Parliamentary committee inspects holding centers for relocated Kathmandu squatters

The House of Representatives’ Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee has begun inspecting the ‘holding centers’ where landless squatters and residents of informal settlements, who have been relocated, are housed.

With the support of the government, local levels, and security agencies, the process of relocating squatter settlements along the banks of Kathmandu’s rivers and tributaries to safer locations began on Baisakh 12. Those relocated have been housed in various holding centers and residential areas.

On Saturday, the committee visited the holding centers at the Nepal Electricity Authority’s training center and the Agricultural Development Bank’s training center in Bhaktapur. Committee Chairperson Samiksha Baskota stated that inspections will continue in other areas as well.

She mentioned that the committee will collectively discuss the shortcomings, service management status, and necessary improvements at the holding centers, and present relevant suggestions and opinions to the concerned authorities.

The committee has been providing necessary advice, suggestions, and directives to the relevant bodies to respect, protect, and promote human rights. It aims to offer constructive suggestions and directives to the government and related agencies to establish a welfare state and a rule of law by bringing positive reforms in the fields of law and justice.

In a previous meeting, committee members expressed the view that the government should treat the poor, disadvantaged, and squatter communities with dignity, adhering to the fundamental rights ensured by Nepal’s Constitution, the basic values of humanity, principles of social justice, and the fundamental norms of international human rights. The committee will also study and facilitate the government’s ongoing work of collecting an integrated digital record of the landless.