Quake-hit Nepal to train 50,000 workers for reconstruction

Economic growth is expected to fall to the slowest rate in eight years


Reuters July 15, 2015
PHOTO: AFP

NEPAL: Earthquake-hit Nepal will train 50,000 workers to help carry out reconstruction, the
finance minister said, the biggest skill development program in
the country's history as economic growth is expected to fall to
the slowest rate in eight years.


The impoverished country says it needs $6.6 billion to
rebuild after twin earthquakes in April and May killed almost
9,000 people in the country's worst natural disaster.

Read: Pakistan pledges $1m aid for reconstruction work in quake-hit Nepal 

Delivering the annual budget on Tuesday, Finance Minister
Ram Sharan Mahat Mahat said the government will train tens of
thousands of people to work as carpenters, plumbers,
electricians and masons.

This will help plug a labour shortage as millions of young
Nepalis travel to the Middle East and other Asian nations to
work, particularly on construction sites.

Mahat said the economy is likely to grow at 3 percent this
fiscal year, the lowest rate since 2007. Finance ministry
officials said the reconstruction will help boost growth to 6
percent by next year.

PHOTO: AFP

The government will spend $910 million this year to rebuild
infrastructure, public buildings, monuments, and private homes
destroyed by the earthquakes.

The earthquakes required a massive international rescue and
relief operation, which Nepal called off in June to focus on
helping victims and reconstruction.

Read: World Bank announces $500 million for quake-hit Nepal

But many Nepalis still living in refugee camps say they are
yet to receive aid from the government. The UN says 2.8 million people are still in need of urgent humanitarian aid like shelter, food, healthcare and protection.

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