Had the authorization come through, the target groups would be receiving their allocated share of allowances on time, informed district development committee program officer Raju Bhai Shrestha. [break]
Although preparations have been made for distribution of the quarterly tranche of the annual social security allowance simultaneously in 36 VDCs on Asoj 1, authorization for the distribution has not yet come through. A campaign had been started three years ago to ensure the allowances landed in the hands of the target individuals on.
“This campaign, which was embraced three years ago, was started to reduce the risk of delay in distribution of the allowance money but the plan hasn´t worked out as expected,” said Shrestha.
The government has allocated a total of Rs 140 million under its social security budget for 23,286 targeted individuals in the district. As per the campaign schedule, Rs 40.4 million should be distributed under the first quarterly tranche.
"Sadly, we had to let down all the locals this year, as we still have not received any authorization from the government," said Shrestha.
"Handing over the allowance money at the locals´ doorstep had helped us earn their trust but the delay has certainly agitated them," said Shrestha. TUKI, an NGO, is the major coordinator behind the distribution campaign.
The government has been distributing Rs 500 to each local above the age of 60, along with Dalits and single women residing in the district. Similarly, Rs 200 has been distributed to Dalit children under the age of 5, Rs 300 to partially disabled locals and Rs 1,000 to the completely disabled.
Related story
Digitization of social allowance in progress
