KATHMANDU: The government has decided to make the national identity card mandatory for receiving social security allowances, effective in 28 districts from July 16, following a recent Cabinet decision.

This decision has led to an influx of people at district administration offices seeking ID cards.

Yubraj Kattel, Director General at the National ID Card and Registration Department, stated that the requirement will also apply to the renewal of social security schemes in the 28 districts starting July 16.

District administration offices are mobilizing additional resources at the local level to facilitate the distribution of national ID cards.

The districts implementing this provision are: Jhapa, Rautahat, Rupandehi, Morang, Sarlahi, Kapilvastu, Sunsari, Kathmandu, Dang, Udayapur, Bhaktapur, Banke, Saptari, Lalitpur, Bardiya, Siraha, Sindhuli, Surkhet, Dhanusha, Makwanpur, Kailali, Mahottari, Chitwan, Kanchanpur, Bara, Kaski, Parsa, and Tanahu.

The Department has been distributing national ID cards for the past four years in 73 districts.

However, on Wednesday, the Department issued a notice stating that people over 90 years old and those living with disabilities do not need to produce national ID cards to receive social security allowances.