Causes Behind Delays in Housing Reconstruction Progress in The Earthquake Housing Reconstruction Programme (EHRP) A Study of Rural Municipalities of Lalitpur

The main objective of the study was to find out the causes behind delays in housing reconstruction progress in rural areas of Lalitpur district. The study specifically focused on looking into the reasons why some households have not started to rebuild their house, what factors are affecting the rate of disbursement of the second and third tranches of the housing reconstruction grant and gathering more information on households' plans for the reconstruction of a new earthquake resistant house.

The study found that most of the participants in the household survey are illiterate and 73% work in agriculture / livestock farming as their main occupation. A small percentage - 14% - work as wage labour.

In terms of living space, the study found that 50.5% respondents reported not having sufficient living space but of these only 45% have started constructing or constructed a new house. Out of the 93 participants in the household survey, 64% have started constructing or constructed a new house but only 28% have received the second tranche of the housing reconstruction grant.

The study found that of those respondents that have not started rebuilding, 47% reported that financial constraints were the reason they have not started, 19% are working overseas, 16% have not started because of land ownership issues, and 6% have not started to construct new house because they have another house or are living in their earthquake damaged house.