Miscellaneous
NRA adds over 5,000 beneficiaries to aid list
The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has added 5,344 households to the list of beneficiaries of 2015 Gorkha Earthquake following a survey conducted between mid-August to mid-November 2018.The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has added 5,344 households to the list of beneficiaries of 2015 Gorkha Earthquake following a survey conducted between mid-August to mid-November 2018.
The NRA had re-conducted the survey process after complaints from several districts, saying that they were not included in the list of beneficiaries despite meeting the compliances set by the government. A recent meeting of the NRA Executive Committee made the decision after reviewing the output of the survey conducted in 18 rural municipalities and two municipalities of the quake-hit districts.
Likewise, the authority has added 5,501 households in 14 districts to the list of beneficiaries entitled to obtain the government grant for retrofitting of the houses damaged in the disaster.
NRA Information Officer Manohar Ghimire said the tasks of re-survey have been completed at Ruby Valley and Thakre in Dhading; Kalinchowk and Bigu in Dolkha; Siranchowk in Gorkha; Bethanchowk in Kavre; Likhu in Okhaldhunga; Goshai Kunda, Kalika; Nau Kunda and Parbati Kunda in Rasuwa; and Bhotekoshi, Balefi, Helambu, Bahrabishe and Jugal in Sindhupalchok. The process has been completed also in Bidur, Nuwakot.
The authority has stated that it will reach agreement with the newly enlisted beneficiaries soon.
In the immediate aftermath of the 2015 earthquake, the government had decided to provide Rs200,000 per household as private housing rebuilding aid, which was later increased to Rs300,000 to be distributed in three instalments—Rs 50,000, Rs 150,000 and Rs100,000. The amount is being disbursed in three instalments for ensuring that the quake survivors rebuild quake-resilient homes in line with the compliance and design set by the government. Likewise, the government had also decided to disburse Rs100,000 for retrofitting structures in 14 districts worst affected by the earthquake.
“We will complete the re-survey process by mid-June and inform the local authorities,” Ghimire said, adding that the process took longer than expected as the number of complaints was higher and the authority had to identify its authenticity.
The authority has so far completed the survey of 996,582 households. Out of them, 767,705 are eligible for housing grant, while 24,991 are eligible for retrofitting grant.
The NRA record shows that 708,592 households have received first tranche of government aid and 419,478 have been approved for the second tranche. The number of households approved for the third tranche stands at 155,916.