Gayatri Nepali’s battle to acquire citizenship for herself and her family has been going on for 30 years with no relief in sight.

The 61-year-old grandmother of two was married to a Nepali in Chitwan, who did not have a citizenship. Her husband died before his children had come of age to seek citizenship.

Lacking both the birth registration and citizenship certificates of herself and her husband, Nepali continues to suffer under an unfair system that discriminates against women for citizenship.

Nepali, her two sons and two grandchildren were all born in Nepal and have never left the country but have not got the citizenship card.

“I thought of getting citizenship through my father but legal experts told me this is almost impossible for a married woman,” said Nepali. She was also told that it would not help her children even if she managed to get citizenship that way.

To add to her woes, Nepali’s eldest daughter-in-law eloped, leaving her two children in the care of the old woman after learning that her husband lacked citizenship.

She is now worried how her grandchildren, who are aged 2 and 4, will be able to complete their education and get good jobs and own land without citizenship.

Her sons are construction workers in the village—the eldest is a 35-year-old plumber, who is assisted by his younger brothers in his work. Without citizenship, her family cannot open a bank account to save their income, nor do they own land.

“Some people tell me the [new] constitution will make it easier for me to seek citizenship while others say it has been even harder. Whatever the case, I won’t give up,” said Nepali.

Advocate Subin Mulmi said there are many stateless people like Nepali in the country. The new constitution does not give a Nepali woman the right equal to that enjoyed by a Nepali man to pass citizenship to their children, said Mulmi.

Article 11.2 of the new constitution states that a person whose father ‘or’ mother is a Nepali at the time of his or her birth can become Nepali by descent. However, subsequent clauses 3 and 4 override the statement, which say both parents have to be Nepali for their children to acquire citizenship by descent, said legal experts.