KATHMANDU: As the new government marks its first 100 days in office and highlights its achievements, landless families displaced from riverbanks and informal settlements say they are still waiting for a permanent housing solution.
Currently, 54 people from 24 displaced families are living at a government-operated holding centre in Bode, Bhaktapur. They were relocated there after their homes were demolished without an alternative permanent settlement. Another 24 families who had initially stayed at the centre have since left.
Displaced residents, including Goma Tiwari, Surbir Tiwari, Manju Tamang, Man Kumari Bisungkhe, Subhadra Neupane, and Pavitra Sapkota, have urged the government to ensure their long-term resettlement.
They say that although they previously lived in settlements along riverbanks, they at least had homes of their own. After being displaced, they argue, the government has a responsibility to provide them with permanent housing as soon as possible.
The government has been providing each displaced family with Rs 25,000 per month as temporary housing support. However, the families say the amount is insufficient to cover rent, daily living expenses, and their children’s education in the Kathmandu Valley.
They also report facing social discrimination while searching for rental accommodation. According to the displaced families, many landlords refuse to rent rooms after learning that they are former squatters, adding to their financial and emotional hardship.
The government’s handling of landless settlement issues has drawn criticism, with displaced families saying no clear long-term policy has been introduced during its first 100 days in office.
They argue that instead of relying on temporary relief measures or monthly allowances, the government should implement the constitutional right to safe and dignified housing by providing permanent resettlement.
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