Senior citizens in Kamala Municipality have been staging a sit-in protest since April 7, after failing to receive their social security allowance for the past nine months.
Devnarayan Yadav, 74, from Ward No. 9, stated that the social security allowance provided by the state is the primary source for his medical treatment and daily livelihood. He expressed distress that he has been unable to afford healthcare due to the prolonged delay in receiving the allowance.
Similarly, Ramchandra Mandal, 71, another protest participant, said that the allowance is the main basis of survival for senior citizens. He noted that its suspension has directly affected both food security and health security, expressing dissatisfaction with the state.
Likewise, Kailash Yadav, 71, also from Ward No. 9, shared that in the absence of any source of income, the state-provided social security allowance is their only support. He said, “We have neither land nor employment. I have not even been able to afford medicine for the past four days.”
According to Mayor Bishweshwar Yadav, the delay has been caused by the inability to convene the municipal assembly for a long time due to political disagreements. He stated that the assembly is almost certain to be held by April 13, after which the allowances for senior citizens will be distributed.
Similarly, Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Shravan Kumar Shah mentioned that due to the absence of the municipal assembly, not only senior citizens but also all municipal employees have not received their salaries for nine months. He informed that if the assembly is held as scheduled, both the social security allowances for senior citizens and the salaries of employees will be disbursed within mid-week of April.