KATHMANDU, March 3: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) is preparing to make it mandatory for NGOs working in the field of reconstruction to focus their activities on certain areas instead of working at multiple locations.
To facilitate the same, a meeting of the NRA executive committee on Wednesday asked the Policy, Plan, Monitoring and Development Section under the NRA to make preparations for simplifying the guidelines on the mobilization of NGOs 2072.
“Currently, NGOs working in the quake-affected districts have been carrying out their works in a scattered way in different village development committees (VDCs). This has made it difficult for us to know what and how they have been carrying out their works,” said NRA Spokesperson Yam Lal Bhoosal, while justifying the decision.
Bhoosal said they have been receiving complaints from various quake-hit districts about the activities of NGOs. “We have received complaints about the NGOs which have been working at different locations and could not be monitored directly. So, our new criteria in the guidelines will help us monitor their activities directly.”
Similarly, the NRA is also planning to make some changes to ease the process of endorsing the proposals of NGOs interested in working in the quake-affected districts. “An executive committee meeting of NRA has decided to make necessary amendments to the guidelines for this purpose,” he informed republica.
The NRA had introduced the guidelines after the April 2015 earthquake to mobilize the NGOs for post-quake reconstruction and rehabilitation works. However, different NGOs, according to sources, have been lobbying to change the guidelines as it doesn't allow them to work and spend their funds according to their plans. The guidelines make it mandatory for NGOs to work in the areas and communities selected by the NRA.
The guidelines have provisioned to conduct all post-earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation works through the NRA, ensuring that resources are mobilized in an equitable manner in the quake-hit areas.
The existing guidelines clearly state that NGOs must support in the building of at least 250 houses in a VDC designated by the NRA and that they can't carry out construction works on their own. NGOs can only provide Rs 200,000 for constructing each building, while the owner builds home on his/her own. Alternatively, an NGO can deposit funds in the NRA's bank account for the purpose.
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