Local levels across country increase relief distribution

Local levels across the country have upped the relief distribution tasks following the government’s announcement to provide relief to daily wagers affected by ongoing nationwide lockdown.

The Cabinet meeting on March 29 had decided in this regard. The meeting decided that local and state governments carry out relief distribution after setting up funds. The federal government would provide budget when the funds run short of money.

Employers themselves would provide salaries to workers at informal sector and the respective business institutions in tourism field would release wages and salaries of the Nepali month of Chatra to daily and monthly wagers in advance, according to the decision.

The Food Management and Trading Company Limited and Salt Trading Corporation Limited have been directed to sell essentials on 10 percent discount.

According to set guidelines, a family of two members is entitled to 15 kilograms rice, one and a half kilograms pulse, one kilogram salt and cooking oil each, two soap bars and one kilograms sugar. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has set up an emergency fund worth Rs 100 million. KMC has collected details of 22,642 families in the metropolis entitled to the reliefs, said the metropolis.

Of them, so far reliefs have been distributed to 10,523, said Nawaraj Dhakal of the metropolis.

Relief distribution yet to begin in Lalitpur, Pokhara

However, Lalitpur and Pokhara Metropolitan cities are yet to begin relief distributions. Necessary processes have started to distribute reliefs, said both the metropolises.

Collection of details of recipients was underway and 35,000 families in Lalitpur are entitled to reliefs, said senior engineer for the metropolis, Hari Chandra Lamichhane.

Likewise, approximately 20,000 families in Pokhara metropolis are entitled to reliefs, it has been said.

Similarly, Bharatpur Metropolitan City has started distributing reliefs from Friday, said the metropolis mayor Renu Dahal. Approximately 15,000 families in the metropolis are in need of the reliefs, said the metropolis spokesperson Arun Pidit Bhandari.