

nby

mot

her

Fat

herden

iedm

akin

gth

ebirth

cer

tific

ate

Mot

herden

iedm

akin

gth

ebirth

cer

tific

ate

Fat

herdisap

pea

red

Mot

herdisap

pea

red

Dea

tho

ffat

her

Dea

tho

fMot

her

Dea

tho

fbot

hfa

ther

and

mot

her

Fat

herab

road

forem

plo

ymen

t

Mot

herab

road

forem

plo

ymen

t

Oth

ers

:……

……

……

……

……

….

Oth

erR

easo

ns

Age

nota

ppro

priat

efo

rad

mission

tos

choo

l

Cum

ber

som

ePr

oced

ure

Not

nec

essa

ry

Pay

men

tofe

xtra

mon

ey

Far

aw

aylo

catio

nof

the

offic

eof

Loc

alR

egistrar

No

info

rmat

ion

abou

tthe

reg

istrat

ion

Due

toreg

istrat

ion

can

be

don

eat

any

time

No

info

rmat

ion

that

reg

istrat

ion

can

be

don

eev

ena

f-te

rth

etim

elim

itatio

nof

35

day

s

Disab

ility

Oth

ers:…

……

……

……

……

……

4.

Wha

tpro

ble

ms

have

you

bee

nfa

cing

due

tola

cko

fbirth

cer

tific

ate?

To

mak

eC

itize

nshi

pc

ertif

icat

eT

om

ake

Min

or’sId

entit

yC

ard

To

open

ban

kac

coun

t

Tog

eta

dm

ission

ins

choo

l

To

reg

iste

rfo

rDistric

tLev

elE

xam

-in

atio

nT

ore

giste

rfo

rSE

ET

ore

ceiv

egov

ernm

enta

llow

ance

an

drel

ief

To

mig

rate

To

cla

ima

nces

tral

pro

per

ty

Torec

eive

loan

Tofi

lec

ase

inc

ourt

To

rece

ive

faci

lity

under

juve

nile

Ext

rae

duc

atio

nala

ctiv

ities

To

par

ticip

ate

ing

ames

Oth

ers

:……

……

……

……

……

……


FORM

C:Q

UEST

IONNAIR

ETO

BE

ASK

EDT

OP

EOPL

EW

ITHO

UTM

ARR

IAG

ERE

GIS

TRAT

IONC

ERTI

FIC

ATE

Not

e:T

his

que

stio

nnai

rew

illb

eas

kedto

cou

ple

who

wer

em

arried

afte

r20

47B

.S.b

utd

ono

tow

nm

arriag

ece

rtifi

cate

.Que

stio

nsw

illb

eas

kedto

the

coup

le

ifbot

hof

them

are

pre

sent

and

too

nly

one

ofth

emif

the

othe

risa

bse

nt.

Nam

e:…

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

.

1.

Hav

eyo

uev

erfi

leda

pplic

atio

nfo

rm

arriag

ece

rtifi

cate

inm

unic

ipal

ity/rur

alm

unic

ipal

ity?

Ye

s

No

(Ifn

oth

eng

oto

num

ber

3)

2A.

Ifye

sth

enw

hatw

asth

eou

tcom

eof

the

applic

atio

n?

Com

ple

tedb

utw

aitin

g

A

sked

forad

diti

onal

doc

umen

ts

D

enie

d

O

ther

s(ifa

ny)

2B.

Wha

ttyp

eso

fdoc

umen

tsw

ere

subm

itted

toth

em

unic

ipal

ity/rur

alm

unic

ipal

ity?

Citi

zens

hipC

ertif

icat

e

C

itize

nshi

pc

ertif

icat

eof

sel

f

C

itize

nshi

po

fHus

ban

d/W

ife

C

itize

nshi

po

fFat

her

C

itize

nshi

po

fMot

her

C

itize

nshi

po

fFat

her-in

-law

Oth

ers

:……

……

……

……

……

……

……

.

