DHADING, Oct 3: Laxmi Sapkota of Thakre Rural Municipality-10 has obtained her senior citizen identity card at the age of 109. Chief and deputy chief of the rural municipality reached her ward to provide her the identity card.
Sapkota expressed her gratefulness toward the local unit for providing her the card though in her twilight years. "I had heard that we can get 50% discount on transportation fare and medical treatment due to this card," said Sapkota, adding, "Now onward, even I will be able to get such discounts." She has seven sons and two daughters and is currently living with her youngest son.
While her sons are busy doing their own businesses, her daughters have been married off. She spends her days playing with her grandchildren. She can barely hear and is often plagued by various illnesses.
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"It is difficult for the elderly people to reach the headquarters. So we decided to go to their wards and distribute the ID cards," said the rural municipality chief Ram Kumar Acharya
"I have become old and can't even work properly," said Sapkota, adding, "The facilities that I will get from this card and the elderly allowance will be of great help for me."
Not just Laxmi, more than 200 elderly people of ward 9 and 10 reached to their respective ward offices for acquiring their identity cards on Tuesday after learning that they will no longer have to reach the district headquarters for receiving the card and the benefits.
In order to address the demands of the agitating senior citizens, the previous government had made a decision to provide health insurance, health services and 50% discount on transportation fare to citizens above 60 years. Following the announcement, Thakre Rural Municipality provided the identity cards to the elderly citizen.
According to the rural municipality, those who lack citizenship can use this identity card and can open a bank account for receiving allowance. Earlier, it was a compulsion for the people to reach the district headquarters-based Women and Children Office to seek senior citizen ID cards. However, that changed after the local elections and can now be obtained from the respective wards.
"It is difficult for the elderly people to reach the headquarters. So we decided to go to their wards and distribute the ID cards," said the rural municipality chief Ram Kumar Acharya, adding, "If any organization or institute refuses to provide government assured facilities to the elderly people, stern action will be taken against them." He also informed that waiting rooms will be constructed in various places for the elderly people.
