Squatters’ long wait for alternate shelter

Families displaced by the government's anti-encroachment drive in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley are facing an increasingly dire situation as they are being asked to vacate temporary holding centers. These families, evicted in April from public land and riverbanks, were initially promised permanent housing solutions. However, two months later, authorities have yet to provide a credible plan, leaving them in limbo.

The government has announced a support package that includes a one-time payment of Rs25,000 and a monthly housing allowance of Rs15,000 for three months. While this financial assistance may offer some relief, it does not address the fundamental need for permanent accommodation. The uncertainty of what happens after the three-month allowance expires adds to the anxiety of families who have already endured multiple displacements.

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Finding accommodation in an increasingly expensive rental market in Kathmandu Valley is a gruelling task.

Finding new housing in the expensive and increasingly hostile rental market of the Kathmandu Valley presents a significant challenge. Landlords are reportedly reluctant to rent to displaced families, exacerbated by widespread caste-based housing discrimination. Many families, including those with elderly members, ill individuals, newborns, and postnatal mothers, struggle to find suitable and affordable accommodation, especially given the limited size of available rental rooms and the high cost of flats.

Nepal has a long history of struggling with landlessness, with successive governments failing to implement lasting solutions beyond periodic evictions and temporary relief. The current administration, despite having a strong mandate, appears to be repeating past mistakes with its poorly planned eviction process and inadequate communication with affected families. The decision to ask squatters to leave holding centers before permanent solutions are in place raises serious questions about the government's commitment to addressing the needs of its most vulnerable citizens.

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The current administration had the opportunity to break that cycle. However, its haphazard and poorly planned eviction of squatters, lack of communication with displaced families about its plans and asking them to fend for themselves suggests that even this government, which was formed with a historic mandate, has not shown due regard for landless people and those of lesser means.