KATHMANDU, Feb 28: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has asked all non-profit organizations to refrain from carrying out any reconstruction-related work without its permission. In a move to enforce a one-door policy for reconstruction activities, the NRA has said that it will initiate legal action against non-governmental organizations (NGOs) found involved in the reconstruction-related work without its approval.
"We have decided to bring all the non-government organizations involved in reconstruction related work within the jurisdiction of NRA so as to effectively channel the aids, avoid duplication and ensure that all the reconstruction-related work meet the standards set by the government," Suresh Adhikari, NRA's spokesperson said.
Adhikari said that the NRA has appealed all the NGOs involved in reconstruction related work to immediately inform the authority about the kind of work they are involved in. The NRA will decide whether to allow them to continue after evaluating the type of work they are doing.
He said that the NRA decided to introduce the one-door policy after various NGOs were found distributing grants to quake victims for building construction, in contravention of the mandate given to the NRA, the government body authorized to sanction and fund all reconstruction related activities.
"If any NGO wants to get involved in the reconstruction related work, it should compulsorily consult and seek authorization from the NRA. The NRA will initiate legal action against any organization that fail to abide by this process," he said.
He said that the NRA has already prepared a separate working procedure to mobilize NGOs effectively for the reconstruction-related work.
"The procedure clearly explains the reconstruction-related work non-governmental sectors can get involved in. So, all the NGOs should now adhere to the procedure and carry out reconstruction-related work in line with the government set standards," he said .
The NRA's separate procedure for NGOs envisions their role in reconstruction of education, health, sanitation and other public infrastructures damaged by the quake.
He said that the NRA adopted one-door policy to hold the non-governmental organizations accountable for the work they carry out in the earthquake-affected districts.
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