KAVRE: Forty-three persons of Hayu community in Walting VDC in the district have been deprived of the government allowance provided to the endangered indigenous and ethnic groups in the country.

They have not been able to claim government allowance, as they have changed their surname in citizenship certificates to avoid discrimination against them by the people of so-called higher caste.

The government has recently decided to provide Rs 500 per month to each person from the endangered ethnic communities. Though the total population of the Hayu community is 84 in Walting-5, only 60 of them are living in the village at present.

“Only 17 persons of the Hayu community got the government allowance of six months in the third week of March. Others couldn’t get any because they were found to have changed their surnames in the citizenship certificates,” said Thaneshwor Poudel, secretary of the Walting VDC. Eleven families of Hayu are living in the VDC.

Surya Bahadur Hayu, who has seven members in his family, got Rs 21,000 as government allowance.

While Surya Bahadur is happy at getting government allowance, other Hayus are regretting for changing their surnames in their citizenship certificate.

“We changed our surnames to avoid discrimination at the hands of the so-called upper caste people. However, we have been deprived of the facilities provided by the government, though we belong to the community,” Ram Bahadur Rai, chairman, district chapter of Hayu Community Association, said.

Rai, who is studying in Bachelor’s level, is the only person in his community to do so. However, he has mentioned his surname as Rai in his citizenship and academic certificates.

“Our language is facing extinction because only a few people speak native language,” Rai said, adding, “Our association is trying to mention Hayu as the surname of the persons, who have changed their surname into something else.”

He also said that only his parents have their surname as Hayu in his family. “Rest of us use Rai as our surname,” he added.

VDC secretary Poudel said 11 youths of the community have approached him to change their surname into Hayu.

Chief district officer Netra Prasad Neupane said those wishing to change their surname could do so by getting verification from National Federation of Indigenous Nationalities.

Nearly 5,000 Hayus are living Sindhuli, Ramechhap, Kavre, Sarlahi and other districts.