Sexual minorities face hardship in lockdown in Pokhara

Kathmandu - Sexual minorities are facing hardship in the ongoing lockdown in Pokhara city. The minorities are not getting any relief from the bodies concerned despite several announcements from various sides. It was shared that they were not getting the relief materials as they could not show any identity cards issued by the government.

Chair of Pokhara Bihani, Bindiya Gautam, shared that the sexual minorities are the hit hard most as they lost their jobs due to lockdown. Gautam further said there are some 800 such people in Pokhara but only 50 have revealed their identity. She said 10 such people who had come to their contact were desperately waiting for relief package.

Pokhara Bihani, the non-government organization working for the sexual minorities, has however provided little relief materials. Apsna Shrestha, a third gender living in Pokhara Metropolitan City -11 shared that they were not getting foods to eat as they lost their jobs with the closure of hotel and restaurants and no government agencies were found ready to support them in this critical hour .

On the other hand, mayor Man Bahadur GC said that citizenship cards were not compulsory to get the relief materials but proofs of recommendation either by house owner or respective wards stating the details was required for it.