Visually impaired people in Dhankuta are facing hardships to open bank account to receive the social security allowances.

A Nepal Rastra Bank rule stipulates that visually impaired can only open a bank account in the presence of parents or beneficiaries. Visually impaired Niki Rai of Khoku-3 said she could not open an account despite submitting all necessary documents at a bank. “The VDC office did not inform me to take parents while opening the bank account,” she said, adding that she had to travel a whole day to reach the district headquarters.

Other visually impaired Ram Bahadur Rai of Chhintang-7 and Ranju Rakak of Chhintang-6 also shared similar ordeals. They also complained that they did not know about the Rastra Bank regulations. Visually impaired Rajak said that the concerned authorities should have to inform them about the process earlier.

“Visually impaired people are facing hardships due to the Rastra Bank’s rule,” she said.

Prakash Rai, public relations officer of Machhapuchhre Bank in Dhankuta, admitted that the visually impaired people are facing difficulties as the concerned authorities could not provide the information on time.