Lack of citizenship deprives Gandarva family of benefits in Bajura

BAJURA: Gandarva family, who has been living in a makeshift hut at road side along Saphe--Martardi road section in Budhiganga Municipality-7 in Bajura district, has been deprived of benefits due to lack of citizenship certificate.

Sapana Gandarva, along with her two sons, has been compelled to live a hapless life in a makeshift hut made by Deepak Sunar in the area.

Ever since the demise of her husband for want of treatment three years ago, Sapana has been deprived of social security allowance allotted to single women, and housing facility under people residence programme owing to lack of citizenship.

"No one stood for me to verify my identification. I have no idea how citizenship certificate is made," Sapana lamented.

"District Administration Office urged me to bring my parents' documents from Kalikot district. However, all of my family members have passed away, no one is left behind," Sapana shared.

"We lived at a neighbour's cowshed for more than 15 years in the village before Deepak Sunar gave his hut to us some five years ago," Sapana shared.

After the demise of her husband, Sapana has been working as a domestic helper in affluent families in the village to mange two square meal a day for her two sons.

"At times, I could not bring food for my kids as there was no work in the village. We have slept empty stomach for many nights." Gandarva shared her plight.

Sapana's two sons Sagar and Rajesh, who are in fifth and two grade respectively, study at local Sharada Higher Secondary School in the area.

Local Mohan Sunar said, "Due to poor financial background, they are not in position to acquire bags to carry government funded reading materials."

Meanwhile, the Chief District Officer Luk Bahandur Chettri and Budhiganga Municipality-7 ward chief Bhuwan Joshi have vowed to initiate process to provide her a citizenship certificate.