Simkot, December 6

Elderly citizens and people with disabilities have been deprived from receiving social security allowance in Humla.

The right-holders from seven rural municipalities of Humla district have yet to get different types of allowances which were supposed to be distributed before the Dashain festival.

Except Changkheli Rural Municipality, all other local governments have been deferring the distribution of social security allowance in the district.

Maina Bohara, a senior citizen from Simkot Rural Municipality-2, complained that she was disappointed for not getting allowance in time which had to be distributed within last Mid-August. “We wished to buy warm clothes to beat the winter blues, but our hope turned into a despair,” she added.

Adan Singh Rawat, another senior citizen from Simkot Rural Municipality-5 voiced his concern that the allowance of the first four months had not been distributed to the right holders.

Owing to the delay in the distribution of allowances, children below five, senior citizens above 60, single and widowed women, and people with disability have been denied of their entitlements, locals bemoaned.

However, Chief Executive of Simkot Rural Municipality Arjun Darji, clarified that the delay was caused in the distribution of allowances in Wards 1 to 8 due to absence of accountant.

“Distribution of social security allowance has also been delayed due to negligence on part of ward chairpersons in releasing the amount,” he added.

Same problem has surfaced in Adanchuli Rural Municipality of the district. Adanchuli Rural Municipality Chair Dal Fadera said distribution of social security allowance had been delayed since there was only one secretary to look after public service delivery of seven wards.