KATHMANDU, Aug 29: National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has distributed Rs 50,000, the first tranche of house reconstruction grant, to over 31 percent of the earthquake victims identified as eligible to receive the money.

Of the total 533,155 families whose houses were completely damaged by the earthquakes, the NRA has distributed the first chunk of the grant money to as many as 169,318 households so far.

The grant distribution to the victims in the 11 districts worst hit by the earthquakes has gathered pace since the NRA launched a month-long 'special campaign'. The campaign, which was launched on August 16, aims to complete the distribution of the first installment of the house reconstruction grant within a month.

Soon after assuming the office, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had instructed the NRA to complete the distribution of the first tranche to the victims within the next 45 days.  

The NRA has now 18 days left to complete the distribution of the first installment to all the identified quake victims.

The number of victims receiving the first tranche is highest in Gorkha compared to other 10 districts. Around 74 per cent of the total 58,503 victims have received the first tranche grant in Gorkha.

On the other hand, the total number of quake victims receiving the grant amount in the remaining 10 districts is below 30 percent.

But NRA officials have claimed that the first tranche will be provided to all the victims by the next 18 days.  

“We will distribute the first tranche to all the victims within 18 days at any cost,” NRA Secretary Madhusudhan Adhikari said, adding that the number of victims receiving the first tranche will increase significantly by the next week.

In Sindhupalchowk, only 22,214 of the total 78,537 victims have received the first installment. Likewise, in Makwanpur, 1,163 of the total 30, 238 victims have received the grant.

While only 3,757 of the total 19,818 victims have received the money in Okhaldhunga, 12,688 of the total 65,772 quake victims in Nuwakot district have received it so far.

Similarly, 21,865 of the total 43,607 victims in Ramechhap, 17,261 of total 70,572 victims in Dhanding, 22,446 of the total 51,749 in Dolakha, 14,926 of total 67,659 in Kavre, 8,554 of the total 34,253 in Sinduli, 908 of total 11,229  in Rasuwa have received the first tranche so far.

"The number is gradually increasing. In Makwanpur, the grant distribution is quite slow. So, we are mobilizing additional team to expedite the task," said Adhikari.

 
• national reconstruction authority
 
• rs 50
 
• 000
 
• house reconstruction grant
 
• earthquake victims