KATHMANDU, Aug 16: In a move aimed at completing the distribution of the first installment of the house reconstruction grant to the earthquake victims within the deadline set by the prime minister, the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has launched a "special campaign" from Monday in the 11 districts worst hit by last year's earthquake.
NRA Chief Executive Officer Sushil Gyewali on Monday said NRA launched the special campaign from Monday in the 11 districts as per the prime minister's decision to complete distribution Rs 50,000, the first tranche of the grant within the next 45 days, to all the quake victims whose houses were completely damaged by last year's earthquakes.
"During the month-long campaign, we will not just complete the task of signing grant agreements with the total 533,454 house-owners identified as eligible for the grant in the 11 quake-affected districts but also transfer the first tranche to their bank account," Gyewali said, adding, the NRA has started the grant distribution work in war-footing from Monday as part of the campaign so that the aimed task gets completed by mid-September.
NRA to provide first installment through special drive
He said that the local level officers involved in grant distribution will carry out their work seven days a week and also during public holidays to make the campaign successful.
"Likewise, the NRA will mobilize additional manpower to the local bodies for expediting the grant distribution process. We will use all our resources to ensure that the grant distribution gets completed within the deadline," he said. As of now, of the total identified 533,454 house owners, the NRA has signed grant agreement with 332,298 owners but distributed the first tranche to only 45,529 households who have signed grant agreement.
He said that the NRA during the coming one month will also take up 129,912 of the complaints related to the grant amounts lodged by victims in the 11 districts.
He said that the NRA will mobilize form various monitoring teams in the districts to oversee the grant distribution task.
"So, we will put all our efforts for the next one month to complete the distribution of the grant to the quake victims," he said.
