Only 6 percent of Evicted Kathmandu Squatters living in holding centres

Kathmandu: A new report has found that only around 6 percent of people displaced from informal settlements in the Kathmandu Valley are currently living in government-designated holding centres.

The report was presented at a programme jointly organised by Nepal Basobas Basti Samaj, Nepal Mahila Ekata Samaj, and Gen-G Alliance. Presenting the working paper, Smita Acharya said demolitions in 27 informal settlements across the Kathmandu Valley displaced 2,869 households and affected 16,843 people from 5,706 families.

Acharya said the government does not have complete data on the displaced families. She also claimed that large settlements such as Manohara have not been properly included in official government records.

According to the report, only 2,606 displaced families have been registered as landless squatters, while around 3,100 families are still outside the registration process. Acharya said many families were left out because the government closed the registration process too early.

Out of 10,424 officially registered individuals, only 718 people are currently staying in holding centres. This means only about 6 percent of registered displaced people are living in such centres. Acharya also said the government has no clear information about where the remaining displaced people are living.

Speaking at the programme, Ansuda Poudel of Gen-G Alliance said displacement has created serious health and mental stress problems among affected communities. Similarly, Bhagwati Adhikari of Nepal Mahila Ekata Samaj said the evictions have badly affected people’s daily income and livelihoods.

The report has raised concerns over the lack of proper government records, weak rehabilitation planning, and the uncertain future of families displaced from informal settlements in the Kathmandu Valley.