Kathmandu, April 29, 2018 : Association of Youth Organizations Nepal (Ayon) organized a discussion program to mark three years of 2015 Earthquake on the progress in terms of Reconstruction and Rehabilitation so far. The discussion session featuring representatives from National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) and Community Management Disaster Reduction Risk Reduction (CMDRR) forum and was held at Martin Chautari, Thapathali on Friday, 27th April.
The efforts made by the youths both as individuals and organizations were remembered in the program that started with a minute of silence in memory of people who lost their lives during the disaster.
The panelists shared about the progress achieved so far along with the challenges faced during the recovery efforts and the possible solutions to the challenges. It was stated that out of 7, 66,000 residential houses damaged during the earthquake, 4,60,000 houses are currently undergoing reconstruction and the reconstruction of private houses are expected to finish by this year.
The NRA has received a total of 1, 29,000 grievance applications from people who missed out during the initial survey conducted the NRA. The applications are now undergoing review processes and the number of beneficiaries might increase after the report is out, shared Netra Prasad Subedi, joint secretary at the NRA.
He also stressed on coordination between the policy makers, local bodies and the responsible citizens in the reconstruction activities in order to make them effective and completed timely.
A total of 30 youths from various walks of life, many of them actively involved in relief and rescue during and after the 2015 disaster were present at the session. They shared their experience during the rescue and relief operations they were part of and showed concerns about slow pace of work going on in terms of the rehabilitation process, especially regarding the cultural heritages.
In response, the joint secretary of NRA said, “The NRA have been conducting studies on how to reconstruct them with the help of cultural experts and now that the reports are ready, the reconstruction process of the heritages including Dharahara and the Ranipokhari will begin by the end of this fiscal year.”
The program concluded with refreshments after the president of Ayon handed token of love to the panelists present.
