The prime minister had pledged on August 4 to provide the first tranche of funding, of Rs 50,000, to 531,964 households affected by the earthquake within 45 days. The deadline ended Sunday.

So far the government has distributed the first instalment of the housing aid to 356,627 households. That the funds have been finally distributed to at least some families is a big progress for the sluggish reconstruction process and a much-needed respite for the victims. But still, 30 percent of the affected households are yet to receive aid. Besides, merely disbursing aid does not solve the problems.

The crucial aspect of the reconstruction process is not only to rebuild communities but to make them more resilient to disasters in the future. This is where lapses are being witnessed. Although the government has ensured that the houses rebuilt from the aid need to meet certain criteria, like being quake resistant and following proper building codes, the daunting question is whether the location itself is safe.

Earlier the Department of Mines and Geology had carried out a preliminary study in the 14 most affected districts and identified 458 settlements as vulnerable to disasters after the quake, mainly landslides. Based on the findings, the National Reconstruction Authority initiated a detailed study of 117 settlements and recommended immediate relocation of 56 settlements.

But as the government has not come up with a relocation plan, a majority of the earthquake-displaced families are likely to rebuild their homes in unsafe locations. People have already spent more than a year under temporary shelters in the hope of receiving the government aid. Now that they have finally received the first instalment, they will be in a hurry to start rebuilding before the winter.

Geological experts have clearly warned that areas that have been greatly impacted by the quake need to be properly assessed before people are allowed to rebuild there. A comprehensive geophysical risk assessment in the affected district has been highlighted for a better understanding of the science on disasters and their impacts on lives and livelihood recovery. Although the government may be taking notes, it has not conducted a comprehensive geo-hazard mapping. Even the plan for the reallocation of the 56 settlements that are to be immediately moved appears nowhere in sight.

The absence of a resettlement plan for vulnerable communities depicts the government’s lack of commitment to reconstruction. The NRA should begin the work of relocation of vulnerable settlements. Relocating communities, however, is no walk in the park. Resettlement and rehabilitation are more than a question of sheer numbers. The resettlement programmes should focus on the process of physical relocation, but they also need to keep in mind livelihood and socio-cultural sensitivities of the displaced. Local bodies need to counsel people on rebuilding and, where necessary, on relocation. For a poor country prone to natural disasters, precaution is much less costly than care.