The self-conception of the squatters and their role in the city

Government agents frame the squatter settlements and their inhabitants as nuisances and obstacles for the development and beautification of the city and to support from international donors (Rademacher, 2011). The squatters on the other hand, have developed self-confidence by claiming that they have been protecting public land that otherwise would have been already privatized and present themselves as city-makers by providing the necessary work force for the construction and services sector of Kathmandu, arguing that the urban economy is depending on the informal sector (Brooks, 2016). Therefore they argue for the recognition of their citizen rights and demand for participation in planning processes regarding their settlements. The observation of houses self-built by the squatters (in the picture to the right) demonstrates that they have the capacity to make permanent structures if they are provided with security of tenure.

One of the members of Jagaran Tol Sudhar Samiti in Balkhu squatter settlement, said that the squatter settlement area is not the same for the people living there and people like us, who are researching the case. If we are found clicking photos, or taking videos, or asking questions to the people, they might feel they are vulnerable to some government actions (which have happened in the past such as bulldozing the area). One man, who refused to reveal his name, said that if a land right document is provided by the government to them, they have the capacity to build better homes. The site could be the same land they have been occupying at present i.e. banks of Bagmati River. When asked about the pollution and smell that exists beside the river, he said that the government will eventually come up with some waste management system so the pollution won’t stay forever. He expressed his concern over the construction of mass housing in the outskirts of the city. He says that destroying such valuable agricultural land that exists in Nepal for the construction of houses is not appropriate. The land of the city, Kathmandu, has already lost its fertility due to the construction of numerous structures over the years. He said that it would be appropriate if we made new houses within the city that has infertile land, rather than move to the outskirts and build houses on valuable agricultural land. The other benefit of residing within the city is that their work stays with them. Being a retail shop owner, his business had a better prospect in the city rather than in some relocation housing elsewhere. All in all, he said that even if they were relocated, they will find a way of life within the settlement anyway. When asked what he thinks about the people having their work and businesses within those closely packed houses, he said that people can’t live without work, it is their way of life. A community needs every function that can exist to sustain itself and the basti is doing just that.

Fig: Houses built by the squatters (Source: Authors)