An interaction program on the Right to Housing was organized by INSEC Sudurpaschim Province Office, Dhangadhi in collaboration with Godawari Municipality level Human Rights Group.
Naresh Bahadur Adhikari, Ward Chairperson of Godawari Municipality-8, admitted that the squatters have not been able to access their right to housing as Godavari Municipality-7 and 8 are the farthest areas. He added that the issue of public housing program run by the state was not effective but no hearing was held even after bringing out the issue time and again in the meeting of municipal executive board.
Thakkar Magar, a ward member of Godawari Municipality-7, said that he has been coordinating with the municipality to solve the problem of squatters in his ward.
Tek Deuba, a member of the human rights group, said that the municipality has not been able to take any initiative for the families of the squatters who have been living on the banks of Khutiya River in Ward No. 8 since last year.
Dhauli Devi Damai, a participant of the program, complained that the municipality has not been able to manage the squatters who have been living in the temple premises of Tekula Tole of Godawari Municipality-7 for the past 12 years.
Tika Koli of Godawari Municipality-7 urged the municipality to take initiative for safe housing as she has to work as a daily-waged labour due to financial constraints.
Krishna Nepali of Godawari Municipality-8 complained that the municipality’s campaign to remove the thatched roof from the houses has not been able to reach the geographically deprived, poor and marginalized communities.