Oth

erC

ertif

icat

es

C

ertif

icat

em

aint

aini

ngrel

atio

nshi

p

Bi

rth

Cer

tific

ate

M

igra

tion

Cer

tific

ate

La

nda

ndH

ouse

ow

ners

hipc

ertif

icat

e

C

ertif

icat

eof

gov

ernm

entj

ob

Ref

ugee

cer

tific

ate

Bi

rth

Cer

tific

ate

ofa

bro

ad

Pa

sspor

t/Visa

Oth

ers:…

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

.

Rec

omm

endat

ion

Lette

ran

do

ther

doc

umen

ts

Rec

omm

endat

ion

Lette

rof

Mun

icip

ality

/Rur

al

Mun

icip

ality

Rec

omm

endat

ion

Lette

rof

Pol

ice

Offi

ce

M

arriag

ere

gistrat

ion

certifi

cate

D

ecisio

nof

Cou

rt

D

ocum

ents

ofI

den

tific

atio

n/In

vest

igat

ion

Rec

omm

endat

ion

Lette

rof

Gov

ernm

entE

mplo

yee

D

ocum

ents

ofH

ospita

l

Oth

ers:…

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

.


2C.

Wha

tkin

do

fdoc

umen

twhi

chw

asn

otw

ithy

ouw

asn

eces

sary

tos

ubm

ital

ongw

ithth

eap

plic

atio

n?

Citi

zens

hipC

ertif

icat

e

Citi

zens

hipc

ertif

icat

eof

sel

f

Citi

zens

hipo

fHus

ban

d/W

ife

Citi

zens

hipo

fFat

her

C

itize

nshi

po

fMot

her

C

itize

nshi

po

fFat

her-in

-law

Oth

ers:…

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

…

Oth

erC

ertif

icat

es

Cer

tific

ate

mai

ntai

ning

rel

atio

nshi

p

Birth

Cer

tific

ate

M

igra

tion

Cer

tific

ate

La

nda

ndH

ouse

ow

ners

hipc

ertif

icat

e

Cer

tific

ate

ofg

over

nmen

tjob

Ref

ugee

cer

tific

ate

Bi

rth

Cer

tific

ate

ofa

bro

ad

Pass

por

t/Visa

Oth

ers:…

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

…

Rec

omm

endat

ion

Lette

ran

do

ther

doc

umen

ts

Rec

omm

endat

ion

Lette

rof

Mun

icip

ality

/Rur

alM

u-ni

cipal

ity

Rec

omm

endat

ion

Lette

rof

Pol

ice

Offi

ce

Mar

riag

ere

gistrat

ion

certifi

cate

D

ecisio

nof

Cou

rt

Doc

umen

tso

fIden

tific

atio

n/In

vest

igat

ion

Rec

omm

endat

ion

Lette

rof

Gov

ernm

entE

mplo

yee

D

ocum

ents

ofH

ospita

lO

ther

s:…

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

…

2D.

Wha

tkin

do

fpro

ble

ms

did

you

face

dur

ingth

eap

plic

atio

npro

cess

forre

ceiv

ingth

ebirth

cer

tific

ate?

M

ore

than

one

optio

nca

nbe

ticke

d(√)

.

Le

ngth

yPr

oced

ure

La

cko

ffam

ilys

uppor

t

Lack

ofs

uppor

tfro

mth

egov

ernm

ente

mplo

yees

an

dth

eirm

isbeh

avio

r

Diff

icul

tyto

col

lect

all

nece

ssar

ydoc

umen

ts

Tog

oto

the

pla

cew

here

the

citiz

ensh

ipo

fpar

ents

w

asis

sued

rat

herth

anth

epla

cew

here

the

birth

to

okp

lace

D

eman

dfo

rex

tra

fee

C

hild

Mar

riag

eor

Pol

ygam

yO

ther

s(ifa

ny):…

……

……

……

……

……

……

3

Ifyo

uha

ven

otfi

leda

nap

plic

atio

nin

mun

icip

ality

/rur

alm

unic

ipal

ityfo

rre

com

men

dat

ion

then

wha

tis

the

reas

onb

ehin

dit

?

