The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has provided the first instalment of the housing reconstruction grant to less than one-tenth of the affected population even as survivors endure a second monsoon since the Gorkha earthquake in temporary shelters.

A total of 4,497 earthquake-affected households in three worst hit districts—Gorkha, Dolakha and Sindhupalchok—have received the first instalment amounting to Rs50,000 of the total Rs200,000 to rebuild the houses so far.

Officials at the NRA say they are working to release the first instalment to an additional 107,817 households in 11 affected districts outside Kathmandu Valley. 

However, they have no clear timeline by when the additional survivors will receive the aid. Officials shift the blame to the banks and local authorities for the delay in disbursement.

“We are in a hurry to release the required funds to the affected households. It’s upto the banks and local authorities including the coordination committee set up in each district to facilitate the process and help the affected households to receive the grant as early as possible,” said Ram Prasad Thapaliya, the NRA spokesperson.

In Gorkha, a total of 3,258 households have received the aid, along with 1,237 and two households in Dolakha and Sindhupalchok respectively, until Thursday evening, according to the NRA.

There are more than 500,000 households in 14 most affected districts identified as beneficiaries of the rebuilding grants. The NRA, which was established almost eight months after the April earthquake last year, started aid distribution in March this year. The delayed response has left thousands of displaced families in temporary shelters for more than a year.

Community shelters

In addition to the rebuilding aid provided to private households in the affected districts, the government is building community shelters for the families living in temporary shelters as an immediate measure. A total of 82 community shelters are being built with the help of Nepal Army in the 14 districts to shelter homeless families before monsoon that has already started.

The Army is building 36 such shelters, while the construction of the 46 shelters is being undertaken by the Ministry of Urban Development. Each facility can shelter four to 32 families.