Plans to deploy over 4,000 engineering students in quake-hit districts
KATHMANDU, March 4: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) on Friday appointed 985 final year engineering students for deploying them to five earthquake-hit districts as volunteers.
The students, all from Pokhara University, were appointed for a month to serve in the most-quake-affected districts as technical assistants to the earthquake victims to build earthquake-resilient houses.
NRA spokesman Yam Lal Bhoosal informed that the NRA has appointed 260 engineering students for Sindhupalchok, 186 for Nuwakot, 186 for Dhading, 184 for Dolakha and 169 engineering students for Gorkha districts.
NRA mobilizes 985 engineering students as volunteers
"In the first phase appointments, the NRA has formally picked university students for deploying them as volunteers in the quake-affected districts," said Bhoosal. "We will hire over 4,000 engineering students from different universities."
According to Bhoosal, the student will be provided between Rs 15,000 and 18,000 as living allowance for a month. The Ministry of Finance already released Rs 20 million for the purpose.
Additionally, the NRA is currently in discussion with the Trubhuvan University, Kathmandu University and Purwanchal University for supply of engineering student volunteers.
He also informed that the students will be provided a weeklong training and dispatched to the districts. They will work in the districts for three weeks.
Officials at NRA also informed that the NRA a few weeks ago, had signed a memorandum of understanding with Pokhara University for recruiting students.
Currently, there are about 2600 engineers in the quake-affected districts to assist the victims in building earthquake resilient homes.