Disaster survivors should not be deprived of their rights: Minister Lamichhane

 Kathmandu, April 15: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Rabi Lamichhane has urged the concerned authorities to be serious about making sure that the disaster survivors are not deprived of rights due to procedural dilly dallying.     

Addressing the 21st meeting of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Executive Committee at Singha Durbar on Monday, DPM Lamichhane said disaster reduction and the rescue, relief and resettlement operation for the disaster survivors should not be delayed at any pretext. "It's imperative to pay attention to simplify process when the decision making process is delayed and the complaints were pouring in that the process is complex. May no disaster survivor be deprived of rights due to procedural confusion and legal complication," he said.     

He said that the disaster survivors should be resettled in their houses before the onset of monsoon and instructed the subordinate authorities to accelerate resettlement works accordingly.     

Expressing sorrow over the demise of army personnel and children in recent cases of forest fire, DPM Lamichhane directed to ensure that the victims are not further perturbed due to loopholes in laws.     

The procedure pertaining to grant for retrofitting of the houses of disaster survivors, reconstruction and resettlement has been approved with amendment.     

The procedure also takes into consideration grant for victims of avalanche and drought, it was shared.     

At the meeting, Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Bhanu Bhakta Joshi pointed out the need for promptness in the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the affected ones.     

Minister Joshi stated that appropriate management should be done from the side of the government for those lacking land plots due to poor economic status.     

On the occasion, Home Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal shared new procedure was prepared making the previous one a basis and added that the federal government would bear the cost in case the local government lack resources.     

According to Aryal, the regulations for the procedure will be sent to the council of ministers within one or two days. He viewed that all three layers of government would have comfort in managing the budget if the regulation and procedure were approved before the budget session.     

The meeting has approved some proposals including guidelines on mobilization of the development partners and others.(RSS)