Kathmandu, February 1

The government has issued the ‘Rules on Fund Operation Related to Rescue and Assistance of Persons Affected by Tuin Accident’ to provide necessary assistance for rescue and relief to the persons affected by tuin accident.

The law also aims to ensure livelihood of the affected persons and their families. As per the rules, a fund shall be established to provide assistance and relief to the persons injured or maimed due to accident and the families who have lost their members in such accident. The fund shall have the amounts received from the government, various national organisations and businesspersons or individuals.

“The amount of the fund shall be used for rescue and medical care of affected persons, providing skill-based training to them, providing relief amount for final rites and other rituals of any person died in tuin accident, and conducting other activities for the assistance of the injured and their family members,” it states.

The law has stipulated the provision of a four-member fund mobilisation committee led by secretary at the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration to release the amount as recommended by the concerned district committee, identify and verify the affected persons and cause to implement the government’s directions.

It requires the concerned police office and local disaster management committee to carry out rescue works in case of any tuin accident. “Any person affected by tuin accident or his family member has to submit an application, accompanied by recommendation of the concerned local level, to the district committee for assistance. Prior to making recommendation to the ministry, the district committee shall obtain a report of the concerned police office,” the law states.

If the concerned victim fulfils necessary requirements, the district committee will recommend the ministry to release the prescribed amount for him/her within 15 days. The affected person will also be entitled to skill-based training.

According to the rules, no person, organisation or agency shall be allowed to construct tuin in any part of the country after its commencement. The rules had come into force from January 14 upon a notification published in the Nepal Gazette.

“The concerned local levels shall have to displace the existing tuins within two years from the commencement of these rules. If any accident occurs due to construction of new tuins thereafter, the concerned person, organisation or agency shall be held accountable for this,” it states. The fund shall automatically cease to be effective within two years from the date of its commencement.

Though the government has already replaced 105 out of 131 tuins with suspension bridges in places where it is viable, the rules were made to address potential accidents while using the remaining tuins, according to the ministry. Nepal is home to more than 6,000 rivers and streams and most of them lack bridges. Many people have lost their fingers while crossing the rivers using cable contraptions in the past.