March 18, Kathmandu: Kathmandu Metropolitan City initiated a campaign in 2018 to remove homeless individuals from the city streets, aiming to make the metropolitan area free of homelessness. On Mangsir 1, 2074 BS (November 17, 2017), the Metropolitan signed an agreement with the Human Service Shelter to begin the process of managing the homeless population.
Over the past eight years since 2018, Kathmandu Metropolitan has successfully rescued 2,919 homeless individuals from the streets. Ramji Adhikari, the chairperson of Human Service Shelter, shared that among those rescued, 315 have passed away, 713 have been reunified with their families, and 336 reintegrated into communities. Additionally, 268 individuals have been provided shelter at the facility.
Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol explained that all these efforts are underway as part of the preparation to officially declare Kathmandu a homelessness-free zone. She emphasized, “Our approach is not merely to issue a declaration but to activate sustainable legal, administrative, and operational measures to support it. Coordination and facilitation need to be ensured to achieve this goal.”
Chief of Metropolitan Police Force Vishnu Prasad Joshi also noted that the rescue and transfer of homeless people to the shelter continues consistently. To support these efforts, the Metropolitan has provided Human Service Shelter with NPR 28,473,237 to date. The Metropolitan has also supplied necessary vehicles for the rescue operations.
According to Chairperson Adhikari, the identification, referral, and management of homeless individuals are coordinated by the Metropolitan City. He further explained, “We receive regular and active support from public representatives, administrative staff, and the Metropolitan Police Force in street service, registration, and rescue work.”
Adhikari added that the Raniwan branch can accommodate and manage over 250 people rescued from Kathmandu’s streets. Likewise, more than 50 can be managed at Samakhusi, over 100 at another Raniwan branch, and the proposed branches in Chundidevi, Dhunibesi, and Gajuri Rural Municipality each have a capacity for more than 50 individuals.
As per Section 3 of the Local Government Operation Act, 2074 BS (2017), it is the duty and authority of rural municipalities and municipalities to operate, manage, monitor, and regulate rehabilitation centers for street children, orphans, vulnerable, disabled, and mentally ill individuals.
Adhikari highlighted the necessity for policy and institutional frameworks, management of beneficiaries, a scientific archiving system for documentation, and active mechanisms for health care, mental counseling, rescue, rehabilitation, and reunification to ensure sustainable implementation of such provisions. He also stressed the importance of budgeting to guarantee the continuity of these services. – RSS
