NC, CPN-MC and Unified Socialist give aid to quake-hit people

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 8: More money has poured into the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund for the purpose of providing relief to the earthquake victims. 

On Tuesday, political parties, IME, banks and other organsiations provided money to the Fund. 

The ruling coalition partner, Nepali Congress provided Rs. 5 million to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. 

The Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and senior party leaders handed over the cheque of Rs. 5 million to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda.’

According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, NC leaders had reached Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar to hand over the cheque. Deuba was accompanied by NC general secretaries Gagan Kumar Thapa and Biswa Prakash Sharma, and Min Biswokarma, among others.

On the occasion, NC also commended the proactive roles undertaken by both the central and local governments in the aftermath of the Jajarkot earthquake.

The NC has also put forth suggestions to the government for immediate and short-term measures for post-earthquake rescue, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. 

It has provided the government with a 12-point recommendation for immediate and short-term efforts, as well as a 9-point plan for reconstruction initiatives.

In response to the suggestions, Prime Minister Prachanda expressed his commitment to follow the positive experiences from the past, said PM’s Secretariat. 

Stating that the first phase of search and rescue operation has been successfully completed, he said now there is a need to pave the way for the swift commencement of the second phase, focusing on relief and reconstruction.

“The government has initiated relief efforts. Both financial and other support continues to pour in from various quarters,” the Prime Minister said. 

The discussions are underway to establish local-level stores for earthquakes and other natural disasters in the coming days, he said, adding, “The government is discussing to determine the criteria of integrated settlements by studying the geographic factors.”

The NC urged Prime Minister Prachanda to expedite the delivery of tarpaulins, food, medicine, clothing, and blankets to the earthquake-affected areas on a wartime footing.

To mitigate the risk of shortages of these vital supplies, the NC proposed to establish a common mechanism led by local authorities, security agencies, private sector, locally engaged political parties, and organisations.

While following the one-door system for relief, rescue, and rehabilitation, the provincial and local governments should assume a leading role, with the federal government primarily serving as a monitoring and facilitating entity, the NC suggested. 

The NC has also urged the immediate arrangement of temporary shelters, especially in light of the upcoming winter season.

Meanwhile, another ruling partner, CPN (Unified Socialist) has donated Rs. 2.5 million to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund to provide relief to the earthquake victims.

CPN (Unified Socialist)’s Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal and other senior leaders arrived at Baluwatar to present a check of NPR 2.5 million to the Prime Minister. According to the party secretariat, the support has been extended for the rescue, relief, and rehabilitation of earthquake victims.

The party also received information about the extent of damage caused by the earthquake across various districts in Karnali Province and the ongoing rescue and relief operations undertaken by the government.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Prachanda provided an overview of the government’s efforts and initiatives in the areas of rescue, relief, and rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, the CPN (Maoist Centre) has provided five million rupees for the relief to Jajarkot earthquake-survivors. Vice-Chair of the party, Pampha Bhusal, on Tuesday handed a cheque for Rs 5 million to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.

On the occasion, expressing gratitude towards the role played by the government in rescue and rehabilitation of quake-affected people, Maoist leaders drew the attention of the government to make relief and rehabilitation task further effective.     

Likewise, chairman of IME Group and Global IME Bank Chandra Prasad Dhakal handed over a cheque of Rs. 15 million to Prime Minister ‘Prachanda’ on Tuesday.

Chairman Dhakal handed over the cheque of the aid amount announced through IME Foundation and promoted companies from IME Group, including Global IME Bank, IGI Prudential Insurance, IME Life Insurance and IME Limited to Prime Minister Dahal.

IME Group had announced a support of Rs. 150 million to Prime Minister Natural Disaster Relief Fund under corporate social responsibility for the purpose of rescue and relief distribution in the earthquake affected Jajarkot, Rukum West and other districts.

Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat and Chief Secretary Dr. Baikunth Aryal were present in handing over the cheque.

Likewise, Bhupal Academy provided a cheque of Rs. 1 million to the Fund. 

Treasurer of the Academy Prof. Balman Singh Karki handed over the cheque to Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayankaji Shrestha on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd provided Rs 10 million for quake-affected people. Vice-Chairperson of the Company handed a cheque for Rs 10 million to PM Prachanda.