Kathmandu, April 10
Following criticism from members of the public, the government has corrected its directive about the birth registration of children born to single mothers by using the mothers’ surnames.
In its circular to local governments across the country on Sunday, the Department of National ID and Civil Registration said the children born to unmarried women and the children whose fathers cannot be ascertained immediately will get registered with the mothers’ surnames from now onwards.
Likewise, the children born to divorcees will also have birth registration with the mothers’ surnames if they are not registered from the father’s side.
Last week, the department issued a similar notice, in which it used “the surnames of maternal uncles” (the brothers of the mothers) to refer to the mothers’ surnames, drawing criticism. Following that, the government had to correct the directive this week.
Due to a lack of back registration, hundreds of children born to single mothers and divorcees are facing several difficulties in life.
