Post-quake reconstruction entering into socio-economic restoration phase: NRA

Kathmandu / Oct 9: The Nepal Reconstruction Authority (NRA) is preparing to take post-quake reconstruction into socio-economic restoration phase.

NRA Chief Executive Officer Sushil Gyawali shared the information at a discussion recently held with the World Bank towards this end.

At an interaction program organized here today by the Freedom Forum, CEO Gyawali stated that the NRA was preparing for the same, he asserted, the NRA was entrusting with the responsibilities way more than the construction of physical infrastructures.

He also informed that the Act relating to the post-quake reconstruction was in the phase of amendment which will put in place the provision of formation of a reconstruction committee coordinated by the chairperson of quake-hit Rural Municipality and Municipalities.

Also in the amendment, another provision would be added for socio-economic restoration at district level according to which a committee would be formed under the leadership of the coordinator of the District Coordination Committee where lawmakers, province assembly members and chief of local units will be in the committee.

Similarly, Forum’s Chief Executive Officer Taranath Dahal shared that altogether 35 journalists were trained to enhance advocacies on the matters of public concerns in the hardest-hit 14 districts.

Among the trained journalists, 15 were selected and provided with stipend for the same.

On the occasion, Dahal handed over the collection of the altogether 45 news written by the journalists concerning the reconstruction process in the quake-hit districts.

The journalists had prepared reports and news on the status of physical infrastructure, health, drinking water, sanitation and cultural heritages in those districts.

Journalist duo Hasta Gurung and Dharmendra Jha had edited the collection. Journalist Gurung spoke of the need for the journalists to raise the issues relating to the change in the traditional lifestyle of the Nepali brought by the quake. Journalist Jha stated that the journalist working on the stories of the post-quake reconstruction process has reestablished the system of raising the local level issues that was not practiced by the journalists in the last decade.

On the occasion, the journalists visiting the quake-hit districts and bringing back stories on the post-quake reconstruction process had shared their experience. RSS