KATHMANDU: The National Senior Citizen Federation Nepal on Thursday met with CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ to press for the fulfillment of various long-standing demands concerning the welfare of senior citizens.
During the meeting held at Dahal’s residence in Khumaltar, the delegation submitted a list of demands, including concessions in public transportation, proper identification and management of senior citizens, reforms in the distribution of old-age allowances, classification-based allowance provision, and ensuring senior citizens’ representation in the National Assembly.
The Federation also raised a pressing issue that nearly 2,500 senior citizens remain stateless due to the lack of citizenship certificates, and urged the former Prime Minister to take the lead in resolving it.
In response, Chair Dahal assured the delegation of his full support. “The demands you have raised are genuine. I will extend all possible cooperation, and the Maoist Centre will take a positive initiative to implement them,” Dahal said, according to his secretariat.
Meanwhile, a separate delegation from Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality, Kaski, including local land donors, political party representatives, and elected officials from Dhital and Bhedabari, also met with Dahal on the same day. The group urged him to take the initiative in expediting the construction of the ANFA Technical Centre in the region.
The delegation briefed Dahal that preliminary work—such as surveys, environmental impact assessments, and soil testing—had already been completed, and the required land had been officially transferred with the support of the local government.
Dahal assured the delegation that he would coordinate with the concerned authorities to push the project forward.
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