The government has decided to close schools in Province 2 for five days for the third phase of local polls scheduled for September 18.

The schools will remain close from September 15-19.

Other offices and institutions will remain closed on the day of voting. As per the recommendation by the Election Commission (EC), a Cabinet meeting on Monday decided to shut schools for five days as polling centres have to set up there. Voting on September 18 will elect local representatives for 136 units in eight districts of Province 2, completing the local elections, first in 20 years.

According to Minister for Information and Communications Mohan Bahadur Basnet, the Cabinet meeting on Monday also approved Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s visit to New York to participate in the 72nd General Assembly of the United Nations. Leading a 15-member delegation, PM Deuba is leaving for New York on September 19.

According to Basnet, the meeting also decided to forward the bills related to the elections to the President and Vice President after the provincial and federal elections.

The meeting also decided to provide passport to the children of the Nepalis living abroad.

Children of Nepali nationals living abroad have been facing problems due to lack of identity in foreign land. Those children who have already obtained Nepali citizenship will get such facilities, according to Minister Basnet.

The meeting also decided to accept Rs 1.5 billion assistance from the World Bank for Nepal’s reconstruction.