Many youths from the earthquake-hit VDCs in northern Dhading are either out of the district or abroad for employment. The have left behind their elderly parents, who now face a daunting task of rebuilding their homes.

According to the District Administration Office (DAO), the number of youth population in the VDCs of Tipling, Jharlang, Sertung, Ree and Lapa VDCs is very few.

“The youths who are still around are also in the process of going abroad for employment,” said Toran Parajuli, the administrative officer. “Around 50 youths from northern Dhading obtain passports on daily basis.” 

If this trend continues, Parajuli says, the northern Dhading will soon be without its young population who are wanted now, more than ever, to rebuild their villages.

Many elderly citizens are already feeling the pressure of rebuilding homes, well before the actual task has even started. They do not know how or where to go about to rebuild their quake-ravaged homes using the government grant of Rs 200,000. 

Eighty-seven-year-old Dhan Maya Tamang, of Tipling VDC-5, has been living alone in a temporary shelter since the earthquake of 25 April 2015.

“Both my sons separated after the earthquake. They don’t live in Dhading anymore. I don’t know how I will be able to build a house,” she said.

Like Dhan Maya, there are many elderly people in Tipling and other VDCs in northern Dhading whose children have separated from them and moved to other places with their families.

According to the District Development Committee, there are around 2,000 elderly citizens in northern Dhading who receive social security allowance. Many of them are living all by themselves.

“They cannot rebuild their homes, so we must come up with a solution to help them in the reconstruction process,” Chief District Officer Bishwo Prakash Subedi said.