KATHMANDU, Dec 26: Three government agencies are hiring 117 engineers and 254 overseers for different reconstruction works.
Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC), Department of Education and Department of Archaeology (DOA) are hiring skilled workforce on a five-year contract. Even fresh graduates can apply for the posts.
According to government officials, the hiring figure is double the normal vacancy announcements made by the Public Service Commission (PSC) in a year.
Neelam Kumar Dangol, CDE of Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC), told Republica that they have received about 2,000 applications for 46 vacant posts of civil and architect engineers, while around 1,300 have applied for the post of 71 overseers.
The department will shortlist the applicants for final interview and appoint appropriate candidates by mid-January. Dangol said they will be deployed in 14 quake-hit districts to monitor building to be built using government grant of Rs 200,000 per household. These engineers will be the final authority to certify that the buildings are made as per the building codes set by the government. Quake-hit households can claim for second and third installments of the grant only after these engineers certify that their buildings comply with the building codes.
The government is in the process of releasing Rs 50,000 in the first installment. It plans to release Rs 100,000 and Rs 50,000 in second and third installments, respectively.“
"Overseers will be stationed in each affected village. They will directly supervise the construction wor”s," Dangol said, adding that this workforce will also oversee construction of other public buildings in the districts.
According to government estimates, over 600,000 families will build their new homes in the next five years.
Likewise, DoE is also hiring 20 engineers and 168 overseers or sub-engineers to monitor construction of school buildings. It has already published vacancy notice.
Around 7,000 schools were destroyed completely by the earthquake, according to Post-Disaster Needs Assessment.
Similarly, DoA is shortlisting and interviewing candidates who have applied for 51 vacant posts of engineers and 15 sub-engineer“. "We have received around 800 applicatio”s," Bhesh Narayan Dahal, director general of DoA, said.
The recruited manpower will be mobilized for preservation of historical monuments as well as rebuilding and renovation of quake-damaged households.
Meanwhile, Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads, and Department of Roads (DoR) are not hiring new workforce. They plan to mobilize their existing workforce for the purpose.
Beginning of reconstruction works by the government is expected to create demand for more technical hands from the private sector as government agencies execute infrastructure works though contractors.
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