Sisne Rural Municipality in Rukum (East) has launched a drive to distribute social security allowance allocated to the elderly, people with disabilities, single women and Dalit children at their own homes.

Sisne is one of the remotest corners in the district and its residents have to travel for hours just to reach the nearest bank.

“Today, the representatives and officials came by our homes and distributed the allowance,” said Man Bahadur Budha, a local. “It feels good. We now know what local governments are really for.”

Bina Gharti, 75, had to travel for hours to reach the rural municipal office and receive her allowance. With this new drive, Gharti says it has become easy for her and many other villagers to collect their benefits.

The drive is currently effective in ward numbers 1, 2 and 8 of the rural municipality.

“The three wards are some of the remotest ones in the municipality,” said Jeevan KC, chair of ward number 2. “We are excited by the positive responses from the people.”

Elderly people over 70 years of age get Rs3,000 monthly, elderly Dalit people over 60 receive Rs2,000, single women receive Rs2,000, while people with disabilities get Rs3,000 and Rs1,600, depending upon the extent of their disability, as social security allowance.