Tripal distribution after the roof started leaking in the terrace built ten years ago
Nepal Red Cross Society district branch has distributed Tripal to the Dalit settlement of Barpak after the towers built after the earthquake 10 years ago became dilapidated and started leaking water.
Dalits of 24 households who received relief after the earthquake and built a roof using zinc from the old house have not got a new house. The Red Cross has indicated that Tripal was distributed after the condition of the village's roof was found to be very poor.
According to Subas Ghimire, head of the office of Red Cross Society Gorkha, 1/1 tripal has been distributed to 24 houses in the settlement and 1 tripal has been distributed to Aran houses. "There are roofs made of old zinc. During the rainy season, water leaks from the roof, and we saw that some of them had water inside the roof," said Ghimire.
The local Dalit community, who have been changing the roof tiles and zinc every year, are waiting for a new house to be built in a safe place. They are saddened that it is difficult for the elderly and children when the water leaks in Tahara in winter. They are not in a position to buy land and build a house by themselves. Poornima Sunar narrated that she changed the tripal on the roof of the tower four times in a span of 10 years. "From October to November, the dew leaks, in Chait-Vaisakaha, hail and wind blows it away, and when it rains, it leaks and becomes muddy," she said.
Barpak was the center of the earthquake, and the settlement of Sulikot, where the Dalit community was living, was destroyed. After that, the victims left Thatathal and built a tent on the government land under the Agriculture, Watershed and Livestock Office at the entrance of Barpak. At that time, the Reconstruction Authority had prepared to build an 'Earthquake Memorial Living Museum' on about seven ropani ruins of the Dalit settlement. Some of them did not want to leave Tatathal, some decided not to return to the ruined land, and the plans to build a museum have gone ahead. Because of this dispute, none of the victims of Dalit slums have got a new home.
The cabinet meeting on 9th July 080 gave consent to transfer 6 ropani 10 annas 3 paisa land of former Barpak village. But the decision could not be implemented due to local disputes. This problem has become complicated as the Dalit community has also divided into two parties politically. Locals say that those who are living on government land are increasing political pressure according to their interests because those who are living in the same place as Kanges and Sawik are close to Maoists.
