The Local Government Operation Act, of 2017 ensures local social security plans and management related to social security and poverty alleviation for the support of senior citizens and poverty alleviation. However, senior citizens from six municipalities in Dhanusha, who had hoped to celebrate the grand Nepali festival of Bijaya Dashami, have been deprived of this service. The untimely municipal assembly, misunderstandings among representatives, and the absence of the chief administrative officer have led to delays in disbursing the social security allowance at the local level. This allowance serves as the sole means of livelihood for persons with disabilities and senior citizens, and, consequently, senior citizens have been deprived of this service. Senior citizens from six municipalities, including Janak Nandini Rural Municipality, Dhanauji Rural Municipality, Lakshminiya Rural Municipality, Kshireshwornath Municipality, Sabaila Municipality, and Nagaraina Municipality, have been left disappointed after not receiving their social security allowance even during Dashain.
According to Binaya Kumar Yadav, the Mayor of Nagaraina Municipality, although the policies and programs for the fiscal year 2024/2025 have been made public, the municipal assembly and budget have not been approved due to disagreements among representatives regarding the budget ceiling. He mentioned that the municipal assembly would be held, and the budget would be passed after Dashain. Premakala Devi Yadav, a 72-year-old resident of Ward No. 6, Nagaraina Municipality, expressed that she has not yet received the third installment of the social security allowance for the fiscal year 2023/2024 and the first installment for the current fiscal year, making it difficult for her to cover her medical expenses. Due to political disputes, Sabaila Municipality’s Deputy Mayor Rahima Khatun filed a case at the High Court Dhanusha on October 1, requesting the cancellation of the municipal assembly held on September 30. Following this petition, Judge Kiran Kumar Pokharel ordered Mayor Kariram Yadav to respond within 15 days regarding the suspension of the municipal assembly. Suryadev Raut, a 68-year-old resident of Ward No. 1, Sabaila Municipality, complained that despite promises made during the elections to distribute the allowance door-to-door, he has not yet received the allowance.
Dilip Kumar Yadav, the Ward Chairperson of Ward No. 4, stated that Janak Nandini Rural Municipality has been unable to operate accounts for the past month due to the absence of the chief administrative officer. According to Lochan Mandal, a 70-year-old resident of Ward No. 3 of the same municipality, there is no earning member in his household, and he used to buy food and clothes for Dashain with the allowance. However, he mentioned that he has not received the social security allowance since April 16, 2024, causing difficulties during this Dashain. He also expressed that it has been challenging to cover his medical expenses without the allowance. Chairperson Yadav said they would resolve the issue by operating the accounts after Dashain.
Sukhdev Yadav, the Mayor of Kshireshwornath Municipality, stated that the municipal assembly has not been held because the ward chairpersons are attempting to run the municipality unilaterally. However, the Nepali Congress holds a majority and only one seat is held by the CPN-UML. He assured that the municipal assembly would be held soon after the Dashain holiday to address the people’s issues. Binod Yadav, the Ward Chairperson of Ward No. 4, informed Santosh Yadav, the INSEC Dhanusha District Representative that, “If we are unable to hold the municipal assembly after Dashain, I will distribute my personal funds to the senior citizens in my ward immediately to ensure they are not deprived of their rights”.
Bhogendra Mishra, the Chairperson of Lakshminiya Rural Municipality, stated that internal disputes and the absence of a chief administrative officer have hindered the municipal assembly for the fiscal year 2024/2025, leading to difficulties in administrative operations. He mentioned that there are also problems in the flow of services that the general public should receive, from development projects to essential services.
Bishnudev Jhale,71, stated that senior citizens, single women, children, and persons with disabilities have not received their security allowance for the past five months. He pointed out that while the government has made provisions for the allowance considering the issues faced by elderly individuals like them, the lack of timely disbursement has caused problems with their medical treatment and other necessities. Likewise, Rajendra Maharal, a 67-year-old resident of Ward No. 2 in Dhanauji Rural Municipality, expressed that while wealthy individuals in the area celebrated Dashain with great joy, he and others in similar circumstances did not get to celebrate the festival as they had not received their security allowance.