The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has started imparting training to the Nepal Army personnel before their deployment to the earthquake-affected areas to help in the reconstruction works.

Chief Executive Officer at NRA Govind Raj Pokhrel has said 200 technicians from the NA were currently providing trainings in different villages.

“One executive member of the NRA has been assigned to oversee each training,” he said, adding that the NA technicians would continue providing training to help accelerate the reconstruction activities.

Though there is a need of 60,000 skilled workers to assist in the post-earthquake reconstruction works in the 14 most-affected districts, only 15,000 people have been trained so far.

Private housing reconstruction works have not commenced in the quake-affected districts due to the lack of trained workers and construction materials. 

Twenty workers received house rebuilding training, but only four are working, according to CEO Pokhrel.

Migration of youths from villages for abroad jobs has caused shortage of workers in the quake-hit districts, he added.

Meanwhile, the NRA is preparing to present a proposal at a meeting of the Council of Ministers, seeking an amendment to the NRA Funds Guidelines to ensure transparency in the implementation of reconstruction works.

The NRA Steering Committee had recently made a decision targeting those survivors residing on a land owned by Guthi land or facing other land-related problems. As per the decision, survivors falling into this category need the recommendation of the respective ward or VDC and consideration of neighbours to draw the first instalment of the house rebuilding grants. Some 11,000 survivors in the most-affected district face land-related problems, according to NRA Joint Secretary Janardan Guragain.

Around 200,000 houses in the badly affected districts are in need of retrofitting, the NRA data shows. The government has decided to provide Rs 10,000 to a house owner to retrofit the quake-damaged house.

The NRA is also working to create a conducive environment for the quake survivors to take easy loan from banks to rebuild their homes.