Helambu Rural Municipality in Sindhupalchok district has decided to provide social security allowance to widowers with no means of income.

The fifth municipal council of 2019/20 has allocated Rs2 million for the allowance scheme and has also issued a notice to update the number of widowers in the rural municipality. The municipality will provide an allowance of Rs 500 each to widowers on a monthly basis.

Nimagyaljen Sherpa, chairman of Helambu Rural Municipality, said his office has notified all wards to start the registration of widows and widowers.

“Keeping in view the pitiful condition of widowers with no income, we have formulated a working guideline to distribute equal allowance to both widows and widowers,” Sherpa said.

“During a study conducted by the local unit, we found many elderly people in remote areas living in hardship. The allowance will somehow help them maintain their livelihood,” said Tsering Lama, chairman of Helambu Ward No. 3. Around 1,800 people are living in eight wards of the rural municipality.

The government provides social security allowance to women, widows, elderly, disabled and people from the indigenous communities. Children of excluded communities and impoverished people in the Karnali region receive similar allowances. Apart from these allowances, some local authorities have been providing additional benefits as per their capacity.