Speaking at a seminar entitled 'Rebuilding Post-disaster Societies: Challenges and Opportunities' organized by Department of Conflict, Peace and Development Studies (DCPDS) at Tribhuvan University on Friday, they also said that delay and political disputes on formation of reconstruction authority was not only frustrating, but also adding woes to the earthquake survivors.
“Reconstruction should be taken as an opportunity to narrow down our differences and unite to rebuild infrastructures destroyed by the recent earthquake. This could have placed the country on track of development,” Chandra Mani Poudel, Registrar of Tribhuvan University, said. “The government and the stakeholders should realize this opportunity and accelerate the reconstructions process accordingly.”
Also speaking at the seminar, Gunanidhi Neupane, Rector of Tribhuvan University, said that it was the duty of the government to resolve the problem that people are facing and give an impetus to the reconstruction process.
Similarly, Hem Raj Subedee, Program Coordinator of DCPDS, Tribhuvan University, called on the government to embrace communitarian approach in post-disaster recovery. “When community members engage themselves in reconstruction initiatives, it not just gives them a sense of ownership but also helps to prioritize the tasks to be done during reconstruction process,” said Subedee. “The alternative leaders engaged in various post-disaster activities have proved that community resilience is inclusive and covers issues such as food, shelter, education, health, production and security. Rebuilding of basic services, setting up disaster resilient infrastructures and revival of the economy should be done hand in hand with an active and participatory society.”
Min Bahadur Shrestha, executive director of Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), said that the main reason behind the delay in reconstruction process was lack of reconstruction authority. “We already have a post-disaster need assessment and plans for reconstruction. Unfortunately, the reconstruction authority is yet to be formed,” he added.
Balananda Sharma, retired General of Nepal Army and a faculty at DCPDS, however, said reconstruction process was affected due to political reasons. “How can reconstruction take place when political parties and their leaders are guided by the interest to channelize resources available for reconstruction into their own constituencies?” he wondered.
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