‘Let’s Rename the Disaster Relief Fund as the Prime Minister’s Disaster Fund’: Jagadish Kharel

Kathmandu : Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Jagadish Kharel has urged the government to rename the ‘Disaster Relief Fund’ as the ‘Prime Minister’s Disaster Fund.’

Speaking at a meeting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Kharel said the traditional practice of linking disasters to divine forces should be changed.

Referring to the disasters reported in recent days, he said 27 people had lost their lives and several others remained missing. He argued that disasters are caused by natural and human factors rather than divine intervention.

“Disasters are not divine occurrences; they are caused by natural and human factors. Therefore, let us change the name of the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Fund,” he said.

Kharel said he had previously drawn the government’s attention to the need to change the name of the fund.

He also called for strengthening the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority by granting it greater authority. He argued that disaster-related problems could not be effectively addressed by running the authority under the leadership of a single joint secretary.

He said the authority should be strengthened with adequate powers, resources, and human resources to ensure more effective disaster management.