President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has successfully fulfilled a key electoral campaign pledge, ensuring that the vital service of national identity card issuance is now fully accessible in all administrative atolls of the Maldives.
This nationwide rollout culminated with the official launch of services in Fulidhoo, Vaavu Atoll late Saturday, marking a significant milestone in bringing essential government functions closer to the people.
The final provincial ID card service, inaugurated by the Minister of Finance and Planning, Moosa Zameer in Fulidhoo, during President Dr Muizzu's ongoing tour of four Atolls where he has personally observed and championed the expansion of essential government services.
The journey of national identity documentation in the Maldives began on 1 May 1984. The transition to the computerisation of citizenship cards in 2003 saw the introduction of plastic cards and the establishment of 174 collection centres nationwide, providing convenient access for citizens.
However, in 2021, a pivotal shift occurred when the Department of National Registration (DNR) moved to an online-only ID card application system, a measure necessitated by the global COVID-19 pandemic. This change inadvertently severed the DNR's direct ties with local councils, forcing citizens to travel to the capital, Malé, for all ID card-related services. This resulted in a significant loss of accessibility, prolonged delays, and a substantial backlog—when the current government took office, a staggering 3,348 ID card applications remained unissued.
Addressing this critical public grievance, President Dr Muizzu’s administration swiftly moved to overhaul the system. They abolished the restrictive online-only application model and introduced 'Naares,' a specialised portal allowing citizens to apply for ID cards directly through their respective island councils, vastly improving local accessibility.
President Dr Muizzu had initially announced his ambitious plan during last year's Republic Day celebrations, pledging to establish ID card and passport services in all atolls by the end of this year. The project to expand ID card services to the people began in earnest on 16 November last year, with a comprehensive roadmap prepared for nationwide implementation.
With the launch in Fulidhoo, President Dr Muizzu confirmed the full realisation of this pledge.
"The inauguration of ID card service on this island, signifies the completion of service rollout across all atolls," he remarked, highlighting the complete establishment of printing and issuance facilities across all provinces, providing immense relief to citizens who previously faced significant hurdles.
Beyond national borders, the government is also working to extend ID card services to Maldivian communities in key international locations, including Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, and the United Kingdom.
This comprehensive initiative, which brings essential services directly to citizens' doorsteps, underscores President Dr Muizzu's commitment to alleviating public suffering and prioritizing the convenience and well-being of every Maldivian.
In Fulidhoo, President Dr Muizzu also announced that passport services will be fully available in all atolls across the country by the end of next month, significantly accelerating the government's decentralisation efforts.
This rollout is two months ahead of the initial year-end target, promising greater convenience for citizens nationwide.
Speaking at a community meeting in Felidhoo, the President highlighted the expedited timeline.
"Hopefully by the end of next month, I promised by the end of this year. By the end of next month, this promise [of passport service] will also have at least one island in every atoll," he stated, underscoring the commitment to bring essential government functions closer to the people.
The new decentralised system of passport services has already been implemented in 14 atolls, including the one currently visited by the President.