The earthquake survivors of Sindhupalchok district are still uncertain if they would get the second tranche of the government grant 22 months after the massive earthquake devastated lives and properties in the district. 

The quake survivors, who were left out of the victims’ list, have yet to receive the first instalment of the housing grant announced and distributed by the government to help in the rehabilitation of the disaster-hit people. 

Sindhupalchok is among the districts worst affected by the earthquake of April 25, 2015. However, the majority of the quake-affected households in the district have not been enlisted as beneficiaries. 

Over 1,100 earthquake-affected people of western Melamchi municipality in the district had lodged complaints at the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA), demanding their registration as genuine quake victims. 

As the NRA has not yet disclosed the list of genuine quake victims said that they have not initiated the construction of permanent houses for no disclosure of name list of genuine earthquake survivors by NRA to the date. 

The NRA technical team had approved a list of 7,609 earthquake survivors although 9,071 people hold an earthquake victim ID card distributed by Melamchi municipality. 

Two landless people along with 492 quake survivors, who have been using the land of Guthi in Fatakshila of the municipality, also submitted their applications at the municipality, seeking their names be enlisted as beneficiaries. 

Though more than 100 survivors in the municipality are eligible for receiving the second instalment of the housing grant, no efforts have been made to that end so far, said Executive Chief of Melamchi Municipality Purna Prasad Dulal.