100 Days of Government: The Perspective of Squatters Viewing Balen and Ravi Lamichhane as ‘Heroes’

Many displaced squatters are also voters of the ruling Nepal Socialist Party (RSP). Among them is 77-year-old Taradevi Suvedi Gurung, who had been living for 30 years in the Garigaun area near Sinamangal, Kathmandu. Just last year, she had built a house in a squatter settlement there. “The house where I hadn’t even lived properly for nine months was demolished, and my investment went to waste,” she recalled the moment when she became homeless two and a half years ago. “They came on a Friday night and told us to leave, saying it would be better later.” Her family was forced to leave their home after the demolition with a dozer, taking along important documents, kitchenware, and clothes. They were moved to guest houses near New Bus Park, and after 16 days, relocated to an apartment.

There they met Gopal Sunar from Belauri-3, Kanchanpur, who considers RSP Chairman Ravi Lamichhane a ‘hero’ who could resolve their problems. According to Sunar, his mother has been living in a small hut inside a national park for 22 years. “Ravi sir himself came to Kathmandu with details of those affected by eviction, saying he would look into our issues,” Sunar recalled this old memory. “Just recently, he met with the residents of the park. If something needs to be done, it must be done.”

Questioning Ravi Lamichhane: What does it mean to take responsibility? According to Gopal Sunar, his parents do not have even a single plot of land registered in anyone’s name anywhere in the country. He considers his family “victims since the king’s era.” “Even though years have passed since the republic was established, leaders have come and said they would take care of squatters, constantly promising help, but no one has ever delivered,” he says.

The government had demolished squatter settlements along the banks of Kathmandu’s rivers and streams and for two months kept displaced families at various holding centers in seven locations. As the process extended, the government announced “relief funds” for them, which include a one-time payment of NPR 25,000 and monthly support of NPR 15,000 per family for three months.