Kathmandu. Minister for Information and Communications Dr. Bikram Timilsina has said that the government is moving ahead in coordination and collaboration with various agencies for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the people affected by the Bhotekoshi floods in Rasuwa.

In a meeting with a delegation of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) at the Ministry today, he shared that the government has put the flood-affected people in priority in reconstruction.

Minister for Communications Dr. Timilsina said that relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction programs have been forwarded according to the real needs of the flood-affected people. He also said that coordination and cooperation were being done with all the bodies to rehabilitate the affected people. Stating that there was no situation to rehabilitate the families displaced by the floods in the old places, he said that discussions were being held with the local levels to develop new settlements in safer places. “There is no situation to establish settlements in the existing places. Discussions are being held with the local levels on where it is appropriate to build settlements,” said Minister of Communications and Information Technology. Timilsina said.

He said that the results would be effective if the reconstruction and rehabilitation works in an integrated manner rather than working separately from different bodies. Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dr. Timilsina said that the government is trying to work accordingly as one agency should take the lead role in the reconstruction work and mobilize necessary support from other government and non-government organizations.

NRNA Vice-President Rojina Pradhan Rai, Women Vice-President Radhika Gurung (Tika), General Secretary Dr Chiranjivi Khadka, Chief Administrative Officer Rajendra Kumar Rawat and other delegations attended the meeting. NRNA said that they are ready to move ahead in collaboration with the government in the rehabilitation and reconstruction works.

The NRNA has said that the third phase of relief distribution is underway for the Bhotekoshi flood affected people in an institutional manner. Discussions were also held on the need to conduct relief and rehabilitation programs targeting women, children and other vulnerable communities displaced by the floods.

Stating that accurate and timely dissemination of information is as important as relief materials during disasters, NRNA wants to collaborate with the government in information sharing, coordination and partnership related to relief distribution. Similarly, NRNA wants to provide additional support in the areas of education and health in the disaster-affected areas.

The NRNA delegation also discussed with Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dr. Timilsina on the issue of bringing additional resources, means and capital to Nepal by working in an institutional manner. During the meeting, discussions were held on the progress of NRN Development Fund and the possibility of using it in the investment and development sector in Nepal. Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Timilsina expressed concern about the possibility of bringing more investment from Non-Resident Nepalis to Nepal and said that the government was ready to provide necessary facilitation and cooperation for this.

The meeting also discussed the amendment to the legal provisions related to Non-Resident Nepalis, the issue of Non-Resident Nepali citizenship, the use of information technology in Nepal and increasing the effectiveness of digital services. Discussions were also held on bringing investment in Nepal, utilizing the knowledge, skills and capital of Non-Resident Nepalis for the development of the country and expanding institutional cooperation.