Ten months after the big earthquake, I visited Chapagaun of Lalitpur on 7 March, 2016 along with my friends without any destination in mind but just to roam around and enjoy Shivaratri. On the way, we saw many houses with banners of wedding parties and people enjoying their picnic around Bajrabarahi temple. Since we did not have any specific destiny, we moved ahead to Pyan Gaun which is just a kilometer away from the temple. We then headed forward towards a village. While we visited the village, we were shocked to see many houses still unrepaired. The houses that were badly damaged by the earthquake were still not renovated, and the people there are living in damaged houses. Many of them, with as many as six family members, are living in single room shelters made of corrugated iron sheets. The Government alongside many organizations which are reported to be working for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction were nowhere to be seen.

Where are they? We know the government has set up an Earthquake Reconstruction Authority and declared it would give them financial and technical support for renovation. The government has collected and spent   billions of rupees in the name of earthquake victims. If the victims are not getting any support and benefit, then who is actually getting the benefit? When I talked to a few villagers, they said they have been told that financial support would come but when they will be received remains uncertain. They are aware that people in some affected places have already received funds, but the villagers here are unaware as to why they still haven’t received any kind of relief and support.

The Government alongside many INGOs and NGOs are working to provide earthquake relief. Even with so many organisations and teams working, the people are still uninformed and unaware of what is being and will be done for proper rehabilitation and reconstruction.

The earthquake affected people here are surviving in a very difficult situation with unsafe housing or shelters. Moreover, they do not have proper water and sanitation facility. They are dependent on open common taps that are not clean. I am not blaming anyone but exploring the fact that if the earthquake affected people near the Kathmandu valley are in such difficult and horrible situations, what will be the situation of others living in remote and hard to reach areas. The government needs to take immediate action in reaching earthquake affected people with proper mechanism.