The government has initiated a five-year project in support of the Usaid and Nepal Society of Earthquake Technology (NSET) aimed at training engineers, local masons, carpenters and house owners to build quake-resilient houses in future.

Under the Rs 830m project called Baliyo Ghar, a National Reconstruction Technology Center and three training centres at the district and local level in Dolakha, Dhading and Nuwakot districts will be established to train the targeted groups comprising around 300,000 people towards building a safer community to earthquake-related disasters, including building safer housing structures.

Baliyo Ghar will be implemented by the NSET in cooperation with the Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development, Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training, and National Planning Commission.

During a programme organised on Wednesday to announce the launch of various projects in Nepal including the Baliyo Ghar, Aaina B Teplitz, US ambassador to Nepal pledged to continue to help rebuild a safer and stronger Nepal. “This week, as Nepal marks six months since the April 25 earthquake, we are pleased to announce our new and expanded initiatives and pledge that we will continue to help rebuild the country,” she said.

Usaid has further decided to expand its ongoing resilience project called ‘Sabal’ through an increased investment of USD 2.7 million to train local masons in Sindhupalchok and Kavrepalanchok, the most-affected districts in the quake this year. In addition, Usaid has made a USD $9.6 million contribution to the World Bank Nepal Earthquake Reconstruction Multi-Donor Trust Fund. This contribution will directly support the government-led beneficiary survey in the 14 most-affected districts, as well as the provision of housing reconstruction cash grants to affected homeowners, NSET stated. The support from the US government is part of its commitment to invest USD 130 million in response to the earthquake in Nepal.