Citi

zens

hipC

ertif

icat

eC

itize

nshi

pc

ertif

icat

eof

sel

fC

itize

nshi

po

fHus

ban

d/W

ifeC

itize

nshi

po

fFat

her

Citi

zens

hipo

fMot

her

Citi

zens

hipo

foth

errel

ativ

esO

ther

s:…

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

.

Lack

ofS

uppor

tofP

artn

ero

rAbse

nce

Den

iedrel

atio

nshi

pb

yhu

sban

d/w

ifeD

enie

dto

reg

iste

rby

husb

and/w

ifeH

usban

d/W

ifed

isap

pea

red

Dea

tho

fHus

ban

d/W

ifeH

usban

d/W

ifein

For

eign

Em

plo

ymen

tO

ther

s:…

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

.

Oth

erR

easo

nsC

umber

som

ePr

oced

ure

Not

nec

essa

ryP

aym

ento

fext

ram

oney

Far

aw

aylo

catio

nof

the

offic

eof

Loc

alR

egistrar

Cou

ldn

otm

eett

helo

calr

egistrar

No

info

rmat

ion

abou

tthe

reg

istrat

ion

Due

toreg

istrat

ion

can

be

don

eat

any

time

No

info

rmat

ion

that

reg

istrat

ion

can

be

don

eev

en

afte

rth

etim

elim

itatio

nof

35

day

sP

hysica

lDisab

ility

Pol

ygam

yC

hild

Mar

riag

eO

ther

s:…

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

.


4.

Wha

tpro

ble

ms

have

you

bee

nfa

cing

due

tola

cko

fmar

riag

ere

gistrat

ion

certifi

cate

?

To

mak

eC

itize

nshi

pc

ertif

icat

eT

ous

eas

evi

den

cein

cou

rtT

oop

enb

ank

acco

unt

To

mak

eVo

terId

entit

yC

ard

To

rece

ive

gov

ernm

enta

llow

ance

and

rel

ief

To

mig

rate

To

rece

ive

loan

/deb

tT

om

ake

citiz

ensh

ipo

fchi

ldre

nT

ore

giste

rbirth

ofc

hild

ren

To

file

com

pla

ino

npol

ygam

yO

ther

s:…

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

……

…..


ANNEX 3

QUESTIONFORTHEKEYINFORMANTS

Thesequestionshavebeenframedforthe"StudyonVitalRegistration".Theviewsexpressedwithinitshallnotbeusedforanyotherpurpose.Theconfidentialityoftheidentityandpersonalopinionoftherespondentshallbetakenintoconsideration.

Name:.................................................................…………………….Sex:……………………………………..

Designation:..........................................................

Office:...................................................................

District:............................................................Municipality/VillageExecutive:....................................

Date:............................................................... ContactNumber:..........................................................

I.DCodeoftheResearcher:..............................

1. WhatdoyouthinkaboutthecurrenttrendofthevitalregistrationinNepal?

Effective Considerable

Noteffective Others

Why?

...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

Ifothers,thenpleasespecify.

...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

2. Whatistheawarenesssituationofvitalregistrationamongstthegeneralpublic?

Veryinformed Lessinformed

Notinformedatall Others

Why?

...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................



...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

3. Whatdoyouthinkabouttheaccessofthepeopleonthevitalregistration?

Category Convenient Considerableaccess

Accessnot convenient

Noaccess Others

GeneralPublic

Women

Marginalizedcaste

Dalit

Foreigner

Refugee

ChildrenwithoutParents

Physicallychallengedpeople

Ifothers,thenpleasespecify

.......................

