The District Administration Office in Dang has banned individuals and private organisations from distributing relief materials to the impoverished families during the Covid-19 lockdown.

According to Assistant Chief District Officer to Ganja Bahadur MC, the ban was imposed as some organisations and individuals were found distributing relief materials for publicity. 

“Photos and videos of relief distribution were posted on social media sites just to garner hits and likes,” MC said. “We have also been informed that various organisations and individuals collect relief in the name of the poor and organise distribution programmes without coordinating with the local units.”

On Tuesday, the District Administration Office in Dang issued a public notice to inform not to conduct these kinds of activities that go against the government policy. According to government policy, relief distribution programmes can only be conducted in coordination with the local units.

When organisations and individuals take it upon themselves to organise these relief distribution events, it creates a logistical nightmare for the administration, MC said.

In Dang, organisations and individuals are distributing relief materials and organising community meals to feed the impoverished people, which has led to people coming out of their homes and breaching the lockdown.

The local administration’s decision to ban individuals and organisations from organising relief programmes has been met with derision.

In Ghorahi, Ujyalo Bihani Foundation, a social forum created by local youths, has been organising door-to-door food distribution.

Rodan Mahara, a campaigner, said they have started the door-to-door campaign to help the impoverished during the lockdown period. “Usually, the government relief doesn’t reach the impoverished families on time. We don’t know what the government policy says. This is humanitarian work we are doing,” said Mahara.

The decision has also angered the poor communities in the district.

“There’s nothing to eat in my house now. I have to borrow food grains from my neighbours. What other people give us is not enough but it’s better than government relief that is yet to reach us,” Lal Kumari Rasaili, a local of Ghorahi Ward No. 16, said.

Amit Kashaudhan and Madhusudan Pulami of Lamahi Bazaar started providing free meals to pedestrians from Tuesday onwards.

“We are doing this to help the people stranded in the Bazaar area,” the two men said.

Meahwhile, Tulsipur Mayor Ghanashyam Pandey, said they have established a food bank to distribute relief through one-door policy.

“If anyone wants to help the impoverished, they can deposit food grains in the food bank. The sub-metropolis has been distributing the collected food grains as per the recommendation of the ward offices,” Pandey said.

The sub-metropolis has been distributing relief materials based on recommendations of ward offices.

In Rapti Rural Municipality, too, relief materials are being distributed from designated centres run by ward offices, where individuals and organisations can make contributions.

“We are receiving help from various organisations and individuals. Food grains and other daily essentials collected in the rural municipality are being distributed through ward committees,” Numananda Subedi, chairman of the rural municipality, said.

According to the District Administration Office, out of the total 100 wards in the district, reliefs are being distributed to 25 households (per ward) on average.

“We have requested the local units to distribute relief from their own offices to avoid crowds and minimise the risk of spread of the coronavirus,” Chief District Officer Govinda Prasad Rijal said.