Every Nepali should obtain a citizenship certificate based on evidence and identification after completing 16 years of age. Although the issue of obtaining citizenship certificate is a natural right, Chanmati Majhi of Hilihang in Panchthar reached the age of 93 to obtain the same certificate. Without the necessary information and support, Majhi remained stateless until the age of 93.
Chief District Officer Ganesh Gayre, Chairman of Hilihang Rural Municipality Samar Bahadur Adhikari and Ward President of Hilihang-2 Bhim Prasad Hembya provided the citizenship certificate to Majhi of Pinasi of Hilihang Rural Municipality-2 on Thursday. After publishing/broadcasting news in various media that Majhi could not obtain citizenship even at the age of 93 and was deprived of all the services from the state due to lack of citizenship certificate, the administration and the village council became interested. Last week, a team from the district administration office reached Majhi’s house to understand her condition.
Prazia Gayre informed that after realizing that Majhi had not received the certificate even though she was eligible to receive citizenship, the administration went to her home and provided it to her. Majhi’s husband, who did not even understand what a citizenship certificate is, died two years ago. Because she does not have children and does not like to live in other people’s houses, Majhi has been living in poverty and on the help of neighbors. Neighbors of Majhi say that due to the lack of citizenship certificate, he has not been able to receive social security allowance and other government services.
She kept goats and chickens and was not interested in the citizenship certificate. But Majhi is happy to know that the social security allowance will come now. In the past, it was easy for her to make ends meet with the help of her husband’s social security allowance. But after the death of her husband, Majhi’s life is going through poverty.
Hilihang Rural Municipality has committed to take care of Majhi. ‘We will start the necessary work for his easy living’, Samar Bahadur Adhikari, chairman of the rural municipality, said, ‘We will arrange for house construction and maintenance.’ Forced to live a miserable life in a dilapidated small house, Majhi does not agree to go and live in other people’s houses. The rural municipality has planned to build the house and manage the maintenance.
