Elderly queue for national identity cards in Gulmi

By Tilachan Pandey

Tamghas, June 22:  The District Administration Office of Gulmi is now drawing a big crowd, as more people are applying for national identity cards.

Recently, the government made national IDs mandatory for those drawing social security allowances in 28 districts. Although Gulmi is not one of these 28 districts, there is still a rush to make the national IDs due to fear of not receiving the allowances.

Manu Giri, a 74-year-old from Paudiamarai of Musikot Municipality 1, said she visited the District Administration Office to make a national ID after hearing the news that it was mandatory for the senior citizens to receive allowances. She said, “These allowances are my support during old age. Fearing the loss of the allowance, I came to this administrative office for the ID. Now I am relieved after getting one.”

Like Giri, Navidevi Rokaya, 72, of Gulmidarbar Rural Municipality, also came to the administrative office to get her national ID upon hearing the news.

According to Hari Prasad Gaire, Assistant Chief District Officer, the service seekers have been lining up even before the office opens to make the national identity cards despite various local media informing that the national ID is not currently mandatory to receive social security allowances for Gulmi citizens.

However, the rural municipality has prioritised the applicants, he added. He informed that a few days ago, even senior citizens aged up to 84 years came to make their identity cards.

Chief Administrative Officer Krishna Prasad Sharma has informed that arrangements have been made to accept applications from the identity card distribution station due to the increased pressure of service seekers at the office. Additionally, they have been providing services until late in the evening, he added. 

The District Administration Office, Gulmi, reported that they collected applications for identity cards from 247 people on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday also more than 100 applications were received. 

According to the office, approximately 200,000 people in Gulmi have applied for the national identity cards.