Kathmandu, August 18

Home Minister Janardan Sharma today said the government would provide Rs 70 per day to every flood victim for a month.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the home ministry, Sharma said the government had released Rs 1 billion for assisting flood victims.  The minister added that the government would provide cash lump sum to flood victims. “Making cash payment will ensure that victims won’t be supplied rotten rice,” he said.

The minister added that the government could open stalls in flood-affected areas to enable victims to buy food. He said 135 people lost their lives due to floods and landslides and 35 people were still missing.

Stating that the government has not barred anyone from distributing relief materials in the flood-affected areas, the minister said if foreign individuals and organisations wanted to help flood victims they could donate to Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. “The government only wants to collect the assistance and distribute it to flood victims so as to prevent misuse of assistance,” Sharma added.

Sharma, however, said no one had the right to open bank accounts in the name of helping disaster victims. “Anyone who wants to help flood victims can open bank accounts only after receiving government’s permission,” Sharma added.