KATHMANDU, June 11: It has been revealed that people in Baitadi are receiving old-age allowance by tampering with their dates of birth mentioned in their citizenship certificates. As many as 14 people have been found to be receiving old age allowance by forging government documents in this fashion. They will be arrested and fined.

This offense came to surface on the basis of a complaint filed at the District Administration Office. It was found that people had tampered with their citizenship during the process of data collection for the issue of national identity cards in their respective wards.

The citizenship certificates of some people of Dilasaini Rural Municipality-13 and Dogdakedar Rural Municipality-1 have been found to be tampered with. Khagendra Bharti, information officer for the District Administration Office (DAO) said that further investigation was carried out. It has been found that some people had their birthdates ‘corrected’ while receiving copies of citizenship certificates from the DAO. Bharati said an investigation into such matters was underway.

“Investigation is also being conducted based on the complaint filed at the office”, he said. Bharati said that some people had been receiving allowance since 2052 BS and others since 2076 BS by forging their citizenship certificates. “It has been found that old age allowance has been paid at least 3 years and at most 27 years ago by forging dates on citizenship”, he added.

Bharati mentioned that those who have taken allowance by altering date of birth in their citizenships will be charged double the amount taken so far and further action will be taken as per Citizenship Act.

The name list of those who have forged their citizenship hasn’t been made public yet. According to the DAO, Baitadi, they will be taken under control and fined. 

 
• citizenship
 
• old_age_allowance
 
• Baitadi