INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, AUGUST 14Despite being a signatory state to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the constitutional guarantee of the right to equality and
non-discrimination, various discriminatory legal provisions against Madhesi, sexual and minority communities, and orphans have deprived
these groups of their citizenship rights.
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Madhuri Paswan, 22, from Mahottari, Jaleshwor was
denied citizenship at the ward office
She tried to contact the Chief District Office at Jaleshwor in her quest to acquire citizenship certificate, but to no avail."When I lost
hope, I went to the CDO' at Jaleshwor
He saw 'husband is of Indian origin' written on the back of the citizenship of my mother
This was written when my mother got her citizenship by descent," Madhuri told THT.
The discrimination doesn't stop there
Her elder and younger brothers, Rabi Paswan, 25, and Raj Paswan, 20, were also denied citizenship
"My brothers who work in India returned to Nepal as soon as they heard the government had amended the acts
However, Ward No 4 of Jaleshwor Municipality refused to issue recommendation for our citizenship even though we have all the documents such
as birth certificate, electricity bills and my mother's citizenship by descent," Madhuri said.Similarly, a whole bunch of people from
Musahar tole in Siraha are deprived of citizenship, according to WOREC chairperson Renu Adhikari
Showing a video of a woman from Musahar tole, she said, "She has been beaten brutally multiple times by police, landlord, her husband, her
Her offsprings said she was the reason why they didn't get citizenship."Sharing her own personal experience, Adhikari said, "People like me
face several challenges exercising our constitutional rights
Imagine the predicament of marginalised communities, sexual and gender minorities, women, and vulnerable people."She said, "It's been seven
years since I separated from my husband
However, I have been running to offices to change the name Raj Bhandari mentioned in my citizenship to Adhikari, but to no avail."She
further said, "A few days ago, Ward No 8 chairperson asked, "Why do you women have issues with these things? We will remove your husband's
name from your citizenship but not surname, Raj Bhandari
Prove to me you are Adhikari.""I have ertificates and my parents' documents, but the ward chair's remarks have hurt my dignity and
Hence, imagine what sort of circumstances vulnerable people are going through," she added.Likewise, Angel Lama, a transwoman, said, "We have
failed to be recognised as Nepali
Although my name is Angel Lama, my legal name on my citizenship is different and indicates I am a man, which I am not anymore
Moreover, we have won through a Supreme Court order, but TU has not agreed to recognise us as students."Meanwhile, Bimal Limbu of Kerabari,
Biratnagar Municipality, has necessary documents for acquiring citizenship
However, she is yet to obtain citizenship as her father has passed away
She said, "The officers say I need to have the citizenship of both parents
My father passed away long ago
I want to be recognised as Nepali and get my identity with my parents' name
But I have been wandering here and there for it."On the other hand, a section officer at the Ministry of Law Justice and Parliamentary
Affairs, Arjun Bhusal said, "We have drafted the directives regarding the shortcomings observed during the implementation of the citizenship
I am positive about finding solutions to each and every problem raised by the victims
The new directives prepared by the government will address almost all the problems faced by people."A version of this article appears in the
print on August 15, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com
