Mugu, Nepal — On the eve of the Tihar festival, residents of Kanka Sundari Rural Municipality in Mugu are expressing happiness after the local government began distributing social security allowances directly from ward offices. The new system has replaced the earlier practice of traveling long distances and waiting in long queues at banks.
The allowances were distributed across all eight wards of the municipality, where local beneficiaries collected their payments from their respective ward offices. Locals said the new arrangement has made the process far easier and more accessible.
“It’s much more convenient this time. Earlier, we had to walk for hours and stand in line at the bank, but now we received the allowance right here at the ward office,” said Dhan Bahadur Karki, a resident of Ward No. 7.
Similarly, Kalchu Budha from Ward No. 3, Gaurigaun, shared that he was pleased to receive his first-quarter allowance before Tihar, without the hassle of traveling to the bank. “It used to take us two hours just to reach the bank and wait in line. This time, it was smooth and quick,” he said.
The initiative has especially benefited elderly citizens, persons with disabilities, single women, and marginalized groups, many of whom had difficulty traveling long distances — in some cases, up to five hours — to reach the nearest banking centers.
According to Dipendra Prasad Upadhyay, the MIS Operator of Kanka Sundari Rural Municipality, a total of NPR 18.58 million (1 crore 85 lakh 88 thousand 475 rupees) was distributed to 3,175 beneficiaries through Kumari Bank’s coordination.
Local officials said the municipality plans to continue this ward-level distribution system in future installments to ensure that social security allowances are delivered conveniently and on time, particularly for those living in remote areas.
— Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS)
