Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has received 169 applications from senior citizens eligible for the ‘old age allowance ’ declared by the metropolis for the welfare of elderly people residing in Kathmandu.
The applications of the eligible beneficiaries are currently under observation as KMC plans to start the distribution no later than mid-April.
KMC officials said that the number might increase as the final list has been delayed. “The wards are expecting more people to apply for the allowance . All the details will be finalised in the next two weeks and then we will start the distribution process,” said Rajya Prakash Pradhananga, chief of Social Development Department at KMC.
In January, the metropolis had declared that senior citizens of Kathmandu aged 88 and above would be given Rs 10,000 per month as old age allowance to honour the seniors. The KMC also reduced the previous age threshold of 100 to accommodate more elderly citizens residing in the Capital.
The eligibility criteria set for receiving the allowance mentions that the citizen should be a local resident of Kathmandu and in possession of a Constituent Assembly (CA) voters ID card, while those on a government pension will be disqualified from receiving the entitlement altogether. However, senior citizens eligible just by age have also requested the metropolis to reconsider the scheme and scrap the criteria of possessing the voter ID. “We might reconsider the scheme as many have complained that they don’t have the ID card,” said Pradhananga. Although the metropolis estimated 1200 applicants, it was prepared to afford only around 700 applicants with its allocated budget. “Now we estimate not more than 400 people to be the beneficiaries of the scheme, hence, we will be flexible with our criteria,” added Pradhananga. The KMC has allocated an annual budget of Rs 6.5 million for the scheme.
The nine centenarians receiving the monthly allowance of Rs 10,000 under the current scheme will also be renewed as per the new scheme. During the 19th city council meet the KMC resolved to provide an allowance to residents aged over 100 years. The KMC, however, revised its previous scheme at the 22nd city council meeting in 2013, announcing allowance s for people aged 88 and above.
The government, meanwhile, has also been providing a monthly allowance of Rs 500 to citizens above the age of 70, while in August 2008 it decreased the threshold on its pension scheme from 75
years to 70 years and increased the allowance from Rs 200 to Rs 500. In fiscal year 2013/14, the government allocated Rs 11 billion for social welfare schemes.
Source
The applications of the eligible beneficiaries are currently under observation as KMC plans to start the distribution no later than mid-April.
KMC officials said that the number might increase as the final list has been delayed. “The wards are expecting more people to apply for the allowance . All the details will be finalised in the next two weeks and then we will start the distribution process,” said Rajya Prakash Pradhananga, chief of Social Development Department at KMC.
In January, the metropolis had declared that senior citizens of Kathmandu aged 88 and above would be given Rs 10,000 per month as old age allowance to honour the seniors. The KMC also reduced the previous age threshold of 100 to accommodate more elderly citizens residing in the Capital.
The eligibility criteria set for receiving the allowance mentions that the citizen should be a local resident of Kathmandu and in possession of a Constituent Assembly (CA) voters ID card, while those on a government pension will be disqualified from receiving the entitlement altogether. However, senior citizens eligible just by age have also requested the metropolis to reconsider the scheme and scrap the criteria of possessing the voter ID. “We might reconsider the scheme as many have complained that they don’t have the ID card,” said Pradhananga. Although the metropolis estimated 1200 applicants, it was prepared to afford only around 700 applicants with its allocated budget. “Now we estimate not more than 400 people to be the beneficiaries of the scheme, hence, we will be flexible with our criteria,” added Pradhananga. The KMC has allocated an annual budget of Rs 6.5 million for the scheme.
The nine centenarians receiving the monthly allowance of Rs 10,000 under the current scheme will also be renewed as per the new scheme. During the 19th city council meet the KMC resolved to provide an allowance to residents aged over 100 years. The KMC, however, revised its previous scheme at the 22nd city council meeting in 2013, announcing allowance s for people aged 88 and above.
The government, meanwhile, has also been providing a monthly allowance of Rs 500 to citizens above the age of 70, while in August 2008 it decreased the threshold on its pension scheme from 75
years to 70 years and increased the allowance from Rs 200 to Rs 500. In fiscal year 2013/14, the government allocated Rs 11 billion for social welfare schemes.
Source
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