20 % quake-hit families yet to get house grant

NRA chief busy in election campaigning

Kathmandu, Oct. 5: It has been more than two years and five months since the devastating Gorakha Earthquake of 7.9 magnitude killed about 9,000 people, injured more than 22,000 persons and damaged about a million houses and other infrastructure.

The nation witnessed four prime ministers in these 27 months and is about to have a fifth one.

After the successful completion of the elections of the local bodies, the national mood is now towards the two upcoming elections to the provincial assemblies and federal parliament.

But still more than 20 per cent of the quake-hit households have not received any support from the government.

About 156,600 families rendered homeless by the quake have not received the first installment of the house reconstruction grant of Rs. 50,000.

Worse, the government has not signed a grant agreement with more than 125,500 households as of September end.

According to the statistics of National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), a post-quake survey had listed 765,618 families as beneficiaries for the grant of Rs. 300,000 to be distributed in three installments.

But the government has distributed the first tranche of the grant to only 609,000 households.

Many households of the 17 moderately-hit districts are yet to sign the agreement and receive the first installment of the grant.

“Many villagers are waiting for the government grant to start building their house while some have built their domicile with their own resources. There is serious negligence on the part of the government,” Tej Bilas Adhikari of Kurintar, Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality in Chitwan, said.

More than 900 households in Ichchhakamana are waiting for the grant money, he said.

Kabi Raj Dhakal, chairman of ward No. 6 of Kali Gandaki Rural Municipality of Gulmi, said that the people were still confused about whether they would get the grant money.

“People have a feeling that they may not get the grant money if they build a house from their own resources,” he said.

Erstwhile Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda had given top priority to grant distribution and construction of private houses.

In the first week of August 2016, Prachanda had announced that the government would provide the first tranche of the grant to all the quake-affected families of 14 severely-hit districts within one-and-a-half months.

Immediately after the government’s announcement, the NRA launched a special campaign to complete the distribution of the first installment.

The NRA is still signing the grant agreement with the beneficiaries in 17 districts.

“The delay in signing the grant agreement has interrupted the distribution of the money. However, many families are out of contact after the agreement,” NRA spokesperson Yam Lal Bhoosal said.

Meanwhile, NRA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Govinda Raj Pokharel was found busy in election campaigning in Pyuthan, his home district.

The Election Commission of Nepal Thursday ordered the Chief District Officer of Pyuthan to make arrangements to send Dr. Pokharel out of the district.

“The ECN has received complaint that the NRA’s CEO Dr. Pokharel has been involved in election campaigning for the Nepali Congress in Pyuthan for more than a week from September 26 to October 4. Such activity is against the election code of conduct,” reads a press statement issued by the Election Commission.

The ECN has asked Dr. Pokharel to furnish clarification within 24 hours. 

Published in The Rising Nepal on 6 October, 2017.