KMC provides an annual allowance of Rs 10,000 to people who are more than 82 years old but many are still unaware about this facility.Only three months are left for the current fiscal year to come to an end.
As per KMC's record, only 356 elderly persons above 82 have registered themselves at the office to receive the additional allowance in the current fiscal year.
For the current fiscal year, the KMC has set aside a budget of Rs 5 million for the additional allowance.
"I've been receiving a social security allowance of Rs 1000 a month but I didn't know about the KMC's additional allowance," said Sabitri Koirala, 83 of Gyaneshwar, when asked whether she knew about the KMC's additional allowance. "Does KMC really provide such allowance? Then, I have to collect it for two years," she said, smiling.
Although such allowances provide for their social security and welfare, many elderly who are eligible are not even aware of it.
Hari Maya Shrestha, 91, of Maitidevi had never heard about any kind of social security allowances until now. "Had I been receiving social security money and the additional amount provided by the KMC, my life would have become a lot easier. But no one cared to inform me about these facilities," she repented.
When asked why so many elderly people are unaware about allowances targeted at them, Dina Nath Sapkota, an officer at the KMC, said that the information is displayed on KMC's website and also posted on the notice boards of different wards.
Reaching out to each and every elderly is quite difficult for us, according to him.
In the first year, KMC failed to distribute the fund allocated for the elderly people because there were very few qualified as the age limit set was above 90 years, according to the officials.
The low turn out made the KMC to change the eligible age group from above 90 to above 82.
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