Kathmandu(Pahichan) August 4- Finally, after a long battle and campaign, government has started to distribute passports to sexual and gender minorities categorizing them as others (O).

Director General of Passport Department Lok Bahdur Thapa informed that passport distribution has begun after the completion of all technical process. Thapa said to get the passport under O category it is necessary to mention same in the citizenship certificate as well.  He said passport will be distributed on the basis of citizenship certificate. The Department has already informed the sexual and gender minorities about these provisions. 

Nepal was the first South Asian country to decide to issue separate passports to sexual and gender minorities. Earlier, the government was undecided on identifying the sexual and gender minorities in passports. Some had suggested calling their category ‘X’ (extra), while others had opined to call it ‘O’ (others). Nepal has so far been issuing passports under two categories male and female, codifying them as ‘M’ and ‘F’, respectively.

The Department has prepared the passport of Manoj Sahi Monika under O category who is first transgender to get passport under ‘O’ category. Department has informed Sahi to receive the passport. Sahi expressed the pleasures for such arrangements and thanked all the who struggled to implement the provisions. “I want to thank Sunil Babu Pant, Chairman of Blue Diamond Society Pinki Gurung, Manish Dhakal and Parsuram Rai,” said Sahi. Sahi said she will soon come Kathmandu to receive passport. Sunil Babu Pant, former lawmakers and a campaigner who is struggling to ensure the rights of gender and sexual minorities has thanked Nepal government for fulfilling its obligation towards its citizen .