Nepal GovTech Weekly #3

The latest developments, policies, and innovations initiated by the Government of Nepal in the tech sector, through a brief newsletter.

Last week I missed to update the weekly newsletter because of various issues such as flood in Kathmandu and other regions. I hope the recovery and rescue is going on currently, and everything will go fine in the coming days.

In addition to the weekly updates, I thought it would be helpful to share information about the IT systems currently in use across various ministries, departments, and offices within the Government of Nepal. This information could be valuable for IT companies, researchers, and other professionals.

This week, I’m sharing about Government Integrated Office Management System (GIOMS). The first thing I do upon arriving at the office is log into GIOMS to begin my work, GIOMS is administrative digital platform by the Government of Nepal aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in public service delivery facilitating online services across various government sectors.

Nepal GovTech Weekly #3

• Dharahara Reopens with Online Booking: Following the Government of Nepal’s decision on Bhadra 27, 2081, to open the renovated Dharahara to the public, the Ministry of Urban Development has launched an online ticket booking platform in celebration of Constitution Day and National Day on Ashoj 3, 2081 (September 19, 2024). Currently, the daily visitor capacity for Dharahara is limited to 600 people, with 100 visitors allowed per hour from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM. If you are planning to visit Dharahara then you have to book tickets in advance at www.dharahara.gov.np ., currently the ticket price is free.

• Government Mandates Source Code Handover: The Government of Nepal has taken a significant step to ensure greater control and sustainability of its digital projects by mandating that all software vendors and developers working on government-initiated digital projects hand over the source code of the software they develop. This addresses several challenges that have plagued government projects in the past, particularly the dependency on external vendors for critical software maintenance, updates, and future developments. By requiring the transfer of source code, the government aims to mitigate these risks by ensuring it retains full ownership and control over the digital infrastructure it builds allowing government to make necessary updates, perform maintenance, or even bring in new developers without being locked into long-term, costly contracts with the original vendors ensuring that public services remain uninterrupted, efficient, and under the full control of the government.

Several countries have adopted similar policies to enhance their digital sovereignty and reduce reliance on private vendors. For instance, France requires government contractors to hand over the source code for custom software solutions developed for public projects, ensuring that the government retains ownership and control.

• Smart Singhadurbar Gate Pass Portal: The Ministry of Home Affairs has launched the Smart Singhadurbar Gate Pass Portal, allowing visitors to obtain passes for meetings and official purposes at Singhadurbar. Visitors must first register at https://singhadurbarpass.gov.np , verify their account, and then request a pass for the respective Ministry or official they intend to meet. Once approved by the designated authority, visitors can enter Singhadurbar through the South Gate, located near the DAO Kathmandu Office or SSF Office. Please note that a valid government-issued ID card is required for verification at the gate.

• Banking Services Reach All Local Governments: Everest Bank has established a branch in Dhuli village, which is the gateway to the rural municipality. Now, Dhuli, the last village in the Bajhang district on the Nepal-Tibet border in the Saipal rural municipality of Bajhang, finally has a bank.

There are 107 banking and financial institutions in Nepal. As of mid-August, 20 commercial banks, 17 development banks, 17 finance companies, 52 microfinance institutions, and one infrastructure development bank are in operation. The banking branches number 11,541.

Only Sapial municipality did not have a bank branch out of the 753 local government, metropolitan cities, sub-metropolitan cities, municipalities and rural municipalities. With this all 753 local governments have access to banking and financial services.

This has cleared a Loksewa Question “??????? ????? ??????? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ” Answer “None”.

• Nagarik App Update: Nagarik App gets a new update with the much awaited QR code verification for driving license, redesigned UI, and SinghaDurbar Gatepass feature. Here's 3 Major Update of Nagarik App:

Offline Mode: Access key services even when you’re not connected to the internet.

Traffic Violation Management/ QR Verification : View your traffic violation records within the app. Use a QR code that can be verified by traffic authorities, eliminating the need for a physical license card.

SinghaDurbar Gatepass Integration: Apply for Singdurbar visitor directly from Nagarik app

Now let’s know about GIOMS.

GIOMS !

GIOMS was initially launched in Fiscal Year 2079/80 with 54 offices, currently 244 offices are integrated in GIOMS, including Federal, Provincial, and Local Government offices across Nepal.

Website: https://gioms.gov.np

GIOMS - Government Integrated Office Management System (Nepali: ?????? ???????? ?????????? ???????) is administrative digital platform by the Government of Nepal aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in public service delivery facilitating online services across various government sectors.

GIOMS integrates administrative functions such as document management, task automation, employee tracking, and digital approvals to streamline bureaucratic processes. This enhancement improves service delivery, accountability, and coordination within government offices. The system is operated by the Department of Information Technology (DoIT).

Previously, administrative tasks were managed using the Office Automation System (OAS), which had limited functionalities like letter registration (“Darta/Chalani”). Attendance was handled separately through a portal called eHajiri, Travel and leave request was a manual paper. GIOMS upgrades and integrates all these services into one unified system.

For example, if you have a letter addressed to the Ministry of Finance, you can visit the Ministry’s Reception “Darta/Chalani” desk to submit your letter. An official will register it using GIOMS and provide you with a registration (“Darta”) number. The letter is then forwarded to the appropriate department or section within the Ministry. So next time when you visit the office you can track the progress of your letter using your Darta number.

Letters issued from GIOMS include a QR code and digital signature, simplifying the verification process. By scanning the QR code, you are redirected to a verification portal to confirm the letter’s authenticity.

Key Features of GIOMS

User Management: Enable or disable users, assign roles, and allow employees to work across multiple offices or temporarily in different positions.

E-Attendance Management: View and export attendance reports, calculate extra working hours, and update organization-wide leave policies and holidays. Allow government employees to submit leave and work attendance requests, with approvals and notifications available through the app.

Manage leave requests and travel orders with approval processes and real-time updates of subordinate employee details.

Organization Structure Management: Adjust organizational structures according to Federal, Provincial, and Local levels; manage temporary and actual positions (Darbandi); and handle related documents.

The contact directory also lists the contact details of employees, including Employee ID (Karmachari Sanket Number), email, and phone number, making it easier to obtain contact details of other employees.

Document and File Management (Darta/Chalani) and Workflow Automation: Manage the approval process, allows opinions and decisions from higher agencies to appear on official letterheads, and shares approved documents within the office.

Automate repetitive tasks such as document approvals, notifications, and task tracking, improving overall efficiency.

Track and manage records of registered letters by government offices, service, and date, and displays the working status on the dashboard.