Nirmala Nepali
SDO/PRO, Baliyo Ghar Dhading
4 April, 2019
After the devastating
Gorkha Earthquake stroke in 25 April 2015, people living in rural areas
of mid-Nepal had to go through miseries, anxiety, and distress directing to low
living standard. Hundreds of
thousands people went homeless with entire villages flattened across 31 districts of the country.
Nothing is more distressful and insecure than losing own house and to witness own
house collapsing just in few seconds. One of the former far northern VDCs of Dhading, Sertung, now ward no. 3 & 4 of Ruby Valley Rural Municipality was one of the villages that witnessed the shatter after
Gorkha Earthquake.
Sertung is surrounded
by Tipling, Lapa and Jharlang the former VDC's, located approximately 65 KM far from the district
headquarter. Topographically and geologically
it has steep terrain, high hills and fragile topography. The altitude of
Sertung VDC ranges from 1400m to 4500m. But, normally the residential
settlement at this place is up to the altitude of 2400m. There is a settlement of Janajati ethnic group, and 806 beneficiaries. The
building typology at this place is dry stone masonry which were constructed with traditional construction technology,
which lags earthquake resistant components. As a consequence, The Gorkha Earthquake 2015 hit this village damaging all the houses.
Place like Sertung where
there is lack of basic infrastructure i.e. no transportation, no proper health
facilities, no better educational opportunities added troubles to the people
after the earthquake. Living in a temporary shelter was never good to feel
balminess and secure. Going through all the troubles and half informed about
the reconstruction process people were in perplexed situation to erect their
houses to resist future earthquake.
After the Baliyo Ghar
program intervened their community it became easy for Sertung dwellers to be
informed about the government process for reconstruction, receive grant and
rebuild earthquake safe homes as per the NRA guidelines. Awareness activities
like orientations, help desk, discussion programs, focused group discussion and
mason trainings to local masons and frequent door to door technical support
were the significant factors that enabled to construct earthquake resilient
houses. As a result, Sertung is turning to be quake safe Sertung these days. Constructing
resilient house following all the set guidelines is not only the perception and
priority factors of the reconstruction beneficiaries but also for
non-beneficiaries and regular builders. Those households who have not been
listed in NRA beneficiary list citing the technical errors during inspection,
family separation after an earthquake, partially damaged house etc. have
proceeded in grievance system but not sure about the positive result. Though they
have already started constructing their house according to NRA guidelines. The
practice of building the resilient houses with earthquake resistant technology
is now a trend in quake hit district and of course in Sertung. The trend has
been spread not only to all the beneficiaries but also to non-beneficiaries.
"It's not the grant
we are seeking but our safety"
 |
| Under constructed house of Mrs. Purnamaya Tamang |
Mrs. Purnamaya Tamang,
29, living at ward no. 3 (former ward no- 6) Barkhap, Sertung, has not been
listed in beneficiary list but has constructed her house following all the
guidelines. Her newly constructed house is at roofing level but has already
sifted in as she believes nowhere is as resistant and stronger as her house as
she was living in temporary shelter previously. “It’s not about the government grant we are
seeking but it’s time for all of us to think about safety to secure our
life. Nothing is more important than our
life which I have learnt after going through lot of trouble after an earthquake
occurred in my village” she said. On my
question do you often call engineers for supervision? Are you using trained
masons or not? She replied “yes we are, we have got frequent supervision from engineers
and not only one but 3 trained masons are working to construct my house.
Through Parma system we have brought sand, aggregate, reinforcement bar, cement
etc. to fulfill all the earthquake resistant requirement to construct my house.
We are planning to use CGI sheet”.
 |
| Mrs. Rejina Tamang stands in front of her under constructed house |
Mrs. Rejina Tamang,
27, living at ward no.-3 (former ward no-5), Rampot toll, Sertung, had started her
house to construct on November 2018. She wanted to construct her house after
receiving government grant but things did not happen as planned. “As we have
low economic condition, I was expecting to get grant and then construct new
house, but we have not been listed in grant list yet. I have applied two times
in grievance but we are unknown about the result. We had to construct the house
as soon as possible, so knowing about the importance of following NRA
Guidelines we started to construct our house.” She said. In the question why
you think you have not been listed in grant list yet? She replied “We were separated after the
earthquake so we did not had separated the land ownership certificate and I
have heard that those who were separated after an earthquake are not eligible
to get grant, So that may be the reason.”
She mentioned that those who have constructed new house in her village
have followed NRA guidelines so knowing the importance of earthquake resistant
house and life safety she decided to construct earthquake resistant house no matter
what with using trained mason and through proper supervision of engineers.
 |
| Mr. Chanduman Tamang |
Mr. Chanduman Tamang,
24, resident at ward no:-4 (former ward no:-3), Awai, Sertung, is one of the trained
masons of Baliyo Ghar program. “Being a trained mason it gives huge responsibility
to make resilient community. It does not matter whether I get government grant
or not but I felt I must construct following NRA guidelines which I have learnt
from 7 days mason training organized by Baliyo Ghar”. Said Chanduman. He added “We had to suffer a lot because of
earthquake destruction, so after receiving 7 days training and being
participated in orientations and also 50 days on the job training conducted in
this village gave so much knowledge and guided us to construct earthquake resistant
house.”
"Not
only us, we are thinking of our generation"
 |
| Mr. Fetasi Tamang |
Mr. Fetasi
Tamang is 60 years old living at ward no:-
3 (former ward no. 5) Schooltoll-Sertung. His son Mr. Eman Tamang, 38, is taking full responsibility to construct his
house. He started to construct his house from
12th of march 2019 and the construction stage is upto DPC
level now. The house owner has not been listed in beneficiary list but has
constructed his house based on NRA guidelines. “if earthquake occurs will
definately reach to everyone, so its so much important to prepare ourselves and
must construct earthquake resistant house.” Said Eman. He further added. “not
only for us but we are also thinking about our upcoming generation . I believe
that cement band is much better than wooden band , it is more sustainable ,
that’s the reason why I chose to use cement band. I want to complete
construction as soon as possible so seven masons are working to construct my
house and they are all trained masons by Baliyo Ghar program.”
22 number of
non-beneficiary have already started constructing house, among them 3 have already
completed and remaining are under construction. 6 non beneficiaries are living
in former ward no:- 2, 1 in 3, 3 in 4, 6 in 5, 3 in 6 and 3 are in former ward no. 3 are
constructing. (Source:-BG mobile team). Out of 806 beneficiaries (Source:-NRA) who
are enlisted for reconstruction, 688 Households have reconstructed their houses
in Sertung, among which 591 have already completed their house, 61 houses are above
plinth, and 36 houses are in below plinth (Source:- Marpak LRTC update). As we are
approaching to the end of national reconstruction campaign and concerned people
are curious about the reconstruction scenario whether reconstruction is grant
based or really an earthquake resistant based. In this situation this kind of reconstruction
practice gives sight of sustainability.
 |
| Reconstructed Sertung |
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