MUGU: Senior citizens from Gamtha village, located in Khatyad Rural Municipality-7, are facing difficulties in receiving their social security allowance because they do not have national identity cards.
Khimta Ghodashaini (69), Tuli Sanjyal (70), Purna Chandra Upadhyay (77), and Saura Devi Ghodashaini (64) are among those who have been deprived of their state entitlements. The elderly residents are being turned away by local authorities, who insist on the presentation of a national ID card to claim the allowance.
The process of obtaining an ID card is a significant hurdle. Senior citizens must trek for two to three days to reach the district headquarters, Gamgadhi, in order to obtain the necessary document. This arduous journey has led to both physical and emotional distress for the elderly, as they are unable to access their entitled benefits.
The local authorities have not addressed the issue, and many elderly citizens feel that the local government should take the initiative to resolve the matter.
Khamma Budha (71) from Khamale village shared his frustration, explaining that he has been unable to withdraw his Rs 2,000 monthly allowance for over a year due to the lack of a national ID card. As a result, he has been struggling to manage basic daily expenses.
He is one of more than 35 senior citizens and single women in Ward No. 5 alone who are unable to access their social security allowance due to the same issue.
Similarly, 84-year-old Chauli Budha lamented that her poor health prevents her from traveling to Gamgadhi to obtain the required ID card, leaving her without access to the government’s support.
Chitra Bahadur Budha, Chairman of Ward No. 5, criticized the bank for denying the allowance to senior citizens, pointing out that the national ID card has now become a mandatory requirement for accessing the benefit.
Over 145 senior citizens and single women in his ward have registered for the social security allowance, but the lack of proper documentation has left many of them without the financial support they desperately need.
To address this issue, Chairman Budha has called for the District Administration Office to organize a public service camp to facilitate the distribution of national ID cards, ensuring that eligible citizens can access their entitlements without further delay.
In response, Chief District Officer Kamal Prasad Pandey announced that plans are underway to hold public service camps to bring services closer to the people and ensure that senior citizens can obtain their national ID cards and access their state benefits promptly.
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