“It has started raining and the tarpaulins provided by the government cannot protect us during monsoon. The relief amount for temporary shelters has also not been distributed to the homeless,” said Krishna Pathak of Thansing VDC.

A majority of quake-affected people in the district have set up shelters on their own initiatives due to the lacklustre response of the state and the looming rainy season. However, those who have no option other than awaiting government’s help to buy zinc sheets are hit hardest.

Quake-affected people, meanwhile, blamed the government authorities for the delay in identity cards and relief amount distribution. “The government delayed it on various pretexts. There could be some problems, we agree. But the government should resolve them and distribute identity cards and relief amount immediately,” said a quake survivor.

The local administration has recently started gathering information about quake-hit people. However, survivors in very few of the total 61 VDCs have received forms to fill up their details.

Charghare VDC Secretary Ramhari Acharya said that filling up forms has started in all wards with the help of local teachers.

“There are some problems regarding the quake survivors’ claim of relief but it will be resolved soon with support from local political mechanism,” Acharya said, stating that in some cases people from the same family have claimed relief amount saying that they belong to separate households.

Meanwhile, some VDC secretaries have said that they are unable to distribute relief amount due to security threats. They claimed that fake quake survivors

pressed them for ID cards and relief amount.

The District Disaster Management Committee admitted to the delay in identity card relief amount distribution. The committee members said the number of households claiming relief producing fake documents has sharply increased of late.