Post Earthquake: Promises by Nepal Govt. to victims still not fulfilled

By Binod Prasad Adhikari Kathmandu [Nepal], Dec. 12 (ANI): A resident in Basnettar, outside the ring road of capital Kathmandu, Niraj Ghimire, goes through a loan agreement paper in his tin barred house. It's been over a month that he made grant agreement with the government, but hasn't received a single rupee from the government, which had promised to give two lakh rupees to rebuild his house. But the victims of the earthquake claim the amount is insufficient to rebuild their homes. "The amount allocated by the government to give 2 lakhs rupees to victims of earthquake for reconstruction is not sufficient because, from that amount, we cannot even dig the foundation of our house." said Niraj. The International Conference on Nepal's Reconstruction held in capital Kathmandu on June 2015 witnessed the pledge of 4.4 billion dollars help in the form of a loan and a grant. Out of the pledged amount Nepal has made an agreement of about 80 percent with the donors till the month of September. India was the country which pledged the highest amount of aid and loans of 1 billion dollars at the donors' summit. In later months, India extended the amount to help Nepal in reconstruction which now has reached 140 crore Dollar. According to the data of the National Reconstruction Authority an agreement of one billion US Dollars has been inked with the Indian government. Along with it, India also has clarified that the pledged amount also includes the regular assistance which it gives to Nepal. "In terms of the agreement, India, our friendly nation and India has been helping us with one billion US dollar and the modality of the expenditures and the project selection is underway" Ram Prasad Thapaliya, Spokesperson of National Reconstruction Authority Confirmed. Nepal which was jolted by earthquake of 7.8 Richter Scale claimed nearly 9,000 lives and left more than 22, 000 injured, some with permanent disabilities and over half a million houses fully or partially damaged, and three million people rendered homeless. Though it's been more than 19 months since destruction, the reconstruction work is yet to take place. "In the grant amount, until today, discussions are made and the pledged amount is being materialized from both the sides. From the government side we are selecting, we are choosing the projects from the donors side we are finalizing the funds flow mechanism, how can the NRA spend the money? The NRA is willing to strengthen its CLPIU's- Central Level Project Implementing Unit, which we already have set up as per our aids and the policies for the reconstruction activities. But some donors are still asking for other modalities and going to the district level and not using this (C) LPIU's" Spokesperson of NRA Thapaliya said. Though Nepal has seen two new Prime Ministers after the April 2015's devastating quake the survey of the affected areas is yet to be completed. With one year having already passed, the victims of Earthquake are sure to bear the brunt of coldness. (ANI)