Grant distribution to begin in 11 quake-hit districts

KATHMANDU, April 21: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has finally made preparations to expand full-fledged distribution of the Rs 200,000 grant assistance from Sunday to each of the victims in 11 affected districts whose houses were completely destroyed by earthquake. Sunday will mark the first anniversary of the earthquake that devastated parts of the country.

NRA has decided to begin the grant distribution process in around 325 VDCs in 11 quake-affected districts from Sunday.




   



 





 



“As the survey has been almost completed, we have decided to expand the grant distribution process in the 11 districts in full swing,” said Madhusudhan Adhikari, acting secretary of NRA, adding that the survey has already been completed in 408 out of the total 575 VDCs in the 11 districts  and the survey in the remaining VDCs will be completed by Sunday.

He said NRA has made preparations for signing the grant agreements with quake victims in at least 25 VDCs from Sunday so that they can start receiving the first installment of Rs 50,000 . It has also decided to make public on the same day the lists of names  of quake victims eligible for the grants in 300 VDCs in the 11 affected districts.

While making public the name lists, the victims will be given a two-week deadline to prepare necessary documents such as citizenship and land ownership certificates, for receiving the grants.  Of the Rs 200,000 grant amount, Rs 50,000 will be provided to the victims in the first installment, Rs 80,000 in the second and Rs 70,000 in the last installment.

“However, we are yet to finalize the names of the VDCs where the grant distribution process will begin next week. Discussions are underway and will conclude by Friday,” said Adhikari, adding, "For now, we are only going to make the names of victims public in the 300 VDCs. By that time, the victims will have prepared all the necessary documents and the Minsitry for Local Development will deploy VDC secretaries in those VDCs where the posts are vacant. With the deputation of the secretareis, the work will gather momentaum," he added.

Even today, the posts of VDC secerataries in 125 out of the 575 VDCs in the 11 districts remain  vaccant. It is with the VDC secretaries that the victims will have to enter into grant assistance agreements.   
 
Adhikari said that the district-level coordination committees and the district-level sub-committees formed under NRA in the 11 affected districts have been directed to make necessary preparations for begining the grant distribution process in full swing from Sunday.  The coordination committees are led by lawmakers and the sub-committees by local development officers.

On March 11, NRA had released Rs 265 million to the Ministry for Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) for distributing grant assistance to the quake victim families.
 
NRA on April 4 started the process of grant distribution in Okhareni of Ramechhap district, Ratmata Jhangajholi of Sindhuli, Marpak of Dhading, Kharanitar of Nuwakot, Briding of Rasuwa, Hansapur of Gorkha, Rumjatar of Okhaldhunga and Rabiopi of Kavrepalanchowk. Almost three weeks earlier, it had started grant distribution in two VDCs in the Singati area of Dolakha district.

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