Rautahat, Nepal — A newly constructed “Safe Shelter” built under the Resilience, Adaptation and Inclusive Nepal (RAIN) programe was officially handed over to the community located in Ward No. 8, Laxmipur of Rajdevi Municipality on Monday during a special ceremony.
The shelter was constructed with financial support from the UK Government under the RAIN programme, led by People in Need Nepal, co-led by DCA Nepal, implemented by LI-BIRD Nepal and facilitated by Rajdevi Municipality.
The handover program was chaired by Mayor Bhikhari Rai Yadav and attended by Rajendra Sharma of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority as the chief guest. Other notable participants included Country Director of DCA Nepal Samjhana Bista, People in Need’s Dipendra Thakur, land donor Rajo Devi, Deputy Mayor Rajkumari Sah, Deputy Secretary Bikau Yadav, representatives of political parties, local elected officials, social workers, and community members.
Speaking at the event, chief guest Rajendra Sharma emphasized that safe shelters are vital infrastructure for protecting lives during disasters. Referring to the increasing risks of floods and other climate-induced disasters, he noted that such structures significantly strengthen local disaster preparedness and response capacity.
Mayor Bhikhari Rai Yadav stated that as Rajdevi Municipality is highly vulnerable to flooding, the safe shelter would be extremely beneficial for local residents. He highlighted that providing safe spaces during emergencies is a key responsibility of local governments and expressed gratitude to the UK Government, the RAIN programme, People in Need Nepal, DCA Nepal, LI-BIRD Nepal, and all supporting organizations for their contributions.
The land for the shelter was generously donated free of cost by local residents Ram Sundar Kalwar and Rajo Devi, for which the mayor extended special appreciation during the program.
The two-storey RCC building includes separate halls for women and men, a breastfeeding room, toilets, bathing stations, drinking water facilities, and a storage room for search-and-rescue equipment. The shelter can safely accommodate around 200 people during emergencies. During normal times, the facility will also be used for community meetings, training sessions, and social and educational activities.
According to project information, the total cost of constructing the safe shelter amounted to NPR 13.84 million (including VAT). Of this, NPR 12.7 million was allocated for building construction, while NPR 1.14 million was spent on search-and-rescue and other management materials.
The project partners expressed confidence that the structure, developed with a focus on disaster risk reduction and safe shelter management, will serve as a long-term asset for the people of Rajdevi Municipality.
Report by: Dipendra Thakur from Gaur, Rautahat
