Govt issues relief for conflict-era property loss

KATHMANDU, Aug 6: The government is coming up with assorted initiatives to help those affected by the decade-long Maoist insurgency. Families who lost property during the conflict are getting a relief package from the Relief and Rehabilitation Unit of the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, including some 2,250 families in Kapilvastu district.



“We have determined the amount of compensation on the basis of claims, but the maximum amount given is Rs 35,000 per family. Any kind of loss during the conflict is taken into account,” said Ganesh Prasad Upadhyaya, acting chief at the Relief and Rehabilitation Unit. [break]



The unit has allocated Rs 70 million as compensation to 2,250 families in Kapilvastu district.



Motipur, Kushwaha, Rajpur, Maharajgunj, Barahipur and Shivapur are among 71 village development committees (VDCs) benefitting from the package. Manang and Mustang are the only two districts that escaped the consequences of the decade of conflict.



The Relief and Rehabilitation Unit says that 14,483 families who lost property and bore losses during the conflict have been identified. Altogether 7,063 families have been given compensation. According to the unit, local loss evaluation committees are at work in every district to identify the victims. Since its establishment in 2008, the Relief and Rehabilitation Unit has spent Rs 168.7 million in compensation for families that lost property.



As per data provided by the unit, the number killed during the armed conflict stands at 16,719, the number of disappeared at 1,302, number of abducted 1,448, and those maimed 4,305, whereas 83,925 have been displaced. Similarly, 5,600 infrastructures were destroyed.



“Main purpose of the package is to provide immediate relief to those who have lost property during the armed conflict,” said Upadhyaya, adding, “There are hundreds of families still to be identified.”



The chief district office (CDO) coordinates to identify victims and distribute the allocated amounts. The cabinet had passed a proposal on February 25, 2011 to compensate the victims.



Prior to this, the government decided to provide each child who lost both parents during the armed conflict Rs. 5,000 per month as personal expenses until they reach 18. Vocational training is also part of the government´s relief package. Similarly, the government is planning to develop 16 different conflict-affected villages as model villages.

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