Grant distribution sluggish in Makawanpur

Hetauda, April 25

Nothing seems to be going right for the victims of the 2015 earthquakes in Makwanpur, whose homes were wrecked and life as they have known it taken from them.

The victims have now come to learn what it is like to be governed by an excruciatingly inept administration the hard way, as thousands still await the grant promised by the government to rebuild their houses.

More than 8,000 victims who are listed as beneficiaries of the grant are yet to even sign the grant agreement with the government.

A total of 21,914 victims had signed the agreement to receive the first instalment of the grant in the district. “Of them, 20,731 have received the first instalment,” informed the District Coordination Committee.

However, only 51 beneficiaries have received the second instalment in the district so far.

“The distribution of the second instalment has been delayed because the beneficiaries have moved to different places, and many own land that are not registered. Only a small fraction of the beneficiaries who received the first instalment have asked for the second instalment,” said engineer Som Raj Timilsina.