The National Reconstruction Authority has expressed concern over the recent report of the Amnesty International (AI) titled “Building Inequality: The Failure of the Nepali government to protect the marginalised in Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Efforts 2017”.

“There is no denying of the sad reality that reconstruction process is slow and could not pick up the speed expected in a post-disaster situation,” the NRA said in a statement. “But the government of Nepal and the NRA as its focal agency on reconstruction remain vigilant of the fact that disaster disproportionately affects the women, poor and marginalised communities including the people with disability. In order to help the marginalised and poor communities, the NRA has begun simplifying procedures to distribute aid,” the NRA stated.

The AI reported that the government failed the earthquake’s most disadvantaged survivors. “Ignoring the historical informal relationships that these communities have with land in Nepal, the government has reinforced their marginalisation through a reconstruction programme that denies landless people their right to adequate housing,” reads the AI report.

In a series of recommendations, the AI has asked the government to ensure reconstruction efforts give due priority to the most disadvantaged groups, including landless people, recognise anyone who has lost their home as eligible for assistance.

The authority clarified that it has already submitted two proposals to the Cabinet: land purchase grant of Rs200,000 to every household living in settlements deemed at risk of another disaster, and Rs200,000 to each household of earthquake survivors living in public land without ownership certificate.

The rebuilding authority places special priority in providing loan of Rs300,000 to the poor and marginalised quake survivors without any collateral and has appealed to the Ministry of Finance for speedy implementation of the announced policy, the NRA stated.