Amid uncertainty and fear, the government has started the process of evacuating squatter settlements. On Saturday, a bulldozer was used in Kathmandu's Thapathali and other squatter settlements. The scene around the squatter settlements looked very tragic. Some mothers were holding their young children and coping with the situation. Some elderly people were shedding tears as they had to leave their homes for years.

The children, who could not assess the new situation, looked desperate. The raindrops were scattered. Even though the state tried to remove them from the settlements, some families were supporting and protecting their animals like chickens, dogs and cats as much as possible. Some were cooking food as they could. The heavy presence of security personnel and the hoarse sound of the bulldozers created a sense of horror. Overall, the squatters were everywhere, confused about where to go and how to live the rest of their lives. From Saturday, the issue of the residence and livelihood of the squatters has become an additional responsibility of the state. It should facilitate the remaining process.

On 9 Baisakh (Wednesday), after the resignation of the then Home Minister Sudhan Gurung, Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who also took charge of the ministry, met with the heads of the security agencies on the same day. In the process, he had directed the evacuation of the squatters on Saturday and Sunday (12 and 13 Baisakh). Even when he was the head of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, he had tried to evacuate the settlement. But he could not succeed due to opposition. This time, Shah has given priority to this task after having to take charge of the Home Ministry due to circumstances.

Slum dwellers, who realized that they could not resist the federal government and hoped that the government would help them settle and live in a new place, have also become cooperative. Many had started looking for alternative accommodation as soon as they learned about the government's preparations. They were moving their belongings. Those who could not arrange alternative accommodation and could not even move their belongings seemed to be surrendering themselves to the government.

After the federal government took the initiative, squatters who realized that they could not resist and who hoped that the government would help them settle and live in a new place have also become allies. Slum dwellers' settlements across the country are known for their disorderly settlements. In some places, there is no possibility of getting a humane environment. There is no availability of quality health and education. They are economically and socially weak and forced to live a discriminatory daily life. Riverside settlements are also at risk from many aspects. Therefore, there is no doubt that they should be managed. This is also indispensable for the economic and social development of actual slum dwellers. In addition, it is also necessary to thwart the strategy of non-squatters who are hoping to encroach on land under the guise of squatters.

On the other hand, it is necessary to end the trend of using groups with weak socio-economic status and weak decision-making capacity for political gain but ignoring the need to improve their living standards by giving them land ownership. Therefore, the issue of relocating squatter settlements is theoretically positive.

But the implementation aspect should have been legal and attention should still be paid to it. This issue should have been resolved while respecting the dignity and human value of every person and attention should still be paid to it. We should not create a sense of inferiority that being poor and squatters is a crime. The federal government seems to be weak in terms of feeling such sensitivity.

The government decided to clear the settlement in a shorter time. Because, the Prime Minister had instructed the security personnel on the evening of the 9th, the bulldozer had already entered the settlement on the 12th. It may not be possible for every family to prepare in such a short time. Some families may be facing various difficulties. For example, Kumari Tamang, who was taking out belongings from Thapathali on Saturday morning, told Kantipur – ‘We were in mourning because our father passed away just 6 days ago, and this has happened at this time.’

Similarly, Bishnumaya Gurung of Gairigaun said, ‘I, the old man and my son are all disabled. We were living here because we could not work and pay the rent.’ On the other hand, a person’s lifestyle, trust, belonging, mental ownership, and employment opportunities are linked to the place where they have lived for years. Even though the settlement there is difficult, it is not possible to leave it due to emotional attachment.

Therefore, if a few months or weeks had been given, all the families would have been mentally prepared for the relocation. By then, the real squatters and the encroachers could have been distinguished. But this work was done in a hurry. Prime Minister Shah wrote a Facebook status on Friday evening only after widespread protests on social media.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah intends to achieve quick results at any cost. However, data collection, verification and management with the option of resettlement in the squatter settlements are an established method. And, the initial work is at the local level. But at this time, the federal government had used mental force on the squatter settlements by showing the fear of security forces and bulldozers. Other work has been started only after the settlement was cleared. Since the initial process was disrupted, it is not certain how the subsequent process will proceed.

However, the squatter settlements have been seen to have supported the government's efforts. Whether it was out of fear or in the hope of starting a comfortable life with a new home, there was no clash on Saturday. The government should not interpret such assistance as weakness. Because, as easy as it is to pick them up from the slums, it is equally difficult to manage them while guaranteeing their constitutional rights and universal human rights.

At least the current processes should be completed smoothly and quickly. The period of one 'permanent' residence should not be prolonged from one 'permanent' residence to another. In this process, support should be provided to groups that need additional care such as children, the disabled, the sick, the elderly, postpartum women, and pregnant women. Human dignity and human rights should be taken care of. Constitutional rights should be ensured. By 6 pm on Saturday, the records of 68 families had been collected at Dasharath Stadium.