Engineers deployed in the earthquake-hit villages of Okhaldhunga district have launched a protest on Sunday, demanding appointment letter, payment of salary and allowances among others.

Engineers who were appointed by the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) to supervise the housing reconstruction project started a sit-in at the NRA’s Project Implementation Unit in the district headquarters Okhaldhunga. They have warned that they would padlock the office unless the NRA addresses their demands within a week.

Engineer Rajendra Dhamala said they have started the protest to mount pressure on the NRA for appointment letter and salary. “How can we work without allowances, appointment letter and salary?” he said.

A total of 104 engineers, 47 overseers and 51 sub-overseers are working in the district. The engineers said they have not received salary for the last two months. Dhamala said they have been working without appointment letter since mid-July.

Chief of the Reconstruction Project Implemenation Unit Subash Basnet said they were facing problems due to delay in policy decision.

“We can appoint them within a week,” said Basnet, “but we cannot decide about allowances and salary at the district-level”.

Sub-Enginer Pawan Regmi said he has been borrowing money from his home to stay in the remote village. “We have not received training to rebuild homes,” said Regmi. Engineers complain that they have no alternative designs to build houses in the remote areas.