Although nearly 200,000 people applied across the country, applications for temporary and armed police posts were not received as per demand in 36 districts of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, and the Far West.
What you should know
Although applications were invited a week ago to recruit about 150,000 election police officers to secure the upcoming House of Representatives elections, fewer than the demand has been received in 36 districts. Due to the low number of applications, the deadline for applying to the election police in those districts has been extended to 30 January (Saturday).
The Ministry of Home Affairs had decided to deploy a total of 149,090 election police officers, including 133,980 to be deployed under the Nepal Police and 15,110 to be deployed under the Armed Police Force (APF), in the elections within a period of 40 days. For that, while both police forces opened applications from district offices across the country from 25th December, 36 districts did not receive the required number of applications. After that, the application period for districts with fewer applications was extended until 3rd January. Of the approximately 200,000 applications that had been submitted by Friday, 36 districts in Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini and Sudurpaschim received fewer applications.
According to the Police Headquarters, Koshi received fewer applications in 9 districts. In Koshi, Dhankuta, Ilam, Panchthar, Tehrathum, Bhojpur, Khotang, Okhaldhunga, Solukhumbu and Taplejung received fewer applications than required. Similarly, 8 districts of Bagmati, Dhading, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Kavre, Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha, Ramechhap and Sindhuli, have also received fewer applications. The Police Headquarters has stated that all districts of Gandaki have received fewer applications than the demand.
All 11 districts of Gandaki, including Gorkha, Manang, Lamjung, Kaski, Tanahun, Syangja, East Nawalparasi, Mustang, Myagdi, Baglung and Parbat, have received fewer applications. Similarly, the deadline has been extended for 2 days again after the applications in Palpa, Gulmi, Arghakhanchi and Pyuthan of Lumbini were not received as per the demand. In the Far West, applications were not received as per the demand in 4 districts. The deadline for submitting applications has been extended until Saturday after the applications in Doti, Achham, Dadeldhura and Baitadi of the Far West Province were not received as per the demand.
Police and armed forces officials say that the main reason for not receiving applications as per the demand may be the large number of election police recruitments opened at once and foreign employment. In addition, a police officer argues that since they are not allowed to vote while serving in the election police, they may have chosen to vote despite the opportunity. In previous elections, the number of applications received was three times higher than the demand.
In the election security for the House of Representatives and Provincial Assembly members in Mangsir 2079, out of the 115,000 temporary police recruitment applications opened, double that number, or 232,088 people, applied. In the local level election security in Baisakh 2079, applications for about 100,000 temporary police were also opened, triple that number, or about 300,000.
According to the police, although applications have also been received from former temporary police, former security personnel and forest guards in the election police, this number is relatively low. According to the Police Headquarters, less than 20 percent of the total applicants have applied from former temporary police and former security personnel.
About 337,000 security personnel are being mobilized for the election security scheduled for 21 Falgun. For that, the army, police and armed forces are being deployed on a regular basis and 150,000 election police are being deployed for a period of 40 days.
Those who join the election police will receive the basic salary and clothing and ration allowance of the police and armed police personnel. According to the ‘Unified (Police and Armed Police Force Nepal) Procedure on Recruitment, Selection, Appointment and Mobilization of Election Police’-2082, an election police officer receives a salary of 34,000 rupees for 40 days, which is 869 rupees and 40 paisa per day, and the security personnel receive a ration allowance of 40 days (varies according to the district).
It is mentioned that a one-time allowance of Rs 846 per person (transportation allowance) will be provided to go and return to the place assigned for the election, a lump sum of Rs 1,200 for lunch expenses at the rate of Rs 300 per day for four days, and a uniform allowance as determined by the police and the armed forces in that district according to the weather of the district. All the amounts given in this way will be transferred to the bank account of the concerned election police.
If these manpower deployed for the election are injured in the course of their duties, the injured person will be provided with compensation as prescribed by the government and if they die, the next of kin will be provided with compensation as prescribed by the government. The procedure states that if the election is canceled or postponed for any reason, even if they are in training, the appointment will automatically be canceled/suspended.
The Election Commission has already determined 10,967 polling stations and 23,112 polling stations across the country for the upcoming elections. Preparations are underway to deploy the inner perimeter police and the election police in the election, followed by the armed police and the army for external security management based on risk.
An election police recruitment and selection committee has been formed in the district under the coordination of the Chief District Officer. The criteria for recruitment are that the age of the candidate should be 18 years and not more than 54 years by the last date of application. Both police forces are ready to proceed with the selection process after the application period ends.
The eligibility criteria are that the candidate should be able to read and write, not have been convicted by a court for a criminal offense that shows moral turpitude, not have membership in any political party at the time of recruitment, be physically and mentally healthy, not be a member of a terrorist or subversive organization, and be a Nepali citizen. For men, the criteria are at least 5 feet tall, chest width 31 to 33 inches, weight 50 kg, and for women, the criteria are at least 4 feet 10 inches tall, weight 42 kg, and not be pregnant.
