Ramechhap, August 26

Distribution of the first instalment of the Rs 2 lakh housing grant to be provided to earthquake victims is in full swing in Ramechhap.

The government is providing Rs 50,000 each as the first instalment of the grant to over 19,000 victims of 22 VDCs in the district.

Quake victims are being provided with cash from as many as eight banks in the district headquarters Manthali. The banks are distributing cash even on holidays, owing to the large number of recipients flocking the banks.

Manthali branch of Rastriya Banijya Bank said it had distributed the grant amount to over 500 victims on Thursday. Branch Manager Pawan Sapkota said they distributed the grant amount even on public holidays with permission from the centre.

Sapkota said that although Thursday was supposed to be a holiday for Krishna Janmashtami, the bank had distributed cash to more than 500 victims from Sanghutar VDC.

Chief District Officer of Ramechhap, Prakash Chandra Adhikary, said of the 43,609 quake victims of 45 VDCs and two municipalities, the first instalment of Rs 50,000 was provided to 19,000 victims of 22 VDCs so far.

An additional 13,000 people have filled out complaint forms requesting that they be recognised as quake victims, and that their names had been missed out.

According to the District Development Committee, Ramechhap, Rastriya Banijya Bank, NMB Bank, Century Bank, and Nepal Investment Bank were among the eight banks that were distributing the housing grant.

Chief of District Treasury and Controller Office Madhu Pokhrel said Rs 2,701,400,000 was allocated to his office for distribution of housing grant to the victims.

Pokhrel said the first instalment of the grant amount would be distributed to the quake victims within ten days.