Rehab In Myanglung
MORE than two months after fire destroyed the historic Myanglung Bazaar of Terhathum
district, those who were rendered homeless in the unfortunate incident are being promised
houses and business loans, land certificates and even jobs for the unemployed, thanks to
the high level government committee. A meeting of the committee headed by the Deputy Prime
Minister has taken a number of decisions to provide relief to the fire victims. The
rehabilitation efforts undertaken by the high level committee are beginning to pay off,
although a little late. The fire, which engulfed the entire village in the eastern hill
district, had necessitated a massive reconstruction and rehabilitation work to bring the
traditional bazaar back to life. Fortunately for the victims, His Majesty the King, who
was in the region to attend a civic reception organised by the people of that area, paid a
visit to Myanglung immediately in the aftermath of the fire. That was quite reassuring for
the people. Businessmen, artistes and common people across the country, who were moved by
the plight of their fellow villagers, extended their support in cash and kind after His
Majesty made a personal donation to the victims.
Given the scale of devastation wrought in the village and the number of families affected,
the high level committee entrusted with the task of providing relief to these people had a
collossal job to do. It first needed to enlist support from the various ministries, from
the one handling finance to that handling timber. Then it needed to work out ways by which
the victims could be provided with soft loans for them to start doing something for their
livelihood. The latest decisions the committee has taken show that it has done its job
well. The once-bustling bazaar and traditional trading point of the eastern hills may not
enjoy its former glory but Myanglung is a name Nepalese have known for long. The
reconstruction efforts put in there are well placed and the victims deserve humanitarian
help as much as possible. But a general preparedness on the part of the government
authorities to meet the contingency needs of victims of such accidents and other natural
calamities that could hit many parts of the country time and again should be in order.
This means that there should be a mechanism in place to collect relief, mobilise people in
rescue and rehab efforts, and promptly distribute the relief materials in the aftermath of
such accidents.
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