KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Oli has vowed to increase the senior citizen allowance from the next fiscal year.
Inaugurating the national campaign for health insurance for senior citizens and opening of bank accounts for all Nepalis here today, PM Oli affirmed that Nepal would take a single step forward each day where the government would take care of the basic needs and dignity of the people. An elder citizen currently receives a monthly allowance of Rs. 2,000.
The campaign, jointly launched by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Health Insurance Board and Nepal Rastra Bank, with the theme – ‘Health Insurance of senior citizens, connect it with prosperity and bank accounts of all Nepali” is supposed to add ‘another new dimension’ for the government’s much-hyped social security agenda.
The government had earlier introduced the social security program, which is funded through the contributions made by the workers and the employers.
The new campaign introduces an insurance scheme up to Rs 100,000 for the elderly citizens and the government would pay a premium for the same.
On the occasion, PM Oli expressed the confidence that there would not be any Nepali sans a bank account, and without any money in it.
He labelled the campaign as revolutionary while underscoring the need to adapt to the e-commerce system.
Prime Minister Oli said, “Elderly people are basically in need of insurance and banking than the youths.”
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