KATHMANDU, Oct 31: Most of the people from remote areas of Nepal are found to have been deprived of the government-announced benefits, while the people in accessible areas enjoy the maximum benefits.

The additional report under the National Census 2021 unveiled by the National Statistics Office (NSO) on Monday showed that local people in Sudurpashchim Province received the lowest proportion of the government grants while constructing their houses in the last decade. On the other hand, the people in Bagmati Province enjoyed the maximum benefit of the state’s provision.

According to the census, an average of 10.27 percent out of 6,660,841 families of the country enjoyed the government-provided grants while constructing their residence. The local residents of Sudurpashchim Province, who received only 2.98 percent grants,  stood far below the national average. On the other hand, the people of Bagmati Province enjoyed the highest benefit of 26.64 percent.  

In 2013, the government had announced the People’s Housing Program under which it would build houses for impoverished minorities and Dalit families. In the fiscal year 2018/19, the program initiated by the federal government was handed over to the provincial governments.

The authorities concerned had maintained the condition that the beneficiaries of the program should have their own land in order to be eligible to receive the housing grants announced by the government. However, most of the targeted groups living in the remote areas do not have their own land, which deprived them from receiving the benefits, according to NSO officials. 

Likewise, the report states that a total of 25.59 percent of the families have taken loans from banks and financial institutions and cooperatives. Out of it, the least of 21.96 percent is attributed for the people from Sudurpashchim Province, while as high as 28.88 percent from Madhesh Province received loans from these financial organizations.

According to the latest census report, 25.56 percent of the total population have at least one bank account. The 2021 census shows that the country’s total population to be 29,164,578. Out of 14,253,551 men, 26.42 percent have at least one bank account while 24.74 percent out of 14,911,027 women have at least one bank account.

 
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