While the government is making final preparations to remove the squatter settlement on the banks of the Bagmati in Thapathali, another reality of this area has come to light. Although it appears from the outside to be a permanent encroachment rooted for years, internally, a dense presence of Christians and the operation of a distinct system have been found. A church has been established within this settlement, and it is primarily inhabited by followers of the Christian faith.
According to available information, this settlement has been used not just as a permanent residence, but as a 'transit' or temporary shelter. Poor and underprivileged citizens from various regions of Nepal are brought and kept in this settlement. Efforts are made to make the people brought here self-reliant by providing various forms of assistance and guidance. Once they are able to stand on their own feet—meaning they become self-reliant—they are bid farewell from the settlement and sent back into society. After one group is rehabilitated into society, other new underprivileged people are brought in to fill the vacated space.
This cycle of providing shelter to the poor, making them self-reliant, and sending them into society has been ongoing for a long time. For this reason, most people in this area live only temporarily rather than permanently. There is a significant number of people who previously took shelter in this very settlement, became self-reliant, and are currently living scattered across various locations in Kathmandu.
