GORKHA, Aug 30: Save the Children, too, seems to be in no hurry. It has been five months since the organization signed an agreement with the government for constructing the building of Antar Jyoti Higher Secondary School of Takukot VDC. But the construct has not begun so far.
“They called us some time ago and assured to carry out soil test. We haven't heard from them since,” Rana Bahadur Baram, principal of the school said.
The instances of shallow promises do not end with the two reputed INGOs. Another organization INF promised to construct hostel buildings of Bidhabasini and Mahendra Jyoti Higher Secondary Schools but hasn't started the construction work.
Manaslu Foundation had promised to construct a 12-room school building for Keraunja Secondary School, for which a contract was signed with the government on October 7, 2015.
Although the foundation started construction two months ago, the work came to a halt abruptly, according to headmaster Sundar Khanal.
The plight of Tatopani Primary School, Uhiya is no different. “We were told that the organization would start construction soon and complete the work before the rainy season,” Sanjita Ghale, headmaster of the school, said.
UN agencies like Unicef and 20 other INGOs like World Vision, People in Need, Save the Children, Good Neighbors Nepal have taken the responsibility to renovate of rebuild school buildings that were destroyed by the earthquake.
As many as 2,626 classrooms either damaged or destroyed by the earthquake in April 2015 need to be constructed in Gorkha district.
Some 291 schools lack drinking water facility and 253 are without toilets.
It is clear that the schools need to be constructed as early as possible, According to Chief District Officer Dipendra Subedi.
“Some I/NGOs are doing good works but most of them have failed to deliver on their commitments,” Subedi said.
Most of the I/NGOs have cited continuous rains as the reason for the delay in carrying out the construction works.
We are working in close collaboration with District Education Office, Binay Amatya of Save the Children said.
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