The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has finalised the list of banking and financial institutions (BFIs) that will distribute the first tranche of housing rebuilding aid (Rs 50,000) to the earthquake-affected families in Kathmandu Valley.

 The NRA has come out with the names of 15 BFIs to facilitate the aid distribution after holding discussions with Nepal Bankers’ Association, Development Bankers Association and Nepal Financial Institution Association.

The names and number of banks that will distribute the aid inside the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) will soon be finalised, said the NRA spokesperson, Ram Prasad Thapaliya.

The NRA conducted detailed assessment of the households damaged by the Gorkha Earthquake inside the Valley beginning August of this year, after completing the assessment of 11 districts that were most-affected by the earthquake.

 A total of 26,805 households out of 94,022 households listed for the housing aid have signed tripartite agreements inside the Valley so far. The NRA is planning to sign the agreement with the remaining households by next week.

There has been a growing concern over the delay in reconstruction works, particularly in housing aid distribution process. More than 300,000 households in 33 districts are yet to receive the aid.

In a meeting on Sunday, the NRA’s Directive Committee, led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, directed the NRA and other concerned bodies to expedite the aid distribution process. To that end, the NRA has prepared a revised work plan with a target of completing the first phase of aid distribution process by the end of February next year. 

As of Friday, a total of 432,738 out of total 625,986 households eligible for the rebuilding aid have received the first batch of the money. Of the total households that have received the money, over 12,000 households in 11 districts have started rebuilding their homes, according to the NRA.