by Shristi Kafle
KATHMANDU, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- It's been nearly six months since a 7.9-magnitude earthquake shattered the Himalayan nation, but as the usually joyful Dashain festival swings into gear it won't be a jubilant time for everyone.
Since the massive quake struck on April 25, which claimed the lives of nearly 9,000 people, Nepal has undergone major achievements in politics with the promulgation of a new constitution and the election of a new prime minister. However, the government has failed to accelerate the process of post-quake reconstruction and rebuilding.
The country's biggest festival Dashain has begun but it isn't bringing much joy to lives of the quake victims.
"Our biggest festival Dashain has already kicked off. But how shall we celebrate it when there is no roof for shelter? " Rajan Maharjan, a local of Basantapur in the capital, told Xinhua. "The quake damaged my house completely and I could not rebuild it yet due to a lack of money. Therefore I'm in no mood for celebration."
After the devastating disaster destroyed his three-story house, Maharjan's four-member family is living in a small rented room in the same area.
The government had distributed 15,000 Nepali rupees (150 U.S. dollars) for the families, whose houses were destroyed in the quake, to make arrangements for temporary shelters.
However, the amount was too small and could only be used to buy a few zinc sheets and pieces of bamboo for the shelters.
Maharjan, 48, added, "It has been six months now but the government has not yet provided 200,000 rupees (2,000 U.S. dollars) as per its commitment to rebuild the quake-damaged houses. It means the state is not sensitive toward the needs and poor condition of its citizens."
In the aftermath of the quake and continuous aftershocks, the Nepali government had formed a National Reconstruction Authority under the leadership of Govinda Raj Pokharel to lead and monitor the reconstruction.
Despite with sweeping powers, the authority has not expedited the implementation of rebuilding programs. It has not shown any urgency to roll out the plans and programs of reconstruction owing to wrangling between major parties.
"Building back better" has merely been a tag line lost somewhere within political rhetoric in the months following the disaster.
As a result, people at the local level who have been traumatized by the loss of family members are still suffering due to the government's inaction.
Sankhu, a small village in northwestern Kathmandu, is a testament to such suffering.
More than 100 people were killed in Sankhu, some 20 km away from the capital, with almost all the old buildings destroyed.
"My only source of income was a retail store which got buried under the rubble in the quake," Krishna Shrestha, whose house and shop was completely obliterated by the temblor, told Xinhua.
"I am jobless and have no idea about how to celebrate this festival. My six-year-old son often asks me about buying new clothes, but I can't find the words to reply him."
Dashain is all about family-gatherings, shopping and eating delicacies.
But for those who have lost their hoes and jobs, they simply don't have the money, means or inclination to celebrate the festival this year.
Six months have passed since that fateful day, but families in the worst-hit districts like Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha, Dhading and Gorkha are still living under tents or makeshift shelters. Many of the partially damaged concrete buildings in the city area are yet to be demolished.
On June 25, the government had received a pledge of 4.4 billion U.S. dollars for the reconstruction of the quake-ravaged country at a Donor's Conference.
But it could not address the true gravity of the situation at a local level.
Despite financial and emotional support from the international community, the humanitarian crisis is still not over for this small South Asian nation.