4. Whatarethereasonsbehindtheuneasyaccessofthevitalregistration?

Reasons Women Dalit Physicallychal-lengedpeople

Foreigner/Refugee

Others

Lackofawareness

Uninformedabouttheprocedure

Economicburden

Cumbersomeprocess

Unavailabilityoftheconcernedpersontoprovidetheinformation

Shortofformintheoffice

UnavailabilityoftheLocalRegistrarintheoffice

lackofsupportandassistancefromthefamily

Lackofimportance

Inabilitytosubmitthenecessaryevidentiarydocuments/Lackofevidentiarydocuments(Pleasementionwhichspecificdocumentwaslacking?)

Ifothers,pleasespecify

......................


5. Whatarethebarriersoftheserviceprovider'sregardingthebirthregistration?

Inadequatehumanresource

Politicalcoercion

Lackofsensitivitytowardswomenandmarginalizedgroupsandgender

Farawaylocationoftheoffices

Unorganizeddocumentation

Economicbarriers

Inadequatedevelopmentofskillsandtraining

Inadequateeconomicsourcesintheoffices

Ambiguousorunclearprocedures/directives

LackofsafeguardoftheGoodFaith

Others

Ifothers,thenpleasespecify

...........................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

6. WhomotionstheproblemsrelatingtoBirthregistrationregularly?

.............................................................................

.............................................................................

.............................................................................

.............................................................................

.............................................................................

.............................................................................

.............................................................................

.............................................................................

.............................................................................

Probable/predictable/foreseeableProblems• childrenofthedivorcedparents

• childrenofthosefatherdonothavethecitizenship

• childrenofasinglewoman

• Foundlings

• Streetchildren

• childrenbornfromtheforeignparents

• childrenoftherefugees

• childrenwhohavebeendeniedtherela-tionshipbytheirparents

• childrenwhosefatherhasnotbeenidentified


...........................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................


7. Whatkindsofproblemsaremotionedregardingthemarriageregistration?

.............................................................................

...........................................................................

..

.............................................................................

.............................................................................

.............................................................................

...........................................................................

..

.............................................................................

...........................................................................

..

.............................................................................

.............................................................................

.............................................................................

Foreseeableproblems

• Nonacquisitionofthecitizenshipcertifi-cateofthePersonwhohasregisteredtheirmarriage

• Nosupportfromthehusbandorthemem-bersofthefamily

• Whereboththespousehasleftforforeignemployment.

• Noacceptanceoftherelationshipfromei-therofthespouse

• Marriagesolemnizedwiththeforeigncitizen

• Marriagesolemnizedwiththerefugeeoramongstrefugees.

• Whereaboutsofeitherofthespousehasremainedunknown.

• Polygamousmarriage

• Earlymarriage

• Intercastemarriage


...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................

8. WhatchangesorenhancementsaretobeundertakenintermsofLegal,proceduralandstructuralleveltomakethevitalregistrationmoreeffective?

Legalenhancement:......................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................................

Proceduralenhancement:..............................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................

Structuralenhancement:................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

..........


TheresearchershallconducttheFGDbeingbasedonthebelowmentionedquestionsandthefocusedgroups.

Thefocusedgroupsforthediscussionwouldbe:

• Personwhohasbeendeniedthebirthregistrationthelocalregistrar.

• Personwhoareshortofevidentiarydocumentsorwhohasbeenunassistedorunsupportedby

theconcernedperson.

• Personwhohasnotregisteredtheirbirthortheirparents.

QuestionsfortheFGD

1. Whatarethecausesbehindthenonacquisitionofbirthregistrationbyoneselforthechildren?

2. Whatarethechallengesorproblemsfacedbyyourcommunityregardingthebirthregistration

ascomparedtotheothercommunityorgroups?

3. Haveyoudoneanythingtosolvesuchproblemsorchallenged?Ifyes,thenwhatdidyoudo?

Whatpersondidyouapproach?

4. Whatchallengeshaveyouencounteredasapersonwithoutthebirthregistration?

TheresearchershallconducttheFGDbeingbasedonthebelowmentionedquestionsandthefocusedgroups.

Thefocusedgroupsforthediscussionwouldbe:

• Personwhohasbeendeniedthebirthregistrationthelocalregistrar.

