Kathmandu, April 22

The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has proposed to provide an additional Rs 200,000 to the landless quake survivors listed as beneficiaries of the government grant to purchase land.

Landless quake survivors have been deprived of the government grant at present as land ownership certificate is mandatory for signing the grant agreement with local bodies. Those residing on public land and forest areas will be able to obtain Rs 200,000 to purchase land in addition to the Rs 300,000 housing reconstruction aid if Cabinet approves proposal of NRA to amend the ‘Guidelines on Grant Distribution to Private Houses’.

It is reported that three to four per cent of the total 626,695 beneficiary households of the government’s aid in the 14 quake-hit districts are landless people and they have been deprived from the grant, according to NRA.

The executive committee meeting, led by NRA’s Chief Executive Officer Govinda Raj Pokharel, has decided to submit the amendment proposal to the Cabinet for approval.

The landless beneficiaries will be able to obtain the reconstruction aid after having land ownership.

Earlier, there was no provision in the guidelines to address the landless victims who were listed as beneficiaries of the housing reconstruction aid.

Similarly, the executive committee meeting of NRA also decided to instruct the Ministry of Urban Development to deploy engineers and other technical staffs in the 17 less-affected districts to expedite the reconstruction works as NRA has already started grant distribution to beneficiary houses of these 17 districts.

The meeting has also approved the guidelines for retrofitting of quake-affected houses developed by a team led by its Executive Member Hariram Parajuli, according to NRA.