Kathmandu, July 27

The government today decided to distribute 391,831 identity cards to households living below poverty line in 25 districts.

A meeting of Council of Ministers presided over by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba took a decision to this effect.

According to Finance Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, the government will distribute identity cards to households living below poverty line in Kapilvastu, Bhojpur, Siraha, Khotang, Gorkha, Rautahat, Tanahun, Rolpa, Sindhuli, Baglung, Bardia, Jajarkot, Pyuthan, Rukum, Ramechhap, Kalikot, Mugu, Arghakhanchi, Dolpa, Humla, Jumla, Bajhang, Bajura, Achham and Kailali districts.

Out of 1,224,400 households in these districts, the Ministry of Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation had designated 391,831 households as living below poverty line four years ago. The study found that the highest rate of poverty was in Bajura and the lowest in Tanahun.

Chief Secretary Rajendra Kishor Chhetri said providing identity cards to the designated households living below poverty line was a major policy decision that would help the government formulate effective poverty alleviation programmes.

Chhetri said the government, as well as NGO/INGOs, would be compelled to prioritise poverty alleviation programmes targeting the identified poor people.

According to Chhetri, several ministries of the government had spent over Rs 37 billion to reduce poverty in the past, but the government agencies had no clue whether any of the targeted people benefitted from poverty reduction programmes.

He said that the government would also study households of 50 other districts living below poverty line and establish a monitoring mechanism.

The MoCPA stated that the government had yet to decide which facilities should be offered to people living below poverty line. “We do not have any concrete programme to offer to those households,” said MoCPA Spokesperson Raghuram Bista.

In another decision, the government today formed a high-level talks team to hold discussion with senior orthopaedic surgeon of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Dr Govinda KC, who has been on a fast-unto-death since Monday. The three-member team is led by Education Secretary Shanta Bahadur Shrestha. Health Secretary Kiran Regmi and Secretary of the Office of Prime Minister Gopinath Mainali are members of the talks team.

Dr KC has demanded that the Parliament pass Medical Education Bill incorporating recommendations of the Kedar Bhakta Mathema-led committee.

In yet another decision, the government decided to give martyrdom status to seven more people killed during the Tharuhat-Madhes movement, said Minister of Urban Development Prabhu Shah. The government will provide relief to the people injured during the movement.