Nepal woman, 105, finally granted citizenship

Katmandu: A pensioner has been granted Nepalese citizenship more than a century after she was born in a remote village of the Himalayan nation, an official said yesterday. Krishna Kumari Gharti, a 105-year-old widow who lives in Pakhapani village in the mountainous district of Parbat, one day’s walk from the nearest road, was among a group of residents to be given identity cards for the first time.
“Our officials traveled to the village after hearing complaints that many were deprived of citizenship,” Tek Bahadur KC, district administrative officer told AFP by telephone. “Her name was registered in our list of elderly who were receiving the monthly allowance. So we granted her the citizenship card. She was very happy,” he said.
“Most of these people living in the villages generally don’t venture out of the place. They are also hardly involved in any businesses. That’s why they spend their lives without citizenship.”