Irresponsible decision

                         It has been almost three weeks after the killer earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale followed by two powerful aftershocks rocked the nation killing more than 8000 people and displacing more than 8 millions. Now, the rescue operations are almost completed albeit they did not remain effective. Many lives could still be saved had the government had disaster management plan ready. All the efforts of the government, semi-government organizations and I/NGOs have now been diverted towards relief and rehabilitation activities. There seems to be still something missing in coordinating the relief activities. The government is still unable to meet the demand for tents and tarpaulin sheets of the affected people “Tents, tarps still in short supply three weeks on The monsoon is approaching fast. If the government and the concerned agencies fail to provide temporary roofing materials to the needy people on time, there could be, for sure, more human casualties. It is sad to see the government’s decision to provide Rs 15,000 cash to every affected household for buying corrugated zinc sheets (“Govt to provide each victim Rs 15,000/ for temporary shelter”). It should have purchased the sheets and arranged to provide them to the affected people using its machinery. There are many affected places where road accessibility is almost nil. How can the people buy and fetch zinc sheets to their places? It seems simply that the government is unwilling to fulfill the responsibility of providing temporary roofing sheets to the affected households.

Not enough

                       Major political parties have decided that they are going to mobilize their cadres in the earthquake affected districts to help the people rebuild the destroyed houses and public infrastructure. It is good news that they are showing solidarity with the shell-shocked people. Merely mobilizing party cadres is not enough. There is a chance of clashes among the cadres of various parties if they concentrate in one particular area. I doubt they will really assist the people to rebuild their houses. They will simply play a spoil game.