National
Sindhupalchok quake victims wait for 2nd batch of aid
Earthquake survivors in Sindhupalchok, who have constructed the foundations for their new homes with the first instalment of the housing reconstruction aid, are waiting for the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) to issue the second instalment of the aid.Anish Tiwari
Earthquake survivors in Sindhupalchok, who have constructed the foundations for their new homes with the first instalment of the housing reconstruction aid, are waiting for the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) to issue the second instalment of the aid.
Norbudompe Sherpa of Marming-1 said he is waiting for the second tranche of the aid because he no longer can apply for a loan to complete the construction of his new home.
He has already put his land up as collateral for Rs 200,000 loan.
Waiting for the NRA to issue the second tranche of the aid is the only alternative Sherpa has to complete his home.
Like Sherpa hundreds of families who lost their homes in the 2015 earthquake are waiting for the NRA to distribute the second portion of the housing reconstruction aid. Most of them are still living in temporary shelters. And like Sherpa, they too lack the money to complete their homes. Whether or not they will finish building their homes depends on the NRA.
Local Development Officer Krishna Bahadur Shahi says only those people who have initiated the construction work according to the government specifications will get the aid.
Sherjunge Tamang of Dugunagadhi said that with Rs 50,000 aid that he received as the first instalment from the NRA, he could not even hire workers to build the foundation for his new home. Since he had to rely on his friends and neighbours for the job, Tamang does not know if it fits the government standards and if the NRA will issue him additional aid.
The NRA liaison officer in the district, Bhuwaneshwor Lamichhane, said the distribution of second batch of the housing aid will start after the authority has finalised the necessary guidelines.
He did not specify when the guidelines will be finalised, but said it will not take long.
The NRA has signed the housing aid agreements with 74,857 families in Sindhupalchok and 72,289 of them have received the first instalment of the aid.