Over 100 years of life without citizenship certificate

SINDHULI, Dec 7: Chhattramaya Magar of Kamalamai Rural Municipality-13 in Sindhuli district is believed to be over 100 years old. But she still lacks an important document--the citizenship certificate of Nepal--to validate her age.

She is also bereft of the State-rendered facilities in lack of such a document. "The financial situation of my grandson upon whom I am dependent is also weak. I am overlooked by the state. If I had elderly allowance, it would be financially easier for my grandson to look after me," she said.

Chhatramaya was on her own for five years following the demise of her husband. Padam Bahadur Ranamagar has been taking care of her since then. "I had heard that the government has introduced schemes to secure the elderly people like me but nobody seems to be paying attention to my Statelessness," she lamented.

She wished that the concerned local agencies would do the needful to provide her citizenship certificate.

She does not have anyone left in her natal home for her to justify her legal standing for procuring the citizenship certificate. Ekraj Pahadi, a local, said that the elderly woman has been deprived of State facilities in lack of the document.

The elderly woman said that her natal home was at the then Hatapate Village Development Committee in the district and there were no kith and kin from her parents' side. 

Kamalamai Municipality Mayor Khadga Bahadur Khatri said that they came to learn about Chhattramaya in a programme organized during the last Dashain festival to honour the elderly citizens aged 100 and above. Mayor Khatri said that they would make necessary efforts to grant Chhattramaya her citizenship identity card. The Municipality would also formulate welfare programmes for the elderly citizens in the Municipality. 

Chief District Officer of Sindhuli Yogendra Prasad Pandey said that Chhattramaya would get all the papers if all necessary details and evidence were provided to them.