At age 80, Danumaya Thapa Magar lives all by herself at Manpang VDC-2 in Tanahun district.

She has four sons and two daughters, but they live separately.

“They don’t like me,” she said. “I have been living alone since my husband died three years ago.”

The octogenarian said she is able to lead a comfortable life because of the social security allowance.

Like Danumaya, there are many other elderly citizens in Tanahun who live alone. Social security allowance has allowed them to live a dignified life.

 Kunta Kumari Shrestha, 93, Bishnumaya Thapa Chhetri, 64, and Maya Pariyar, 63, all have been living their life with the social security allowance.

Kunta Kumari and her husband Chan Narayan have separated from their sons. “Both of us are receiving social security allowances and maintaining daily livelihood easily,” said Kunta.

Chairman of Manpang VDC Gurudatta Ghimire said a majority of the senior citizens in the district have been receiving social security allowance regularly.

“Three hundred and ninety senior citizens above 70 are receiving additional Rs 500 for purchasing medicines,” Ghimire added.