Bhim Thapa now legally becomes Nepali citizen

By Gokarna Dayal, Baitadi,  Feb.12: Bhim Bahadur Thapa, the son of a laborer stranded by his relatives on the road in his early days, has finally acquired Nepali citizenship. 

A news was published in Gorkhapatra on March 4, 2024, about Thapa under the title 'Bhim Bahadur searching for relatives for forty-seven years'.

As soon as the news was published, then Chief District Officer, Baitadi, Bhimkant Sharma called Thapa and inquired about his relatives.

After being unable to trace his maternal and paternal for a long time, Thapa was granted citizenship based on descent by the district administration office on Tuesday as per the Nepal Citizenship Act 2063 (2006) under the criteria that Thapa was born in Nepal and the paternal and maternal family tree has not been located. 

Thapa, who was deprived of health insurance and other services due to lack of citizenship, said that after getting citizenship he felt like having a mother and father. 

He said that the government has heard the pain of the laborer. He is elated that he got citizenship even though his relatives are yet to be located.

Pawan Kumar Shahi, administrative officer of the District Administration Office, Baitadi, said that the certificate of Nepali citizenship was given to Thapa, under the protection of Narad Pandey, a resident of Kathpat,   Dasharathchand Municipality -4, Baitadi.

He said, "Bhim Thapa applied for citizenship five to six months ago. We granted him citizenship according to the Nepal Citizenship Act 2063 (2016) after investigating his details.

Thapa got citizenship of Nepal on the recommendation of the ward as per the provision that any child born in the territory of sovereign Nepal gets citizenship even after not being able to trace the mother and father and family tree.  

Bhim Bahadur Thapa said that in the year 1977, he along with his relatives came as a laborer in Kathpat, Baitadi, from Dang to dig the road, but he got separated from them on the way. 

Bhim Bahadur Thapa, who says he hails from the Dang district, said that he does not have any information neither the name nor address of his parents as he got separated on the way to work as a laborer in another district during his childhood.

 Bhim Thapa, showing his citizenship certificate, said that he has been living in the house of a local which stands on the side of the road, where Thapa was left by relatives, for 48 years.

Narrating the pain of being separated from his mother and father, he said, "I do not know have any memory of my mother's face. Maybe she passed away when I was young? I remember going to Baitadi with my relatives including my father. He says that the relative returned after finishing the work of digging the road. Why did you leave me here? I do not know anything or the reason for being left behind. "