SC directs govt to provide allowance to all widows

In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the government to provide monthly allowance to widows of all ages. Currently, the government provides allowance to widows over 60 years.

A division bench of justices Khil Raj Regmi and Girish Chandra Lal issued the ruling on a joint public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Pro-Public and Lily Thapa (on behalf of Single Women's Association) one year ago.

In the ruling, the SC termed the current provisions as discriminatory and asked the government to entitle all the widows to the allowance.

The government had introduced the allowance for widows in 1996. The 150 rupees monthly allowance was increased to 500 rupees last year. nepalnews.com