Laxmi Ram, aged 60, from ward 7 of Bishnupur Rural Municipality in Saptari district lost his father when he was just four. Decades later, he has yet to obtain a citizenship certificate. Without his identification, twelve members of his family—his wife, two sons, two daughters-in-law, and six grandchildren—remain stateless.
Over five decades ago, displacement caused by flooding along the Koshi river forced Laxmi’s father Ramji Ram to settle in Bishnupur. The landless Dalit family lived there for 50 years before expanding and relocating to the banks of the western Koshi canal. Because the head of the household lacks citizenship, the family has been shut out of state-provided services and welfare benefits.
Financial hardship and missing legal papers prevented Laxmi’s sons—Dilip, 33, and Pradeep, 30—from ever attending school. Without Laxmi’s citizenship, neither brother can obtain birth certificates, national identity cards, or official marriage registration certificates. Their six children—aged 14, 11, 10, 9, 7, and 2—are similarly denied birth registration.
“We have sent three of the children to school, but they feel hurt when they are denied the benefits other children receive. And now they refuse to go,” said Dilip. “My father did not understand much, but he tried his best to secure our legal identity. No matter how hard we tried, nobody cared because we are poor Dalits.”
Dilip explained that the lack of legal identification makes finding work in cities nearly impossible. “It breaks my heart to see my parents weep at the thought of dying without ever having an identity,” he said. “I have pleaded at the feet of dozens of leaders, elected representatives, and bureaucrats, but no one has taken concrete action.”
Laxmi Ram’s case is not an isolated one. Across Nepal’s southern plains, impoverished Dalit families face similar hurdles in obtaining citizenship. Many parents and children remain without citizenship for generations.
Dilip and Pradeep, who support the family through daily wage labour, have spent years pleading for help at the ward office, rural municipality, and District Administration Office (DAO). “Initially, the ward office and the DAO showed urgency. But the process stalled when the ward office refused to issue the recommendation [under Schedule-7 (Nepal Citizenship Rules 2006)],” said Dilip.
Although the ward office issued a birth and residency recommendation on February 2, 2026, it hesitated to provide the official Schedule-7 recommendation needed for citizenship. Following an appeal, the DAO issued a letter on February 17, 2026 directing the ward office to facilitate the process. On April 17, 2026, the ward office conducted a local field inquiry in the presence of 28 local residents and forwarded it to the DAO.
When the DAO issued another letter on May 18, 2026 requesting official facilitation, the ward office still stalled. “After repeated pleas, the ward chairman advised us to go to court,” said Dilip. “I borrowed money and filed a writ petition at the Rajbiraj bench of the Janakpur High Court on 1 June 2026.”
On August 26, 2026, a division bench of judges Subhash Paudel and Kaji Bahadur Rai ruled in Laxmi’s favour, ordering the ward office to resolve the matter. “When the ward office itself has confirmed long-term residency through a field inquiry and submitted a written opinion that issuing citizenship poses no issue, there is no legal basis to withhold the formal recommendation under Schedule-7,” reads the court’s ruling.
Despite the court ruling, ward officials have not issued the recommendation letter. “I visited the ward office repeatedly after the court order, but the chairman keeps delaying it,” complained Dilip. “We don’t have money to file a contempt of court case.” He appealed to the public for support.
Ward Chairman Lochan Sahu (Teli) acknowledged the court order, stating that he is seeking legal advice. “I have yet to get clear guidance from legal experts yet. I agree this family should receive citizenship. I will initiate the process after Dashain,” he assured.