• Personwhoareshortofevidentiarydocumentsorwhohasbeenunassistedorunsupportedby

theconcernedperson.

• Personwhohasnotregisteredtheirbirthortheirparents.

QuestionsfortheFGD

1. Whatarethecausesbehindthenonacquisitionofbirthregistrationbyoneselforthechildren?

2. Whatarethechallengesorproblemsfacedbyyourcommunityregardingthebirthregistration

ascomparedtotheothercommunityorgroups?

3. Haveyoudoneanythingtosolvesuchproblemsorchallenged?Ifyes,thenwhatdidyoudo?

Whatpersondidyouapproach?

4. Whatchallengeshaveyouencounteredasapersonwithoutthebirthregistration?

ANNEX 4

FOCUSEDGROUPDISCUSSION(FGD)


The

ans

wer

sdev

elop

edfr

omth

eFG

Ds

hall

be

pla

cedin

the

stru

ctur

em

entio

nedb

elow

.

Gro

up:.

......

......

......

..D

istric

t:...

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

Mun

icip

ality

/Vill

age

exec

utiv

e:…

……

……

……

…...

....D

ate:

.....

......

......

......

....

Type

ofP

artic

ipan

t:...

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

....

Num

ber

ofp

eople

who

hav

ebee

nden

iedth

ebirth

reg

istrat

ion:

.....

......

..Se

x:F

emal

e:…

……

......

..m

ale:

.....

......

......

.Oth

ers:..

......

......

......

.

Num

ber

ofp

aren

tsw

hoh

ave

bee

nden

iedth

ebirth

reg

istrat

ion:

.....

......

......

.....

Sex:

Fem

ale:

.....

....m

ale:

.....

......

......

..O

ther

s:..

......

......

..

Tota

lnum

ber

ofp

artic

ipan

ts

Fem

ale:

.....

......

.Mal

e:..

......

......

.oth

ers....

......

......

......

......

......

.....

S.N

o.Rea

sons

beh

indth

eno

nac

qui

sitio

nof

birth

re

gistrat

ion

Maj

orc

halle

nges

in

the

com

mun

ityw

ith

regar

dto

the

birth

re

gistrat

ion

Step

sun

der

take

nto

enc

ount

ers

uch

chal

leng

es

Ass

ista

nce/

sup

por

tso

ught

Cha

lleng

es/p

roble

ms

face

dd

ueto

the

non

acqui

sitio

nof

birth

re

gistrat

ion

Additi

onal

que

stio

ns/i

ssue

sra

ised

inth

ediscu

ssio

n


ANNEX 5

QUESTIONSFORTHE SERVICESEEKERS

Thesequestionshavebeenpreparedforthestudyonthevitalregistrationoftheserviceseekers.Theviewsexpressedwithinitshallnotbeusedforanyotherpurpose.Theconfidentialityoftheidentityandpersonalopinionoftherespondentshallbetakenintoconsideration.

Name,Surname(Optional):...............................................................................................................................

Address:...............................................................................................................................................................

District:........................Municipality/Villageexecutive:..............................Wardnumber:........................

Contactnumber:..............................................................Date:......................................................................

1. Occupation

(1)GovernmentService (2) Business

(3)Student (4) Others


.............................................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................................................

2. Sex

(1) Female (2)Male (3)Others

3. Age

4. Religion

(1) Hindu (2) Buddhist (3) Christian

(4) Islam (5) Ifothers,thenpleasespecify.

5. Caste/Ethnicity

(1)Bhramin/Chhetri (2)Indigenous (3)Dalit

(4)Madhesi (5)Ifothers,thenpleasespecify.

6. Education

(1)University (2)HighSchool

(3)S.L.C. (4)BelowS.L.C.

(5)Illiterate (5)Ifothers,thepleasespecify.


