Lack of forms bar quake-victims from receiving grant

Chautara, Sindhupalchowk, Apr. 22:

Kamala Jyoti Giri of Gothpani in Chautara Sangachowk Municipality of Sindhupalchowk district has completed the construction of her house a couple of months ago. Her family has already moved to the new house.

But, her family has not received the second installment of the house reconstruction grant, Rs. 150,000.

Maiya Giri, another resident of the same village, began to construct her house about two months ago. Now, her house is completed up to the sill bar.

Her family has been trying to obtain the second installment of the grant which the quake-victim family is entitled to get after completing the house up to the DPC level.

But, her family is also failed to find the money so far.

Reason: the local bodies in Sindhupalchowk do not have enough forms to apply for the grant money!

“We have made several round of the government offices but failed to get the grant money. We did not get any forms to apply for the money,” said Bishal Giri, husband of Kamala.

Amar Bahadur Giri, a mason trained on earthquake resilient house construction, said that only 58 forms were sent to the village where more than 200 households desperately waiting for the grant.

Sugandha Subedi, an engineer deployed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the village, said that most of the families wanted to build their houses as soon as possible but delay in the disbursement of the grant money had forced them to halt the works.

Many of the residents of Gothpani and Diyale have begun the construction of their houses. Seven houses were completed in Gothpani alone.

Kamala’s family has spent Rs. 500,000 to build a single storey quake-resilient house.

“Most of the families here have obtained loan the money with 20 – 24 per cent interest rate. So, the delay in the disbursement of the grant money will result in increased financial burden,” said Amar.

Maiya’s family has spent Rs. 150,000 to finish the house up to the first beam in the wall.

The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) said that the government couldn’t send sufficient forms to the quake-hit areas as the printing of the forms was commenced late.

“There are not sufficient forms in the local bodies. But, wherever is demand, the government is sending additional forms as per the requirement,” said Rudra malla, chief of the Coordination Committee Secretariat at the NRA.

Central Project Implementation Unit at the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) has the responsibility of form printing.

Malla urged the concerned local bodies to inform the CPIU at the MoUD, NRA or other government agencies if any support was needed in the reconstruction drive, including the forms.

The locals in the village have been also facing severe shortage water needed to build the house which has forced them to halt the construction works.

“Many springs were dried due to the earthquake in 2015. At least 7 springs in and around the village were dried up. It difficult to manage water for drinking so most of the houses under construction have to wait till the monsoon ends,” said Subedi.

In case they halt the works, construction can be resumed only in October, after the monsoon.

Sher Bahadur Thakuri, treasurer of Mahila Jagaran Krishi Samuha in Diyale said that the village urgently needed solution to water crisis.