3.3. Financing and Financial Management

So, the government wants to make sure that no victim is left out and no one gets repeated supports because it is very common in any relief stage but one person because they are always craving for certain benefits or some needs which they are able to get in that phase. So, they want to make sure that something should be transparent and someone already got it they should not get again and again.

The government aims to ensure fairness in the distribution of relief aid after disasters. This means they want to prevent situations where the same person receives help multiple times while others do not receive any assistance. By promoting transparency in the process, officials can track who has received aid and ensure that help reaches those who have not benefited yet.

Think of a school raffle where prizes are given out. If one student keeps winning multiple prizes while others don’t get anything, it becomes unfair. The school needs to keep track of who has won to make sure all students get a chance to participate and win.

So, there should be a kind of uniform and very transparent nature and no one should not get a substandard packages, you know, someone has got a very better package, someone has got a very substandard package, whether in terms of the quality of the delivery or the quality of the product they have got, so you know, we should not compromise on that.

It is important for the government to ensure that all victims of a disaster receive the same quality of aid. If some receive high-quality assistance while others get low-quality aid, it creates inequality and dissatisfaction. By establishing uniform standards for aid, everyone can expect a certain level of quality, which is crucial for rebuilding lives.

Imagine two friends who order the same meal from a restaurant. One receives a beautifully plated dish while the other receives a messy, poorly cooked version. The friend who got the better meal might feel special, but it would create jealousy and disappointment for the other. Similarly, everyone affected by a disaster deserves the same quality of support to recover properly.

But in reality, there are different partner organizations, which has distributed the goods and materials with different standards, as per their institutional standards and decisions, while some try to follow the international standards. So, obviously, it cannot be a very uniform and standardized material, so each organization whatever the resources they have and whatever the standards they have followed.

Different organizations often have their own criteria for providing aid, which leads to varied quality and types of support. While some strive to meet international standards for aid, others may rely on their internal guidelines. This inconsistency makes it difficult to achieve uniformity, highlighting the need for a more coordinated approach to aid distribution.

Consider a group project in school where each member follows different guidelines for creating a poster. Some use bright colors and clear fonts, while others use messy handwriting and dull colors. The end result is confusing and inconsistent, just like aid distribution can be when different organizations don’t follow the same standards.

But the problem is this particular process has not been standardized, the reason why it has not been standardized is it has not been recognized, it has not been incorporated in the legal system, legal procedures. How to standardize these relief materials, how to standardize these packages and that is where the first and foremost important part, there is a need of standardization of relief materials in the legislations for the disaster-affected communities.

The lack of legal recognition for standardized procedures in disaster relief hinders the effective distribution of quality aid. Establishing laws and regulations would help create clear guidelines for how assistance should be delivered, ensuring consistency and reliability for all those affected by disasters.

Just like traffic laws ensure that everyone knows the rules of the road, legal frameworks for disaster relief would help clarify how assistance should be provided. Without such laws, drivers might interpret traffic signals differently, leading to chaos and accidents.

So, each agency has worked in their own way, so this is one of the input. Then, we talk about National Disaster Management Authority, we call the NDMA which again focuses on the preparedness management committee has subcommittees, preparedness management committee, rescue and relief management committee and rehabilitation and reconstruction committee.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) plays a crucial role in organizing and coordinating disaster response efforts. It comprises various committees that focus on preparedness, relief, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts. This structured approach helps to streamline disaster management activities and ensures that all aspects of recovery are considered.

Imagine a sports team where each player has a specific role, such as quarterback, lineman, or receiver. The success of the team depends on how well each player performs their role and works together. Similarly, the NDMA's different committees ensure that all parts of disaster management work cohesively.

Now, in the rescue and relief management activities, they have a bill which has been as old as a dated bill of, they have an act of an existing Natural Calamity Relief Act, of 1982 which has a very limited scope in establishing these procedures and also the packages of the present conditions of the post-earthquake because it has one of the major earthquake and there are certain situations which has not been addressed.

The existing Natural Calamity Relief Act is outdated and only partially equips agencies to deal with the demands of modern disaster recovery, especially after major events like significant earthquakes. There is a pressing need to update this legislation to address current challenges and improve the processes involved in disaster response.

It's like trying to use an old mobile phone that doesn’t support modern apps or features. While it may still function for calls, it can’t handle new technology, just as outdated laws cannot effectively address today’s complex disaster recovery needs.

So, this is where this after the earthquake, this particular bill has been in the parliament in various discussions, until now it has not been formulated as an act. So, how this is very important that these lessons has to take forward in terms of policy, in terms of bills then formulated acts which further provides us a legal direction, how to do it and how to approach it, what to do it, in what way we have to procedure that establishes the protocols and procedures.

It is crucial for lessons learned from disasters to inform future policies and legislative actions, especially for creating effective frameworks for disaster recovery that includes comprehensive guidelines and procedures. This ties disaster management practices directly to development strategies thus ensuring that recovery efforts are sustainable.

Just like a teacher improves their teaching methods by learning from past class experiences, governments should also develop their disaster policies based on previous events. This way, they can be more prepared and effective in the future.

Now, Nepal has very interesting aspect of how to connect the disasters and development. One is they have the LDRMP which is called Local Disaster Risk Management Planning. So, how the national level guidance has been translated into the local level guidance, is that is where with these planning guidelines.

The Local Disaster Risk Management Planning (LDRMP) helps in translating broader national guidelines into specific actions at the local level, making disaster management more relevant and effective in communities. This approach aims to enhance local capacities in disaster response and recovery.

Imagine a national curriculum for schools that is adapted to suit local student needs. The education ministry might have broad goals, but local schools tailor those goals to create engaging lessons. LDRMP functions similarly, ensuring that national strategies effectively meet local requirements.

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