The premises of the District Administration Office and District Police Office, Achham, have been crowded since morning for the past few days. The sight of young men and women between the ages of 18 and 22 standing in line with documents in their hands, eager faces, and dreams of the future in their eyes has become a common sight.

Some are applying for citizenship for the first time at the administration office, while others are rushing to the district police office with their newly obtained citizenship papers in their bags.

The pressure of youth has increased in Achham as the applications for the election police for the House of Representatives elections to be held on Falgun 21 have opened. This time, the number of people applying for citizenship and applying for the election police on the same day has been seen to be significant.

Among them, 55-year-old Durga Khadka of Mangalsen Municipality-5 was found with all four of her children at the police office premises. Her 22-year-old son Nirajan and 20-year-old daughter Anupa had their citizenship papers issued last April. Her mother Durga had gone to the administration office on Monday to apply for citizenship for her 19-year-old daughter Aarti and 18-year-old daughter Asmita. After the daughters got their citizenship papers by around 2 pm, all four children reached the police office at 3 pm and applied for the election police.

'The citizenship papers of the two daughters were issued to become election police. All four children have the qualifications as per the demand.' "I hope they will get a job even if it takes some time," says Durga, "They are studying in grades 11-12. It is difficult to raise money with so many children. I brought all four of them to see if we can make an effort."

20-year-old Ashish BK of Mangalsen Municipality-5 also went to the police office on Monday to apply for citizenship and then apply for the election police. This time, he is of the age to exercise his right to vote for the first time, but he had not shown much interest in voting. Despite reaching the age to apply for citizenship, Ashish, who had not shown much interest, rushed to apply for citizenship only after the application for the election police opened.

Ashish, who is studying in grade 12 at Shodsha Secondary School in Mangalsen, has also started dreaming of going abroad after getting citizenship. "Before, there was no rush to get citizenship. I was not even interested in being able to vote. Citizenship is necessary to become an election police officer," he says, "Now, if you are selected for the election police, you will also get some money." Then I will make a passport.'

Laxmi Dhamala, 21, of Turmakhand Rural Municipality-8, Dhamali, who recently obtained citizenship with the sole purpose of applying for the election police, was also met at the police station. This time, she is in the age group where she will get the opportunity to vote for the first time. Laxmi has prioritized the opportunity of the election police over voting.

Laxmi, who is studying in the first year of her bachelor's degree at Kamalbazar Multiple Campus, is hopeful that becoming an election police officer will make her financially a little easier and she will be able to continue her studies. 'The opportunity that has come for the election police is for us. If I had some time to get a job, it would have been financially easier,' she added, 'If I didn't get it here, there is still an opportunity to vote.'

The number of women applying for the election police like Laxmi has been significant this time. Earlier, the participation of women from remote areas of Achham for temporary (field) police was low, but this time the participation of women between the ages of 18 and 30 has increased.

Manisha Dhamala, 20, of Turmakhand Rural Municipality-8, Dhamali, who was waiting in line to apply for election police, also came to apply for citizenship. ‘I came to Mangalsen and first obtained citizenship, then came to apply. Earlier, information was not reaching the village,’ she said, ‘Now information is available through social media. Earlier, there was a restriction that daughters should not be sent like this, now we have been able to break that circle.’