The Ministry for Peace and Reconstruction is designating seven villages in seven districts as 'peace villages'. The move is part of an effort to bolster the peace process in areas where the wounds from the conflict are still fresh. "We wanted to rehabilitate areas that faced the most violence during the war," says Minister of Peace and Reconstruction Janardan Sharma. Khara in Sukum, Guranse in Salyan, Jolbang in Rolpa, Pipe in Jajarkot, Palata in Kalikot, Shibapur in Kapilbastu and Anekot in Kabhre have been chosen. More than 100 security personnel, Maoist combatants and civilians died during the conflict in these areas. Last year, the National Planning Commission drew up a plan for the villages. However, the allocated budget is not adequate to start construction this year. Senior engineer at the ministry, Dhurba Poudel, said that local participation will be high in the re-construction of the villages.

According to him, an estimated Rs 500,000 will have to be invested in each village, where schools, drinking water facilities, roads, sanitation and libraries will be made. The commission is also planning to construct a Rs 7 million Martyr's park in Gokarna, a model city in Khalanga for Rs 1.1 million and a village for those affected by the conflict in Kanchanpur.