The federal government has recommended immediate grants of Rs5 million to 10 million to each of the 71 local units declared disaster crisis zones. The financial assistance is aimed at providing relief and carrying out rehabilitation, and reconstruction works in the disaster-affected areas.

In a meeting on Thursday, the executive committee of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) proposed the grants in line with the declaration of these 71 local units as disaster-hit zones. The government on October 4 had declared 71 local units in 20 districts as disaster crisis zones.

The local units declared disaster crisis zones are from Okhaldhunga, Panchthar, Udaypur, Solukhumbu, Khotang, Ilam, Kavrepalanchok, Lalitpur, Dolakha, Sindhuli, Sindhupalchok, Makawanpur, Dhading, Ramechhap, Chitwan, Rautahat, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Siraha and Saptari districts.

The meeting chaired by Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak on Thursday decided that nine of the worst-hit local units would receive Rs10 million each, 12 affected units would get Rs7.5 million each, and the remaining 50 units would be provided with Rs5 million each, according to NDRRMA Spokesperson Dijan Bhattarai.

The proposal will now be forwarded to the National Council for Disaster Management, chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, in a meeting scheduled for Friday.

According to Bhattarai, the allocated funds will be used to restore essential services and purchase supplies such as foods and tarpaulins for relief and rescue operations.

Additionally, the meeting decided to allocate a budget for procuring helicopters and equipment needed for disaster rescue operations. It also resolved to request the government to offer free health insurance to the families of those who lost their lives in disaster-related incidents through the Council.

In addition to Home Minister Lekhak, Health Minister Pradeep Paudel and Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Rajkumar Gupta also attended the meeting. Incessant rainfall on September 27 and 28 ravaged various parts of the country including the Kathmandu Valley. At least 244 people were confirmed dead and 19 people remained unaccounted for during the disasters.