Kathmandu: Maiya Ale has been residing along the banks of the Bagmati River with her children for an extensive 36 years, facing the plight of being landless. Following the passing of her spouse from paralysis 11 years ago, the sole responsibility of raising and educating her children has fallen squarely on her shoulders. To make ends meet, she has been operating as a street vendor within the Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

However, the recent actions by the KMC against street vendors, involving evictions and the confiscation of their wares and stalls, have dealt a heavy blow to their already challenging circumstances.

Maiya lamented, "Given my daughter's heart condition and my own broken leg, I've resorted to street vending for survival. Yet, the municipality makes our life on the streets even more distressing by confiscating our belongings." Her settlement on the banks of the Bagmati River was born out of necessity due to the absence of suitable living arrangements. "Our presence here is compelled by circumstances, as we are all landless settlers. Some of us were displaced by floods."

Bishnu Maya Raut, a resident of a landless squatter settlement in Balaju Jagrit Tole since the year 2028 BS, shares similar struggles. Lacking reliable income sources, she finds it increasingly difficult to provide two meals a day for her family. She has fashioned a hut on a riverbank within the Kathmandu Valley.

In addition to their economic challenges, the municipality's actions have compounded their hardships. She asserts that they possess numerous legal documents to justify their presence in the settlement.

These documents include family identity cards issued by local authorities, electricity meter records, tax payment receipts, citizenship cards, migration registrations, correspondence from previous local administrations, official registrations (marriage, birth, death), Voter ID cards, utility bills (water and phone), residential construction records from the Urban Building Department, and housing details assigned by the local ward. Despite possessing these legally sound documents, they continue to face disturbances from the municipal authorities.

Advocate Raju Prasad Chapagain argues that the right to live with dignity, personal liberty, equality, non-discrimination, social justice, social security, and privacy, all enshrined in the Constitution of Nepal and various international agreements, should protect those residing in squatter settlements. He emphasizes that forcibly evicting them without offering viable alternatives is against these rights.

The responsibility to uphold their social justice by ensuring their housing security and addressing their issues sustainably lies with all three tiers of the government. Keshab Niraula, Chairperson of the National Land Commission, affirms that efforts are underway to find lasting solutions for landless squatters. Pampha Bhusal, Deputy General Secretary of CPN (Maoist Centre), stresses the importance of seeking enduring solutions instead of resorting to forceful evictions.

According to Bhagawati Adhikari, Executive Director of Nepal Mahila Ekata Samuha, landless squatters have occupied various settlements in the Kathmandu Valley for durations ranging from 15 to 50 years.

In 2065 BS, the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction included squatter settlement management in its annual program, highlighting the need for addressing these issues. Additionally, the government allocated Rs 150 million in the fiscal year 2065/66 BS to formulate policies and address the challenges faced by landless squatters residing along the banks of Kathmandu Valley rivers. -RSS