Citizenship after a decade - english.makalukhabar.com

KATHMANDU: Beni Municipality-7 residents Samir Khan and Yasmin Begum have finally obtained citizenship in their mother’s name after a decade-long wait. On Tuesday, the District Administration Office issued citizenship certificates to Samir and Yasmin under the name of their mother, Maniraja Begum. Samir had applied 11 years ago, and Yasmin eight years ago, completing all procedures from the administration to the Home Ministry. Assistant Chief District Officer Kul Prasad Acharya said that following the second amendment to the Citizenship Act, 2063, and the fourth amendment to the related regulations, citizenship was granted in their mother’s name. Their mother, Maniraja, is Nepali, while her husband, Salim Khan, is from Kolkata, India. Married 34 years ago, Maniraja has been running a beauty business in Beni. Salim Khan has renounced Indian citizenship and had voted in Nepalese elections in 2052 and 2064. Samir and Yasmin were registered at birth in the former Arthunge VDC. Despite completing higher education, they were unable to pursue jobs, businesses, or foreign employment due to the lack of citizenship. Receiving the citizenship certificates has made them feel truly recognized as citizens. The provisions of the Citizenship Act, 2063, were implemented following the publication of the Nepal Citizenship (Fourth Amendment) Regulations, 2082, in the gazette. Earlier, on Poush 29, 22-year-old Seema Pun from Malika Rural Municipality-5, Devisthan, became the first in the district to receive citizenship in her mother’s name.