Three years after quake, survivors in Karnali still face Dashain in temporary shelters

The earthquake struck western Nepal on November 3, 2023. Its epicentre was at Ramidanda in Barekot Rural Municipality-1 of Jajarkot district. The quake damaged homes across 17 local units in Jajarkot, Rukum West and Salyan. Nearly three years later, thousands of survivors still lack permanent homes.

The damage affected households differently. Some homes must be rebuilt, while others need strengthening. In Jajarkot, some reconstruction has started. However, work has not yet begun in Rukum West or Salyan. Delayed assessments and slow grant processing have kept many families in temporary shelters.

Poor households in several settlements remain exposed to seasonal weather and daily hardship. Many depend on farming, daily wage labour or the bali-ghare system, so they cannot rebuild without government assistance. The affected families are therefore preparing to mark another Dashain in makeshift homes while officials continue processing eligibility records and grants.

Dashain is a major festival in Nepal, marked by family gatherings and celebration. The article describes it as a time when families come together and put their troubles aside. That sense of comfort is especially important after a disaster, but it is difficult when families still have no secure home.

For earthquake survivors, celebration takes place in temporary shelters rather than permanent houses. These shelters do not provide the stability families need for everyday life, and they leave residents exposed to seasonal weather. Nar Bahadur BK of Nalgad Municipality-1 said worries about housing overshadowed the festival’s joy.

The difficult celebration reflects a wider failure to rebuild. Many families have waited nearly three years for assistance because assessments, verification and grant processing remain incomplete. They face another Dashain with uncertainty about when construction can begin. Until grants arrive and homes are rebuilt, the festival remains tied to displacement rather than recovery.

The reconstruction effort involves thousands of households. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority says more than 40,000 beneficiaries have been identified in Jajarkot. Across Bheri Municipality, 318 households are listed as eligible, while other municipalities are still verifying large numbers of affected families.

Payments move through separate stages. A household must be identified, have its records verified, sign a grant agreement, request an instalment and then receive the money. In Bheri, the first instalment has reached 188 eligible households in wards 1 and 2. Each household received Rs50,000, producing a total disbursement of Rs9.4 million.

The figures show that identification does not equal reconstruction. Bheri requested the first instalment for 52 houses, while Junichande signed agreements with 178 households. Nalgad received details for more than 500 households, but verification and further procedures remain. Many families still cannot start building until funds arrive.

The process has taken so long because several administrative steps remain unfinished. Detailed damage assessments were delayed, slowing the identification of eligible households. Officials must then verify records, sign grant agreements and submit supporting documents before money can be released. Each stage depends on accurate completion of the previous one.

Nalgad Municipality illustrates the problem. Officials received details for more than 500 affected households from wards 1 to 6, but the records still require verification. In Bheri, 318 households are listed as eligible, yet the municipality requested the first instalment for only 52 houses. These cases show how lists and requests do not immediately become payments.

The delays matter because many survivors have limited incomes. Farming, daily wage labour and the bali-ghare system do not provide enough cash to rebuild independently. The chief district officer has urged agencies to accelerate the work. Local governments must submit verified beneficiary details so the committee can move funds forward.

Being listed as eligible is only one stage of the reconstruction process. Families must still complete verification, sign a grant agreement, request an instalment and wait for payment. Until that money arrives, their eligibility remains an administrative status rather than practical help.

The article describes poor households in Rawatgaun, Kolchaur, Maide, Pipe and Rimna, as well as Pali, Kalpat and Chiurigaun. These families have continued living in temporary shelters since the earthquake. Many rely on farming, daily wage labour or the bali-ghare system, so they lack the funds to construct permanent homes without assistance.

The result is prolonged displacement. Families remain exposed to seasonal weather and the hardships of daily life, including during Dashain. Some paperwork has advanced: Bheri released the first instalment to 188 households, and Junichande signed agreements with 178. But many other eligible families still wait for payment before rebuilding can begin.

Local governments carry out the most direct administrative work. They identify eligible households, verify records, sign grant agreements and request reconstruction instalments. Municipalities in Jajarkot are already performing these tasks, although progress differs between areas. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority provides the broader beneficiary figure for reconstruction.

Bheri Municipality has listed 318 eligible households and requested the first instalment for 52 houses. Junichande Rural Municipality has signed agreements with 178 households. Nalgad Municipality has received details for more than 500 households, but those records still need verification. These examples show local governments at different stages of the same process.

The Jajarkot District Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee is involved in advancing the process. Chief District Officer Nawaraj Baral said local governments must submit verified beneficiary details and supporting documents to the committee. Once those requirements are completed, the process of releasing reconstruction funds can move forward.

Damage assessment determines what kind of help a household needs. The article says some houses must be rebuilt, while others need strengthening, depending on the extent of damage. Officials therefore need accurate information before deciding eligibility and the appropriate reconstruction support.

If assessments are incomplete or inaccurate, beneficiary records cannot be trusted. Verification may then take longer, grant agreements may be delayed and instalment requests may not move forward. The delays in Jajarkot, Rukum West and Salyan show how this chain affects survivors. Detailed assessments are an essential foundation for distributing aid fairly and efficiently.

Accurate decisions also matter because many families cannot pay for repairs themselves. Those relying on farming, daily wages or bali-ghare work need government assistance to make their homes safe. Completing assessments and matching aid to damage can help reconstruction begin. It also gives local governments the verified records required to release grants and reduce time in temporary shelters.