Kathmandu, December 8

A meeting of the Social Justice and Human Rights Committee of the Legislature-Parliament meeting today instructed the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) to ramp up works for passage of the Bill related to the formation of National Authority for Reconstruction and expedite reconstruction of the structures destroyed and damaged during the massive April 25 earthquake.

The Committee has asked the government to immediately make necessary arrangements to distribute Rs 15,000 in relief to the quake survivors who have yet to receive the amount and also proposed grant of Rs 10,000 meant for the quake victims.

It has further instructed the government to make public whether or not the amount would be deducted from Rs 200,000 entitled for the victims for reconstruction of their residences damaged during the quake.

The government must also clarify whether those receiving Rs 200,000 for reconstruction would also be entitled to the concessional loan.

The meeting presided over by Committee Chairman Sushil Kumar Shrestha also took the decision to send the committee members to the districts that were worst-hit by the earthquake, including Gorkha, Ramechhap, Sindhupalchowk, Kavrepalanchowk, Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur for on-site inspection to inquire on the steps taken by the government to render relief for the quake victims, ongoing reconstruction works, including status of the survivors.