Govt to give Rs. 25,000 as relocation aid to each displaced family

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, May 20: The government has decided to provide a one-off resettlement assistance of Rs. 25,000 to families displaced during the removal of high-risk settlements along riverbanks in the Kathmandu Valley.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held at Singha Durbar on Tuesday took the decision to this effect, according to Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokharel. 

According to him, the government will first verify the details of the affected households before distributing the relief assistance.

Minister Pokharel, who is also the government spokesperson, said additional support will also be provided to encourage displaced families to manage alternative accommodation on their own. Under this arrangement, families of up to five members will receive Rs. 15,000 per month for three months as housing support, while larger families with more than five members will receive an additional Rs. 2,000 per extra member per month for the same period. 

Elderly, disabled, and destitute individuals will be accommodated in designated holding centres.

The government has also said that arrangements will be made in coordination with local authorities to ensure that the education of children and students continues without disruption, along with access to basic health services. 

The Cabinet also approved several other decisions, including the acceptance of a Swiss government grant of 6.116 million Swiss francs for the Municipal Revenue Enhancement Project, and a grant of 79.36 million Chinese Yuan from China for the maintenance and improvement of the Araniko Highway.

In addition, the meeting approved the Accreditation Regulations-2083 BS, and the Armed Police Service Sixth Amendment Regulations, 2083 BS. 

The government also authorised the submission of a bill to amend the Nepal Rastra Bank Act, 2058 BS, in the Federal Parliament.

Furthermore, adjustments have been made in the posting and management of secretaries at the gazetted special class level in line with the Government (Allocation of Business Regulations), 2083 BS.