Kathmandu, April 25

Chaudhary Foundation (CF) — a philanthropic arm of Chaudhary Group — has built and handed over 2,540 transitional shelters and 37 schools in quake-hit districts within a year of the devastating April 25 earthquake of last year.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, CF had conducted relief and rehabilitation works and announced charity of Rs 250 million for the relief, rehabilitation of quake-affected people and reconstruction of earthquake-ravaged public schools.

In the programme organised by the CF today to mark one year since the massive earthquake, Binod Chaudhary, president of Chaudhary Group, said that CF will continue rebuilding schools and transitional shelters in quake-hit districts in coming days as well.

CF had pledged to build 10,000 transitional shelters and 100 schools in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake last year. CF had expressed commitment to build 1,000 transitional shelters from its own fund and the remaining 9,000 with various partner organisations.

The cost of each house, excluding the overhead and administrative cost of CF, hovers around Rs 60,000 and the house has lifespan of at least 10 years. Similarly, the cost of rebuilding schools ranges from Rs 600,000 to Rs one million.

As CF moves towards fulfilling its promise of rebuilding schools and transitional shelters despite the turbulent times, it has shown willingness to develop individual houses and more quake ravaged schools by utilising its expertise, in partnership with National Reconstruction Authority (NRA).

CF, in partnership with TATA Strive India, has been planning to conduct training for engineers in coming days. Currently, they have been conducting trainings for masonry and carpentry in quake-hit districts and other soft skills to address the requirement of human resource to some extent for the country’s reconstruction drive.