Sukumbasi Residents Express Concern Over Government Relief Package Announcement

The government declared relief for Sukumbasi residents who were moved from a settlement along the Bagmati River to a holding center in Kirtipur on Tuesday. The announced relief included providing each family with a monthly allowance of up to 25,000 rupees for a period of up to three months. Officials stated that the intention behind announcing the funds was to manage the residents' temporary housing arrangements at the holding center where individuals can rent rooms. However, some Sukumbasi residents have indicated that they do not consider the assistance sufficient and will only leave the holding center once the government ensures proper housing arrangements in Kathmandu. The Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee reported that out of the families relocated from the riverbank, around 26,800 have been registered for the relocation process so far. Opposition parties have raised concerns in Parliament about the government's decision to remove Sukumbasi residents from their homes without ensuring secure housing arrangements. While the government has announced a relief package for Sukumbasi residents to transition to alternative housing from the holding center, some affected individuals, like Harimaya Jimba, claim they are unaware of how to access the assistance. Harimaya Jimba, residing in Radha Swami Satsang Bhawan in Kirtipur, asserts that all 136 households from her village have been relocated to the same location, and she disputes the adequacy of the government-provided relief.