NGOs’ alliance plans protests to force Erra to review policies
ISLAMABAD, Oct 11: An alliance of non-governmental organizations, from the NWFP, has announced holding large-scale protests to press the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra) to review its “flawed reconstruction policies.”
The Ittehad is an alliance of over 200 local rural organizations in the Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram, and Kohistan districts.
“The Hazara Awami Ittehad, has resolved to continue its struggle for the rights of the people affected by (the) October 2005 earthquake and plans to hold large-scale protests in Islamabad and Abbotabad,” Ali Asghar Khan of the Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation (OAKDF) said at the launch of the foundation’s publication, ‘Living on the Faultline,’ here on Thursday.
The publication presents findings of a study by the foundation and Dr Kaiser Bengali, on the allocation of rehabilitation funds in the Abbottabad district.
Using Erra data, it establishes that distribution of rehabilitation funds in 51 union councils is highly skewed. The eight worst-hit union councils, accounting for 71 per cent of damaged houses, were allocated 32 per cent of the districtÂ’s rehabilitation funds.
The six low damage union councils, with less than one per cent damage, were allocated the largest share (34 per cent). Among them, Abbottabad city was allocated Rs463.7 million or 24 per cent.
The publication presents testimonies, analysing over 34,000 cases and criticises the government’s policies regarding reconstruction of houses. Multiple surveys, tedious documentation requirements, and stringent compliance to design specifications have caused inordinate delays in disbursing housing subsidies.
According to Erra’s own figures, it has disbursed full subsidy to only five per cent of the total households, and just about 50 per cent of them have received subsidy amounts for laying the plinth.
If Erra continues at the same pace, it will take another 35 months (3 years) to disburse amounts to all households.
People are told not to reconstruct in areas designated the ‘red zone.’ For Balakot residents, alternative arrangements are planned in the New Balakot City, at Bakrial, but estimates indicate this would take another 8-10 years.
According to people’s testimonies, the loss of minimal facilities and the delays in reconstruction has further deteriorated their access to health care. In the Abbottabad district, reconstruction of only two of the 17 BHUs has started.
Schools suffered the most in the quake. Students either struggle under uncomfortable tents or drop out. Girls are affected more as they have limited options. Of the over 6,000 schools affected, reconstruction work has begun on only 302 (five per cent).
Source: Dawn
Date:10/12/2007
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