Sitting on an open ground, Khatri had been waiting since morning to hear the minister announce some relief program for the flood victims on behalf of the government. However, the finger pointing that ensued among the government ministers and lawmakers left him utterly disappointed.
"They are not here to listen to our plight," said Khatri. "The flooding turned our lives into a nightmare and all our government gives us is fake assurances."
Last Thursday, during the inauguration of Bheri-Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project (BBDM), the flood victims could clearly see how indifferent the government was to their problems.
Even though around one dozen CA members, ministers and Prime Minister Koirala were there to inaugurate the project, they only spoke about the project, making no remarks about plans and programs to address the woes of the flood victims.
"The helpless government needs to hand over the responsibility to us. We're capable to solve the problems of the flood victims," said Constituent Assembly member Purna Bahadur Khadka, speaking on the occasion.
While responding to Khadka's allegation, Home Minister Gautam shifted the blame onto Prime Minister Koirala.
"If the prime minister issues an order, we are ready to provide the relief support to local victims as per Khadka's demand. In this case, I am not the sole decision maker," said Gautam. He held the Congress Party responsible for the failure to provide the victims with relief support.
Three days before the prime minister's visit, the government had decided to provide Rs 125,000 to each family rendered homeless by flood. The amount, according to Khadka, was meager and below expectations. He alleged the government of acting indifferently because the flood victims were from mid-western region. He had demanded at least half a million rupees for each homeless and landless family and Rs 50,000 for those with partially damaged houses.
Prime Minister Koirala, who was standing beside Home Minister Gautam on the stage, looked very displeased. Like others, he also left the venue giving hollow assurances to the victims. "We look forward to addressing the flood victim's woes in a proper manner," he said.
The presence of prime minister and home minister had made the flood victims highly optimistic and they were hoping to hear some concrete plans to resolve their problems.
But they looked perplexed amid political buck-passing by the ministers.
Eight months have already elapsed since the Babai flooding rendered 1,462 families homeless and partially destroyed the homes of 863 families.
Since the incident, the victims have been living at makeshift tents. Life is harder for the victims who have no proper shelter.
"We lost all our hopes about receiving relief materials," said another flood victim, Ram Bahadur Kaji, who had heard the ministers point finger at each other instead of announcing plans to address their woes.
Meanwhile, Administrative Officer Hit Prasad Poudel at District Administration Office (DAO), Surkhet said, the government has decided to provide Rs 125,000 to those families who lost their lands and homes both. Those whose land is left but house is completely damaged, they will receive Rs 75000, he informed.
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