Dhankuta, November 15
Senior citizens have called on the government to ensure that they can easily access the services, facilities and rights guaranteed to them by the state.
Participants at the 12th General Assembly of the National Federation of Senior Citizens, held in Dhankuta on Saturday and Sunday, made the demand.
They complained that although the government has introduced various laws and provisions for senior citizens and provides facilities such as social security allowances, they continue to face difficulties accessing these services in practice. They said the government should pay special attention to implementing the rights guaranteed by law, as various obstacles remain.
Manoj Kumar Jha, a senior citizen from Dhanusha, said elderly people have to wait in long queues at banks to receive their social security allowances. He said the process is even more difficult for those with physical disabilities.
He also pointed out that the requirement to visit local government offices to renew social security allowances creates problems for elderly people who are unable even to walk to the toilet. He urged the government to arrange home-based services or other convenient alternatives for such individuals.
Participants also complained that provisions granting senior citizens a 50 per cent discount on public transport fares and reserved seats on vehicles have not been effectively implemented. Despite the legal provisions, they said, elderly passengers are often forced to travel standing.
Indra Bahadur Shrestha, vice-chairperson of the National Federation of Senior Citizens, said a separate ministry was needed to address the problems and grievances of elderly people.
He said the absence of a dedicated ministry had left senior citizens without a government body to represent their concerns and take initiatives to resolve them. Establishing a separate ministry would make it easier to address the challenges they face, he added.
Participants said senior citizens face various difficulties and discrimination, particularly when using public transport and accessing hospital services. They urged the government to ensure the effective implementation of existing provisions and provide services that are accessible and respectful of elderly people.
The 12th General Assembly was organised by the National Federation of Senior Citizens, with the Senior Citizens District Association, Dhankuta, as a co-organiser. The two-day event was inaugurated on Saturday by Chintan Tamang, mayor of Dhankuta Municipality, who lit a traditional oil lamp.