7. Economicstatus

(1)High (2)Medium (3)Middleclass (4)Low

8. Maritalstatus

(1)Married (2)Unmarried

(3)Single (4)Divorced

9. Disability:(1)Yes (2)No

(1)Physical (2)Sensory (3)Mental

(4)Intellectual (5)Multiple

10. Whatregistrationareyouseekingfor?

(1)Birthregistration (2)Marriageregistration

(3)Deathregistration (4)DivorceRegistration

(5)Migrationregistration

11. Whosuggestedyoutomakethevitalregistration?

(1)Self (2)Family

(3)Neighbor (4)Friends

(5)Ifothers,thenpleasespecify.

12. Whatisthepurposebehindthevitalregistration?

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................

13. Didyousuccessfullyregisterthevitalevents?

(1)Yes (2)No

Ifyes,withinwhattime?

..............................................................................................................................................................

IfNo,pleasespecifythereason.

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

14. Howdidyoufindthebehavioroftheregistrarassignedforthevitalregistration?

(1)Supportive (2)Unsupportive

(3)Mediocre (4)Ifothers,thenpleasespecify.

15. Haveyoueverfelttheneedofendorsementorreferenceforthevitalregistration?

(1)Yes (2No

(3)Itwouldbemuchhelpfulifsomebodyendorses.

16. Haveyoueverfeltanyonetryingtoexploityouortakeadvantageofyou,incourseofvitalregistration?

(1)Yes (2)No


Ifyes,thenpleasespecify.

............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

17. Howdidyoufeelwhilebeingatthevitalregistrationoffice?

(1)Convenient (2)Inconvenient

(3)Inferior (4)Other

Ifother,thenpleasespecify.

........................................................................................................................................................

18. Beingbelongedfromthespecialgroups,didyoueverfeelthesenseofdifferentiationincourseofvitalregistration?

(1)Positive (2)Negative (3)Nodifference

19. Whatkindofpositiveornegativechangeyoufeltbeingbelongedtowhatspecialgroup?

............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

20. Areyousatisfiedwiththecurrenttrendofthevitalregistration?

(1)Yes (2)No

Ifyes,why?Ifno,why?

............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................


ANNEX 6

DATACOLLECTIONFORM

Thesequestionshavebeenpreparedforthestudyonthevitalregistration.Theviewsexpressedwithinitshallnotbeusedforanyotherpurpose.Theconfidentialityoftheidentityandpersonalopinionoftherespondentshallbetakenintoconsideration.

NameoftheOfficefromwherethedataiscollected:....................................................................................

District:…………………………………………………………...............Date:................................................

ContactNumberoftheOffice:............................................................

Year Subjectofthecase

(Forinstance:BirthRegistra-

tion)

Natureofthecase(Fore.g.:FalseInformation)

Partiestothecase

Currentsituationofthecase

Description

2070/71


Year Subjectofthecase

(Forinstance:BirthRegistra-

tion)

Natureofthecase(Fore.g.:FalseInformation)

Partiestothecase

Currentsituationofthecase

Description

2071/72

2072/73

Total


ANNEX7

OBSERVATIONFORMOFTHEVITALREGISTRATIONOFFICE

Thesequestionshavebeenpreparedforthestudyonthevitalregistration.Theconfidentialityofthe

identityandpersonalopinionoftherespondentshallbetakenintoconsideration.

Nameoftheoffice:...............................................................................................................................................

District:..............................................................Municipality/Villageexecutive.............................................

Date:................................................

Nameandsurnameoftheseniorofficer:........................................................................................................

Numberoftotalstaffs:..............................................

Numberoffemalestaffs:..........................................

Designationofthefemalestaffs:...............................

Timeoftheobservationmade:10-12pm

2-4pm

StructuralObservation

Placeswherethestaffsareresided

Toilet

• ToiletfortheServiceSeekers

• Disablefriendlytoilet

• femalefriendlytoilet


PublicnoticeboardonVitalRegistration

Availabilityofthesufficientforms

Situationofthedocumentation

Sufficientstaffs(Mass/Crowdoftheserviceseekersandnumberofthestaffs)

AvailabilityoftheLocalRegistrar(Secretary)


.....................................................

.......................................................

.......................................................

