CHITWAN, April 4 -- Shibu Chhetri's five-year long struggle to acquire citizenship has finally come to an end. Shibu, with his mother by his side, on Wednesday received his citizenship by descent from Jitendra Basnet, the chief district officer (CDO) of Chitwan. He said, "This is an important moment for me. I can't contain my happiness."

Shibu and his relatives had to fight a long legal battle to get citizenship by descent as his father, who died four years ago, possessed Nepali citizenship by birth. Although his mother, Sabitri, had acquired citizenship by descent, the District Administration Office (DAO) in Chitwan had denied Shibu of citizenship citing legal provisions.

Shibu's struggle paid off after the Home Ministry on Tuesday ins...