Travails of the orphaned, landless and stateless

Ramrati Tharu, elderly and frail, is denied her elderly allowance because she lacks citizenship. Several others in Madi share her plight.

Ramrati Mardaniya Tharu does not know her exact age, but with her wrinkled face, grey hair, and poor vision, she appears to be in her seventies, if not eighties. She is frail, often complains of body aches and sleeplessness, and despite her age, she is missing out on the elderly allowance meant for those over 68 because she does not have a citizenship certificate.