Kathmandu, September 1

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has drafted a model of the Disaster Management Fund (Operation) Procedure for risk reduction and management of natural and human-induced disasters at the local levels.

The procedure developed for the purpose of municipalities and rural municipalities comes into effect after it is passed by the concerned rural or municipal executive. As per the procedure, each local level will be required to establish a Disaster Management Fund to collect and mobilise necessary resources for carrying out disaster risk reduction and management activities. “A separate account shall be opened in a financial institution where the local level has its consolidated fund to collect income and mobilise expenditure,” it states.

The fund has three objectives — to provide search, rescue and relief assistance to persons affected by disaster, to strengthen disaster response capacity of the local level and to facilitate disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response and recovery activities. The income of the fund includes the annual budget approved by the executive, amount received from other local levels, amount provided by the federal and provincial governments for disaster management and amount donated by various government and non-governmental agencies.

“Any person or organisation interested in supporting the fund may deposit the amount in its bank account or provide cash to financial administration section of the local level directly,” the procedure states. Names and other details of persons or organisations providing assistance to the fund shall be disclosed within the seventh day of the next month. However, one may provide assistance on condition of anonymity.

The fund may also accept assistance in kind as well in such condition that the goods or materials meet minimum standards and may support disaster management activities. The assistance in cash or kind shall be used for search, rescue and relief operations; purchase of necessary food commodities, drugs, clothing and educational materials; construction of makeshift homes or shelters for persons and families who have been rendered homeless due to disaster; medical treatment of injured; and cash relief to disaster victims; among others.

Disaster Relief Committee of the local level shall provide cash and relief materials to the affected persons and families on the basis of loss or damaged incurred to their property. The amount received by the fund cannot be used for regular administrative business of the local level, remuneration and allowance, interaction and workshops, travel and other facilities of officials from any government or non-governmental agencies.

The bank account of the fund shall be operated by joint signatures of chief administrative officer and accounts officer of the local level. Disbursement of amount exceeding Rs 2,000 shall be made through the banking channel only.