NEPAL: Review sought for old-age allowance

KATHMANDU (Gorkhapatra), April 4, 2006: Speakers at a programme organised here today have pointed out the need to review the old-age allowance provided to the elderly citizens of the country. Speaking at a discussion on various aspects relating to the elderly citizens organised by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare here today, they pointed out various existing problems including some enjoying double allowance as a widow and elderly citizen, provision of the allowance to the wealthy also and difference in the age between the elderly men and women. The provisions relating to the elderly citizens in the annual budget for the fiscal year 2005-2006, the elderly citizen act and the like were also discussed at the programme. Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare Dr Durga Pokharel said the government is committed to establishing an atmosphere whereby the elderly citizens receive the elderly allowance not from the generosity point of view as one's right to it. She also said that the government is ready to collaborate with the private and non-government sector in ensuring the elderly citizen access to exercising their rights. Elderly citizens taking part in the programme pointed out the need to establish a separate body concerning the elderly, organised a national seminar to resolve their problems, formulate separate regulation for management of the home for the elderly and establish elderly citizen service centres in the villages.