Himal Press 
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RUKUM: It has been a year since Harka Pun of Aathbiskot Municipality-14 in Rukum West became homeless. Having spent one winter and one monsoon in a tin shelter, Pun fears he would have to face another cold season in the same conditions.
After last year’s earthquake destroyed his house, his family initially lived under tarpaulins before moving to a tin shelter. “We have endured a difficult year. Now as the winter is approaching again, we are worried about how to survive this winter,” said Pun.
Earthquake-affected families who have been living under tarpaulins for several months and later in tin shelters are still hoping for proper housing. Despite enduring freezing temperatures under tarpaulins in winter and heat in tin shelters during summer, these earthquake victims have yet to receive secure housing.
“We have not received timely government support for house construction. We are worried about protecting our children and elderly. Like last year, some might lose their lives due to cold this year too,” said Hiralal Pariyar from Sanibheri Rural Municipality-4.
Even after a year, the government hasn’t introduced reconstruction guidelines. The government had announced to provide Rs 50,000 per family for temporary housing construction. But victims complain that they have not received the full amount.
Manoj Budhathoki, the ward chairperson of Sanibheri-4, said while immediate tarpaulin relief and temporary housing arrangements were made, reconstruction works have not progressed much. He attributed the delay to the federal government’s failure to introduce reconstruction guidelines.
According to the District Administration Office, Rukum West, there are 34,989 beneficiaries across the district. Of these, 32,996 households have received the first installment for temporary shelter construction, while 2,002 have not received even the first installment. The second installment has been released for 16,000 families.
(Translated from RSS)
