Kathmandu January 24

The government today decided to provide additional grant of Rs 100,000 to earthquake victims.

A  Cabinet meeting held at Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s official residence in  Baluwatar took a decision to this effect. The government also decided to provide senior citizen allowance at the age of 65. Under the old system, senior citizens were entitled to senior citizen allowance only at the age of 70.

Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation Bir Bahadur Balayar said the additional amount might be added in the third tranche that the earthquake victims are entitled to.

“The government decided to announce more grants to the quake victims who are still living in temporary shelters  due to lack of money,” Minister Balayar  said.  “The additional grant will help victims live in better conditions.”

The government had decided to provide grants to quake victims in three tranches. The government had announced that it would provided Rs 50,000 in the first tranche Rs150,000 in the second tranche and  Rs100,000 in the third tranche.

According to Balayar, the Cabinet directed to a relevant committee of National Reconstruction Authority headed by the Prime Minister Deuba to extend the deadline for receiving the second tranche for those  who could not start reconstruction of their houses after getting the first tranche.