• The main objective of the directive is to maintain an inventory of senior citizens

Kathmandu, November 9

The government has issued Senior Citizen Identity Card Directive to provide senior citizens with protection and social security under the constitution.

As per the directive, the government will issue ID card to senior citizens though the concerned rural municipality or municipality.

“For the purpose of providing ID card, any Nepali citizen having completed the age of 60 years shall be recognised as senior citizen,” the directive states.

The main objectives of this directive are to identify and maintain inventory of senior citizens at the local level and to provide them with necessary services and facilities in public vehicles, health institutions and religious and public places in a simple and easy manner.

The law has classified senior citizens into four categories — those below and above 70 years of age, helpless senior citizens, infirm senior citizens and single senior citizens.

Any person having completed 60 years of age may himself/herself or through his/her attorney submit an application, along with a copy of citizenship certificate, two copies of auto size photographs and a recommendation letter of his/her ward office, to the concerned local level for ID card.

As per the national census 2011, senior citizens make up 2.2 million of the total population of the country. Senior citizens are entitled to 50 per cent discount in public transport and government hospitals on the basis of ID card.

Currently, the government provides Rs 2,000 per month to the people above 70 years of age, who are not government pensioners, under the social security allowance scheme.

There are voices for providing such allowance to people above 60 years of age.

Senior citizens, who are above 60 years of age from Karnali region and Dalit communities, are also entitled to the allowance.