“I was surprised to get paid for working for myself in actual sense,” said Ashok Chaudhary of Duruwa-9, a flood victim. After the floods ravaged his house, he had worked relentlessly constructing a temporary home and toilet, earning ten days wage amounting to Rs 3,500. While Chaudhary received Rs 1,750 on Sunday, he will be receiving the rest after the end of Dashain. According to Chaudhary, the programme was effective as they earned for their daily livelihood while working for their own restitution.

“Our supervisors engage in regular field monitoring and prepare a list of workers, and the wages are distributed on the basis of their work,” said Chintamadi Poudel, executive director of the forum. He said even those working towards social development, including working in the paddy fields or helping construct roads or canals, are entitled to the wage under the programme.

The forum’s chairperson, Krishna Bahadur Chaudhary, said they had distributed wages of five days for Dashain and the rest will be distributed later. He said they are also providing separate compensation to the families of the physically disabled, elderly and children. Chaudhary said the programme will cover all of the 28 flood-affected VDCs.

Laya Upreti, disaster manager at Handicap International, said they plan to help the victims until they are resettled. “We are thinking of extending the programme by three months after distributing the wage of 30 days,” he said, stating that they intended to give a message to people that they have to work in order to earn.

Meanwhile, another flood victim Man Bahadur Chaudhary of Chaupariya, who is also working in the field and canal construction, said they have to work regardless of the programme but they are encouraged after being paid to do their own work. “The programme has also encouraged people who were unwilling to work and helped the genuine victims,” he said.