SUSTA (NAWALPARASI), March 19: The people of Susta, the controversial border area between Nepal and India, remain stateless as the government has not bothered about issuing them citizenship certificates.
At a time when the government is preparing for Constituent Assembly polls, around 4,000 people of Susta are unlikely to enjoy franchise rights as they do not have citizenship certificates. Besides, these people have been deprived of the rights granted to citizens by the laws of the land.[break]
Some of the locals have even acquired Indian. Only around 54 locals have acquired Nepali citizenship by descent and 264 by birth. Others remain stateless.
“We don´t have birth registration certificate. So they did not provide us citizenship. We are now worried about our children and wonder whether they too would have to remain stateless,” said Swaminath Chamar, a local. Surprisingly, Swaminath´s younger brother has already acquired Nepali citizenship.
According to locals, locals eligible for citizenship prefer to have Indian citizenship as the Nepal government has paid no attention to their plight. The locals also said that the Indian side has been encouraging them to acquire Indian citizenship luring them with various state benefits.
One Bijaya Shah has a Nepali citizenship while his neighbor Bijaya Tura has acquired citizenship of both the countries. “If you acquire Indian citizenship, you are entitled to subsidized rice and kerosene, among other things, by the state. You even get loans from the government to build a house” said one of the locals adding, “The Nepali citizenship entails no such benefits. All we get is assault and insult from the Indian side.”
Those acquiring Indian citizenship is also entitled to Rs 50, 000 for construction of a house. Indian citizens can buy three liters of kerosene, 15 kg of wheat, 2 kg of sugar and 25 kg of rice a moth for a mere Rs 125.
Gopal Gurung, chairman of Save Susta Campaign, said the government´s apathy has left the people of Susta disappointed. “It is high time for the government to pay attention to our plight and grant us citizenship. Otherwise, conflict between people acquiring Indian citizenship and Nepali citizenship is inevitable in the area,” said Gurung.