The government is planning to provide an additional Rs 100,000 to earthquake-affected families to rebuild their houses.

The quake-affected households of 14 districts that were hit hard by last year’s earthquakes are entitled to get Rs 200,000 housing grant.

“Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has already given verbal instruction to the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) and concerned ministries to work out to allocate an additional Rs 100,000 for rebuilding,” said Chakrapani Khanal, chief political adviser to PM Dahal.

According to him, the government is working out to carry out discussion with NRA and donors to arrange funding for the additional aid. “The PM is committed to providing the rebuilding aid to the affected families as early as possible and has directed the authorities to speed up the distribution process and prepare working strategies for funding,” said Khanal.

The government has already instructed authorities to distribute the first tranche of the aid amounting to Rs 50,000 to affected households by mid-September.

Of the total 533,155 households identified as true beneficiaries in 12 districts, 115,725 households from 11 districts have so far received the first instalment. Likewise, 379,620 households have signed aid agreements.

If the government decides to provide Rs 300,000 as housing aid, an additional Rs 70 billion will be required.

“We lack the fund. Managing funding for housing aid will be a big challenge,” said Ram Prasad Thapaliya, spokesperson for the NRA.

During his visit to India, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi had sought assistance from the Indian government.

India has pledged $1 billion for Nepal’s reconstruction efforts.

An agreement for the $250 million, which will be grant, is at the final stage of

approval, while an agreement for $750 million, which will be loan, is still under consideration.

Of the total $250 million, $100 million is for housing, $50 million is for schools, $50 million for health and $50 million for heritage reconstruction.