KATHMANDU: Kamala Rana, known locally as ‘Ranpaili’, had once arrived in Kathmandu with hope, expecting a home and a new beginning after eloping at a young age from Morang. Instead, her married life unfolded in the informal settlement of Thapathali, where she spent decades building a life that has now been abruptly dismantled by the government.
At 52, Kamala says she has been left with neither home nor ground to stand on after authorities cleared the settlement earlier this week. When the Khabarhub team reached the site on Monday, she was seen gathering scraps of tin and bamboo from the remains of her demolished shelter.
“I had gone to my maternal home when I heard the government was bringing bulldozers. I rushed back, but couldn’t save anything, not even my grandchildren’s books,” she said, lighting a cigarette as she sifted through water-soaked belongings.
Kamala’s husband works as a house painter, while she had been running a small tea stall within the settlement. Both their livelihoods and possessions now lie scattered in the debris. Her daughter-in-law has recently given birth, and her son is away, leaving her to cope with the aftermath largely alone.
Despite years of saving, Kamala says they failed to secure formal land ownership. “We did earn enough to buy a small house,” she said, her voice breaking. “But my husband spent much of it helping others in the community, ensuring no one slept hungry. I don’t regret the kindness, but we should have secured land in our name.”
Now displaced, Kamala has struggled to find rental housing. She said landlords turned her away upon learning she came from a squatter settlement. Even where rooms were available, the rent was beyond her means.
Though the government has arranged temporary accommodation in hotels, Kamala says the experience is far from comforting. “A hotel can never feel like home. The children cried all night. Even if they put us in a five-star hotel, we wouldn’t sleep. Our entire life’s savings are gone,” she said.
She questioned the manner in which the eviction was carried out. “This was government land, so we knew we might have to leave someday. But could they not give us even a week or two to prepare?” she asked. “With a newborn in the house and so many belongings, how could we manage everything in a single day?”
Kamala also criticized the use of heavy machinery to demolish fragile structures. “These huts made of tin and bamboo could be knocked down with a kick. Why bring bulldozers meant for mountains? It felt like a display of power against the poor,” she said.
She further alleged that security forces suppressed residents during the eviction. “When police and army pointed guns at us, we couldn’t even cry freely. It felt like our hearts would burst, but we remained silent, just looking at each other helplessly,” she recounted.
Kamala expressed disappointment that government representatives have not directly engaged with affected residents. “Journalists and organizations come and listen to us, but where are the government officials? Are they only watching us on television, or will they come here and hear our pain?” she asked.
As the conversation drew to a close, Kamala made a quiet appeal: “Please send someone from the government. I want to cry my heart out in front of them.”
Moments later, a pair of municipal police officers arrived nearby. Lowering her voice, Kamala paused and said cautiously, “We should not speak in front of them.”
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