BehavioralObservation

BehavioroftheofficetowardtheServiceSeeker


Behaviortowardsthewomen

Behaviortowardsthepersonwithdisability

BehaviortowardstheMarginalizedgroup

Unnecessarymonetarydemands

Slowandcumbersomeprocess

Ifothers,pleasespecify.


ANNEX8

FOCUSEDGROUPDISCUSSION(FGD)

ThetargetgroupforthisFGDwouldbe:

• LocalRegistrars

QuestionsfortheFGD

1. WhatarethemajorelementsofthebarrierswhileapplyingfortheBirth/MarriageRegistrationCertificate?

2. Whatmajormissingdocumentcausestheproblemwhileprocessingtheapplicationofvitalregistration?

3. WhatchangesaretobeundertakenintheLaw,ProceduresandStructuresinordertomakethevitalregistrationeffective?

• LegalReforms:………………………………………………………………………………………….

• ProceduralReforms:………………………………………………………………………………………….

• StructuralReforms:………………………………………………………………………………………….

TheanswersobservedfromtheFGDshallbeputintothebelowmentionedstructuralformat:

Group:……………………District:……….....RuralMunicipality/Municipality:……………………Date:………………………………………

Typeoftheparticipant:……………………………………………………

NumberoftheParticipant:…………Gender:Female:…..……………….Male:……………………Others:………………………….…

S.No. BarriersastotheapplicationofBirthRegis-

tration/MarriageRegistration

Whatmajormissingdocumentcausestheproblemintheapplicationofvital

registrationprocess?

Reformstobemade AdditionalpointsraisedintheFGD

Legal Structural Procedural


ANNEX 9

CODEOFCONDUCTFORTHERESEARCHERS

TheresearchershallcompulsorilyabidebythecommittedCodeofConduct.Theresearchershalluphold

andperformtheresearchbeingbasedon thesetrulesandregulations tomake theresearchethical,

factualandorganized.

Theenumeratorsshallobeytheoutlinedconducts:

• EachenumeratorfromthedistrictshallworkincoordinationwithFWLD.

• Any views, endorsement and personal information revealed by the interviewer during the

interviewshallnotbedisclosedwithouttheconsentoftheinterviewer.Theconfidentialityshall

behighlymaintained.

• Theenumeratorshalltreattheintervieweeinacourteousmanner.

• Theenumeratorshallnotperformanyactionsorinterpretationsthatmayoffendtheinterviewee.

• Theinterviewshallonlybeconductedafterseekingthepermissionfromtheinterviewee.

• Theenumeratorshallnotholdanyprejudiceorpre-conceivedideawhileperforminghis/her

duty.

• Theenumeratorshallnotinanywaysprovoketheinterviewer.

• Thepublicationanddisclosureoftheinformation,statisticsandquotesrecordedintermsofthe

researchshallbestrictlyforbidden.

• Interviewviaphoneoranyelectricalmediaordevicesshallbesurelylookedaway.Thusthe

enumeratorshallconducttheinterviewwiththerespondentoneself.

• Incase,wheretheenumeratorhiresanyfacilitatorforanykindofassistancetocollectthedata,

thehiredfacilitatorshallalsoobservethecommittedcodeofconduct.

• TheenumeratormustnotengageinanyactivitythatisdefinedpunishablebythelawsofNepal.

• Theenumeratormustatalltimesnotengageinanyactoromissionofsexualorgenderbased

violencenature,andmustnotindulgeinsexualharassmentintheworkplaceoranyotherplace.

• Theenumeratorshallfullyandcompulsorilyobservethecodeofconduct.

Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD)72, Adarsh MargP.O.Box 26538Thapathali, Kathmandu, NepalPhone: +977-1-4233524/4233525Fax: +977-1-4240627Email: [email protected]: www.fwld.org

GOAL NO. 16.9

BY 2030, PROVIDE LEGAL IDENTITY FOR ALL, INCLUDING BIRTH REGISTRATION

birth and marriage registration in nepal -...

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