Senior citizens of Khatyad Rural Municipality-7, Gamthagaun, are being deprived of social security allowances due to the lack of a national identity card. Khimta Ghodasaini, 69, Tuli Sanjyal, 70, Purnachandra Upadhyaya, 77, and Saura Devi Ghodasaini, 64, from Gamthagaun, have mentioned that they face difficulties in receiving social security allowances due to the absence of national identity cards. The district headquarters of Mugu, Gamgadhi, is far and it is difficult for them to reach the office. Without visiting the office, the national identity card cannot be issued, and thus, they cannot receive social security benefits.
Khama Budha,71, from Khamaale in Khatyad has been unable to withdraw his social security allowance from the bank for a year due to the lack of a national identity card. He mentioned that this has caused problems in managing his daily expenses. According to him, he should receive a social security allowance of Rs 2000 per month, but due to the lack of a national identity card, he has been deprived of this facility. In Khatyad Rural Municipality-5 alone, more than 35 senior citizens and single women have been unable to receive their allowances. Likewise, Chawli Budha,84, from Khamaale also mentioned that she has not received her social security allowance. She stated that she has not been able to travel to district headquarters in Khalanga and get her national identity card.
The Ward Chairperson of Khatyad Rural Municipality-5, Chitrabahadur Budha, stated that the issue has arisen due to the mandatory requirement of the national identity card. He mentioned that Machhapuchhre Bank requires an identity card to disburse allowances, which has further complicated the situation for senior citizens. According to him, 145 senior citizens and single women in the ward have registered for the social security allowance, but many have not received it due to incomplete documentation. The locals have requested that the rural municipality coordinate with the district administration office to organize camps in the settlements of the Rural Municipality to facilitate the provision of identity cards to the senior citizens.
The Chief District Officer of the District Administration Office, Kamal Prasad Pandey, stated that in order to address the issues faced by the beneficiaries of social security allowances in the rural municipality, national identity card distribution camps will be organized at accessible locations within the rural municipality in the coming days.