Kathmandu, August 17

Finance committee of the Parliament today directed the government to provide a cash relief of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of those who lost their lives in the recent floods in different parts of the country.

Earlier, the government had announced Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of those killed in the natural disaster. A meeting of the committee presided over by Prakash Jwala also asked the government to announce immediate relief package in areas affected by adverse meteorological events.

“We, hereby, direct the government to make it mandatory for all Nepali citizens to open a bank account and make a provision of providing cash relief through banking channel,” Jwala said.

Similarly, the government has been directed to intensify search for persons still missing in floods and landslides by coordinating with all concerned bodies and to reach out to survivors without delay.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, at least 128 persons were killed and 25 others injured in recent floods and landslides. Thirty-three persons are still unaccounted for.

“We also want the government to announce separate relief package for senior citizens, children, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and lactating mothers in flood-ravaged areas, while making special arrangements to prevent outbreak of communicable diseases and to provide free treatment to survivors,” Jwala said.

The committee also directed the government to table the Disaster Management Bill in the Parliament and to mobilise foreign assistance by maintaining coordination with development partners and the international community.

Stating that the government has not adequately prepared itself to tackle possible disasters in terms of precautionary measures and emergency response and relief, the committee stressed the need to bridge coordination gap among government and non-governmental agencies in relation to tackling natural disasters, including floods and landslides. An average of 300 people die each year due to floods and landslides in Nepal, which is ranked the 30th most vulnerable country in the world to floods and landslides.