In the meeting headed by Board Chairman and Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Narahari Acharya, an agreement paper was signed for the strategic programmes to be launched under the Joint Financing Agreement between the Nepali government, the European Union and USAID.
The agreement paper was jointly signed by MoPR Secretary Khum Raj Punjali, EU envoy Rensje Teerink and USAID Director Beth Dunford in the presence of Minister Acharya and Minister for Finance Dr Ram Sharan Mahat.
On the occasion, Minister Acharya said in the wake of army integration and weapons management a question had been raised as to continuity of the role of the Ministry in the armed conflict management.
"The term of Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on Disappeared Persons can be extended for the third year during which the remainder of the works pertaining to the peace process can be concluded," Minister Acharya said adding, "The election of the local bodies is essential for concluding the peace process and stabilizing the general life."
Finance Minister and Board's co-Chairman Mahat said more money had been spent on other relevant works of the peace process than the money spent by the Peace Fund."Just a week before Rs 1.25 billion was used from the government coffer for the peace process, so we should not understand that the money used from the Peace Fund is the only money being used for the peace process."
Ministry's Secretary and Board's Member-Secretary Punjali outlined the plan for concluding the peace process in four phases within the next two years.
On the occasion, NPTF Director Mukunda Prasad Poudel expressed hope that the government and the donors would both contribute towards increasing the fund amount.
During the armed insurgency, 8,916 physical infrastructures were razed down and only 3,306 structures were rebuilt with reconstruction work still continuing, it was informed at the programme. RSS
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