3.8 million Nepalis receive social security allowance on regular basis

May 27, Kathmandu: The number of Nepalis receiving social security allowances has been increasing.

According to the economic survey of the fiscal year 2081/82 BS, presented by Finance Minister Barshman Pun in both Houses of the Federal Parliament on Sunday, the number of citizens receiving social security allowance increased by 5.5 per cent in the last year. Until this February/March, that number reached 3.8 million, up from 3.7 million the previous year.

The breakdown of recipients includes 1.62 million senior citizens above 70 years, 158,000 Dalits above 60 years, 198,000 single female senior citizens above 60 years, 576,000 widowed women, 66,000 persons with complete disabilities, 142,000 persons with severe disabilities, 761,000 children from designated areas, 342,000 Dalit children, and 22,000 individuals from endangered castes. Additionally, there are 16,000 senior citizens above 60 years in designated areas.

The federal government’s expenditure on social security allowance has been increasing every year. In the current financial year, the government allocated 2.98 billion for social security, which is 14 per cent of the total budget, 5.54 per cent of the gross domestic product, and 22.67 per cent of the current budget. Ten years ago, in the fiscal year 2070/2071, only 8.17 per cent of the total budget was spent on social security.