PM assures food and shelter to squatters

Kathmandu
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, has promised food and shelter to the squatters compelled to live under the open sky since the past five days. Bhattarai met squatters on Sunday after the government came under severe criticism.

About 1,000 squaters becomes homeless, when the authority bulldozed their illegal settlement last week. Bhattarai becomes speechless when a 68-years-old Sabitri Giri cried. “Let me die here. How long would I be alive,” she pleaded with the prime minister. Giri has been living on a Guthi land near the settlement for the past 38 years. 

“I will manage food and shelter for all of you. This is not proper place to live. You will get your own houses,” Bhattarai pledged. He claimed the action was the result of lack of coordination between government agencies. 

Chief of Kathmandu Town Development Authority, Keshav Sthapit who was with the prime minister said all the squatters would be relocated to Himal Cement factory in the next few days. “The government will build home for them,” he said.



The squatters however, expressed doubt over the prime minister´s commitments. “We want permanent place to live, if they are to evict us again, we won´t go there,” said Padam Devkota, chairman of Landless Squatter Struggle Committee.

"Future of our children has become uncertain. They are deprived schooling so please make immediate arrangement for their study," Januka Pokhrel requested Bhattarai. She sais she did not have money to rent a room and fifteen thousand offered by government was not enough to survive in the capital.

Another victim complained that the government had created terror among all landless people by bulldozing their settlement.

Bhattarai said he understood their compulsions. "We wanted to evict squatters after giving alternatives. It was misfortune to demolish your homes without giving any alternatives. The cabinet has clearly decided to evict squatters only after giving alternative." he said. 

He requested them for not to worry and accept Rs 15,000 as immediate relief and that the government had planned permanent resettlement. "Either we give you land and low interest loans to build house or we ourselves will build home for you," he promised. 

150 students deprived of education

Before the authorities demolished settlement, more than 150 students were enrolled in Mechi Mahakali Primary School. With the government´s demolition drive the school was also destroyed. Now there is neither the school nor the settlement. 

“Due to problems in the family, they are reluctant to resume schooling,” Kalyan Adhikari, teacher of the school said. He said the school administration had managed to gather children at premises of Ram Mandir beside Norvic Hospital. 

“About 40 children have come into our contact. But due to different age group it is difficult for us to manage classes," Adhikari said. He said parents were not serious about sending their children to school. “Most of the parents do not know the importance of education, and their children love to play instead of going to school,” he added.