Waiting for identity: ‘Ghandruke Baje’
The elderly man, physically and mentally weak, has lived in Bhakunde-10, Baglung, but his name, address, and family members remain unknown.
KATHMANDU: A senior citizen living in Bhakunde, Baglung, has become unidentified in the later years of his life, despite contributing to the local community.
The elderly man, physically and mentally weak, has lived in Bhakunde-10, Baglung, but his name, address, and family members remain unknown, leaving him unable to receive social security benefits provided by the government.
Approximately 90 years old, he has been living in various homes in Bhakunde for an extended period.
Locals refer to him as ‘Dhandruke Baje.’ Having come to Bhakunde at a young age, he made a living by crafting bamboo items.
However, as he aged, his mobility has been hindered.
Though unable to speak clearly, he is currently residing at the home of local resident Narmaya Thapa. While well-known in Bhakunde, his identity has yet to be revealed.
The lack of identification has kept him from obtaining a citizenship card, which he would need for government services.
“We’ve been hosting him in our home for several years. When I got married, he was already here. Now that I’m 60, he is still referred to as Dhandruke Baje, but no relatives have been traced. Even when we took him to a camp to acquire citizenship, they couldn’t issue one due to his unidentified status. However, the Deputy Mayor of Baglung, Raju Khadka, visited him on Wednesday, and the municipality is coordinating to help him acquire citizenship,” said Thapa.
Former village head and Constituent Assembly member, Narbahadur Thapa, mentioned that the elderly man is about 90 years old. He added that acquiring citizenship would open the door to revealing his identity and receiving social security benefits. Although it is believed that he was born in Jaemini, Bijuwama, and moved to Dhandruke after his mother left him, efforts to find his relatives have been unsuccessful. His inability to speak clearly has added to the challenge, Thapa explained.
The elderly man, who has been making bamboo items in areas like Resh, Sigana, and Raidanda for many years, is now physically frail.
On Wednesday, Baglung Municipality’s Deputy Mayor, Raju Khadka, visited Bhakunde to assess the situation. Khadka expressed concern over the man’s unidentified status, especially in his final years, and stated that the municipality would coordinate with the District Administration Office to help him obtain a citizenship certificate and disability ID.
Khadka emphasized, “To receive identification means to feel acknowledged by the state. As a local government, we will do the necessary coordination. No Nepali citizen should be unidentified. If needed, I will personally take responsibility to ensure his protection, and the local government can take any necessary steps to help him acquire citizenship.”
District Chief Administrator, Netra Subedi, said that it would be easier to grant citizenship with the cooperation of local officials, the ward office, and the municipality.
He explained that after studying the legal aspects, the facilitation would continue, and in the absence of guardians, the authorities would rely on locals who can provide care. Subedi added that if the community is able to take responsibility, citizenship could be granted.
