National Assembly Members Criticize Government's Handling of Displaced Citizens

Kathmandu. National Assembly members have accused the government of inhumanely housing citizens removed from Kathmandu's slum settlements in holding centers. In a joint meeting of the Public Policy and Fiduciary Legislation Committee and the Federalism Empowerment and National Concern Committee held on Thursday, members of parliament alleged that displaced citizens were kept without even basic arrangements. Both committees had monitored the holding center in Ichangu, Nagarjun. MPs stated that the condition of the displaced families appeared dire during the monitoring.

During the meeting, MPs expressed strong dissatisfaction with the government's campaign to remove slum settlements. They demanded that the government immediately stop bulldozing without alternative resettlement and continue demolishing slum settlements in violation of the Supreme Court's order.

In the meeting, Nepali Congress MP Kiran Babu Shrestha said that landless slum dwellers are not receiving their constitutional and human right to live. Stating that evicting settlements without a permanent solution is inappropriate, he commented that the condition of the holding center is tragic and the relief provided by the government is insufficient.

"It is important whether landless slum dwellers have received the right to live as humans and human rights according to the constitution. Has the rule of law been followed in this? Was it appropriate to evict landless slum dwellers without making permanent arrangements? Serious discussion should be held on that. Eviction should only happen after making alternative arrangements," Shrestha said. "The Supreme Court has already stayed this, but in some places, houses are still being demolished. Citizens have the right to live. Extremely tragic scenes are visible in the holding center. Is the relief the government is providing sufficient? Will the small amount of money the government gives solve their problems?"

Congress MP Lalit Jung Shahi said that displacing citizens without providing an alternative for organized settlement is a violation of human rights. Alleging that there is a lack of clean drinking water in the holding center and that people are forced to drink contaminated water, he demanded that the government immediately arrange for clean drinking water, clothing, food, and sanitation.

"Unorganized settlement is not a good thing, but helpless citizens have been evicted without arranging for organized settlement. That is against human rights. What is most sensitive in the holding center is that they are seen drinking water mixed with sewage. What could be more sensitive than this?" Shahi said. "Immediately, they must be stopped from drinking sewage-mixed water and arrangements for clean, pure drinking water must be made. Due to the lack of clothing, food, and sanitation, their health has been affected. The government should provide them relief, even with the help of the Nepal Red Cross Society."

MP Sunil Bahadur Thapa accused the government of bulldozing slum settlements out of ego without making any long-term plan. He said the government is bulldozing to become popular, violating human rights. Mentioning that bulldozing terror is happening across the country, he also questioned the government's decision to give displaced families fifteen thousand and thirty thousand rupees.

"Currently, not just in Kathmandu, but bulldozing terror is happening across the country. Recently, the government decided to give fifteen thousand and thirty thousand to displaced families. What is this for? The government itself says it has no money. Those who say they have no money are now distributing money. Is this just to appease the slum dwellers for some time? How many ministers have visited the holding center so far?" Thapa questioned.

CPN (Maoist Centre) MP Shrikrishna Prasad Adhikari demanded that the concerned minister be summoned to the committee and instructed to find a permanent solution to the problem of landless and slum dwellers. Mentioning that about 1.4 million families across the country are landless, slum dwellers, or live in unorganized settlements, he said that fifteen thousand rupees will not solve the problem.

"About 1.4 million families in the country are landless, slum dwellers, and unorganized. It is the government's responsibility to arrange land and housing for them. The government is currently trying to remove those in the holding center by giving them fifteen thousand rupees per month," Adhikari said. "Fifteen thousand is not the main issue; the main issue is to resettle them in an organized manner."

CPN (Maoist Centre) MP Uday Bahadur Bohora commented that bulldozing slum settlements without identifying and resettling them is wrong. He stated that the twenty-five thousand rupees announced for resettlement is insufficient.

"The way the government bulldozed the slum settlements is very wrong. It's not that it shouldn't be done, but it failed to follow the necessary process. First, the slum dwellers should have been identified, their housing arrangements made, and then it should have been decided who is a slum dweller and who is not, before bulldozing the settlement. Human rights have been violated here," Bohora said. "The government has said it will give fifteen thousand, but is it even being given? It has said it will give twenty-five thousand for resettlement; what arrangements can be made with that amount? Is it just for publicity?"

Communist Party of Nepal MP Nar Bahadur Bisht accused the current government of being devoid of human compassion. Stating that it is inappropriate for the state itself to create a disaster and then distribute relief, he said that the government is deceiving people in the name of relief by perpetrating state terror on the people's right to live.

"This government lacks human compassion. When KP Oli and Prachanda were the heads of the then government, he (Balendra Shah) was the Mayor of Kathmandu. His attempt to bulldoze was not supported at that time; the view was that bulldozing should only be done after making arrangements. In anger, the current government only sees Congress, UML, Maoists in the slums," Bisht said. "During natural disasters, the state provides concessions. The state gives relief, but by bulldozing the slums, the government itself has created a disaster. The government has done something that is a loss to the state. Why should fifteen thousand and thirty thousand be given now? What disaster has occurred? Creating a disaster oneself, perpetrating state terror, and violating the people's right to live? When rulers are insensitive, it is cruelty."

CPN-UML MP Somnath Poudel accused Balendra Shah, the Mayor of Kathmandu, of not being serious about solving the landless problem when he was mayor. He claimed that no work was done to identify landless citizens. He stated that although there is a record of 2,800 landless and unorganized families in Kathmandu district, not a single name has been recommended to the Land Commission by the metropolitan city.

"There is a record of 2,800 landless and unorganized families in Kathmandu district. Strangely, the number in Kathmandu Metropolitan City is zero. There are no landless people in Kathmandu Metropolitan City. There are no unorganized residents. Not a single name has been recommended to the district committee of the Land Commission," Poudel said. "The current Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, was the Mayor of Kathmandu. He did not collect data on whether there were landless citizens in the metropolitan city. It seems he was not interested in solving the problem of landless and slum dwellers."

UML MP Roshani Mechhe accused the government of engaging in politics of revenge. Stating that the government has failed to be a guardian for the poor, destitute, and slum dwellers, she said that the current government is a government of the well-dressed and cannot understand the problems of the poor and destitute.

"Within a few days of the government being formed, what was the compulsion to remove the slum settlements? Many things could have been done in 100 days. The government had five years, and it could have made an action plan to organize the slum dwellers," Mechhe said.

In the meeting, MPs stated that quality food was not provided in the holding center, the management of clothing and housing was not good, children could not go to school, and there was a lack of clean drinking water and sanitation. They also suggested that the government manage the holding center according to minimum human settlement standards.