Nepal finalises quake aid payment

KATHMANDU: Major political parties of Nepal on Wednesday agreed on the method for disbursing relief money for reconstructing the homes of victims of last year’s

Published on: Jun 30, 2016, 08:45:00 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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KATHMANDU: Major political parties of Nepal on Wednesday agreed on the method for disbursing relief money for reconstructing the homes of victims of last year’s devastating earthquake.

The agreement stipulated the total amount of Rs 125,000 will be distributed in two instalments of Rs 93,750 and Rs 31,250.

It said the second instalment to be given after construction is completed.

Besides paving the way for disbursing the funds, which thousands of victims of the April 25, 2015 quake are waiting for, the agreement ended a logjam in parliament.

The Nepali Congress, the main opposition party, had stalled the working of parliament for five days and demanded the total amount should be paid in one go.

“We had no issues in giving the amount in one go. But the earlier work plan on relief distribution was preventing us from doing so,” Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli told parliament on Wednesday.

Under the new agreement, the government will have to amend the grant distribution procedure, as the earlier one stipulated releasing the amount in three installments, and also get fresh approval from donor agencies.

Last year’s quake killed nearly 9,000 people and destroyed more than 800,000 houses in 14 of the worst affected districts.

Thousands of affected families are still living in temporary shelters.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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