KATHMANDU, Sept 22: Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) has directed the concerned local bodies to distribute first tranche of housing grant to all the quake victims before Dashain festival that begins in the first week of October.
The ministry issued the new circular to the local bodies after the government failed to distribute the first installment of housing grants to all eligible quake victims by the deadline set by the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA).
“We missed the last deadline set by ourselves,” secretary at the Ministry, Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, told Republica. “But we have directed the local bodies to distribute the first tranche of Rs 50,000 before the festivals.”
Launching a special campaign on August 16, the NRA had announced that it would
complete the task of signing grant agreements with the total 533,453 house owners in 11 earthquake districts and transfer the first tranche to their bank accounts by mid-September.
However, the local bodies have so far signed grant agreements only with 450,032 of house owners eligible for the government support. Of them, only 380,520 house owners have so far received the amount of Rs 50,000. The government has announced to provide housing grant of Rs 200,000 in total.
NRA's Chief Executive Officer Sushil Gyewali had announced the campaign after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in the first week of August had directed the authority to complete the grant distribution within 45 days.
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