Manoj Ram, 30, of Sukhachaina in Birgunj Metropolis-18, who lost his 19-year-old brother Sanoj in the rainstorms of March 31, has not got relief from the government.
Manoj, who worked as a migrant worker in Calcutta, India, is now performing the death rituals of the deceased. “I had returned home to celebrate Holi,” said Manoj.
According to him, Sanoj was killed after being crushed by a bus overturned by the rainstorms at Chainpur Chowk along the Pathlaiya Birgunj road. Sanoj was among the three who were killed in Parsa in the disaster.
Sanoj’s family members and relatives have been left grief stricken after his untimely death. The victim’s family say they have not received relief from the federal and provincial government or the metropolitan office.
Manoj’s father, Raj Kumar, 55, said they were left out of the relief distribution process because none of the family members has the Nepali citizenship certificate.
“I came to Nepal with my family when I was five years old,” said Raj Kumar, adding that his three sons including Sanoj were born in Nepal but none had gotten citizenship.
“Not having citizenship has not only barred us from receiving the aid but the ward secretary has also expressed unwillingness to issue my son’s death certificate,” said Raj Kumar.
Raj Kumar bemoaned having to spend his entire life as a stateless person. “I hope my sons and grandsons don’t have to suffer this pain,” said Raj Kumar. Many Indian nationals received Nepali citizenship certificates in Birgunj one-and-a-half decades ago, he added. “However, all those who received the citizenship certificate were well connected Indians.”