The courtyards of the District Administration Office (DAO) and the District Police Office in Achham, a hill district of Sudurpaschim province, have been unusually crowded in recent days, bustling from morning till evening with young faces clutching their document folders. Most are aged between 18 and 22, standing patiently in long queues, eyes fixed on what they see as a first step towards opportunity and financial independence.

Some are applying for citizenship certificates for the first time, while the others, who have just received theirs, hurry across the compound to the police office to submit application forms. The sudden rush follows the opening of applications for election police ahead of the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5.

According to the officials, a large number of youths are visiting the DAO to acquire citizenship so that they can apply for election police. “We are seeing many applicants who come for citizenship in the early hours of the day and apply for election police by the afternoon,” said an official at the DAO.

Among them was Durga Khadka, aged 55, from ward 5 of Mangalsen Municipality who arrived at the police office with all four of her children. Her 22-year-old son Nirajan and 20-year-old daughter Anupa obtained their citizenship last April. On Monday, Durga accompanied her younger daughters—19-year-old Arati and 18-year-old Asmita—to the DAO to obtain their citizenship certificates.

“By around 2 pm, their citizenship cards were ready. At 3 pm, all four children submitted their applications. We obtained citizenship for the two younger daughters mainly so they could apply to become election police. They have the required qualifications. Even if it is only for a short time, some work would help,” said Durga. She added that with all her children studying in grades 11 and 12, managing household expenses had become increasingly difficult. “When you have many children, every little income matters a lot,” she said.

Twenty-year-old Ashish BK, also from ward 5 of Mangalsen, has a similar motive. He first obtained his citizenship and applied for election police on the same day. Although he has reached voting age for the first time, he admitted that casting a ballot was not his priority.

“I was not in a hurry to get citizenship before, and voting did not really interest me,” said Ashish, a grade 12 student at Shodasha Secondary School in Mangalsen. “But citizenship is essential to apply for election police. If I get selected, I will earn some money. I plan to apply for a passport with that money,” he said.

The trend reflects a broader pattern where temporary security jobs during elections attract youths from economically backward districts, often serving as a gateway to future migration or employment.

Laxmi Dhamala, aged 21 from ward 8 of Turmakhand Rural Municipality, came to the District Police Office to apply for election police. Although eligible to vote for the first time, she placed greater value on the short-term job opportunity. “I am studying my first year at bachelor’s level at Kamalbazar Multiple Campus. If I get this job, it will ease my finances and help me continue my studies. If not, voting is still there,” said Laxmi, who obtained her citizenship primarily so she could apply for election police.

Women’s participation has risen noticeably this year for election police jobs. In previous elections, female applicants from Achham’s remote areas were relatively few. This time, however, women aged between 18 and 30 are applying in large numbers.

Twenty-year-old Manisha Dhamala, also from ward 8 of Turmakhand, said access to information had made the difference. “I came to Mangalsen, obtained citizenship, and then applied for the police job. Earlier, information did not reach villages. Now we get updates through social media. Before, there were restrictions on sending daughters like this. We have broken that barrier,” said Manisha.

According to Min Bahadur Dhami, information officer at the District Police Office in Achham, most applicants fall within the 18 to 30 age group. For the upcoming elections, Achham alone requires 1,641 election police personnel. Applications are currently being collected from Kamalbazar, Sanphebagar and the District Police Office in Mangalsen. “We are receiving around 300 applications a day. The enthusiasm among young men and women is remarkable,” said Dhami.

Election police job to fund education

Twenty-two-year-old Nesan Praja of the Chepang community from Kanda in ward 13 of Rapti Municipality in Chitwan, is among the aspirants for election police job. Recently enrolled in a bachelor’s programme, Praja says he cannot afford to study regularly without paid work.

“I came as soon as I heard the recruitment of election police had opened,” he said at the District Police Office. “If I miss the only vehicle back to my village, I will be stranded here,” said Praja, who is from the remotest part of Chitwan. Reaching Kanda requires a three-hour jeep ride from Bhandara, followed by another three hours on foot along steep trails. “I am applying in the hope that I can manage my college expenses,” Praja said.

The youngest son of Laliram and Ketimaya Praja, he is one of seven siblings. Two sisters and two brothers dropped out of school early, and only Praja managed to complete Grade 12. His youngest sister studies in grade four at the local school.

Praja’s education became possible after Laxmi Pratisthan, a Kavrepalanchok-based organisation which opened the Kumar Balram Memorial Hostel in Kanda in 2015. The hostel provided free food and accommodation, enabling children to attend Kandeshwari School, which runs classes up to grade six. For higher grades, the organisation relocated students to Kavrepalanchok, where Praja completed the Secondary Education Examination and grade 12.

“Now I have to study for my bachelor’s degree on my own. My parents farm maize, millet and buckwheat, but it is not enough to feed the whole family,” said Praja.

(With inputs from Ramesh Kumar Paudel in Chitwan)