Along with her, as many as 150 elderly citizens of the village also made the rigorous journey to Janakpur, the district headquarters and encircled the government office to press the authorities to distribute their elderly allowances timely. [break]
They had to resort to protest as the VDC secretary has not distributed social security allowance to them for the last 21 months.
“In this age when I am not even able to do my daily chores, I am here to picket the DAO,” said Koirin, who was staging a sit-in along with other elderly citizens in front of the DAO.
Likewise, another elderly citizen Mangala Devi Das, 62, of the same VDC also complained that she had not received her elderly allowance for the last 21 months. She said the DAO should ensure payment of their allowances.
“I visited the VDC office over a dozen times but to no avail. Help us receive the elderly allowance,” Das urged Chief District Officer Hari Krishna Upadhaya.
The elderly villagers also handed over a three-point memorandum to CDO Upadhaya.
Acting VDC secretary Ram Sagar Singh could not be reached for comments.
The elderly have demanded immediate payment of the allowances. Likewise, they have also demanded social security allowance to dalit children below the age of five.
They have also warned of indefinite protest if their demands are not met within the next 15 days.
Deputy PM for raising elderly allowance to Rs 5,000