South Asian News Network

Kathmandu, June 9: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has declared its geographical area as free of street dwellers. At a programme held on Monday, Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol declared KMC as a city free of street dwellers who live by begging, under the banner ‘KMC’s responsibility to take care of those helpless citizens’. On the occasion, Acting Mayor Dangol signed an agreement with the Nepal Police, the District Administration Office and Manavsewa Ashram for the successful implementation of the campaign. As per the agreement, the helpless street dwellers who may be found in the streets and public places in the coming days would be managed through an integrated system. The agreement was signed by Inspector General of Police Dan Bahadur Karki on behalf of the Nepal Police, by Chief District Officer Ishwar Raj Paudel on behalf of the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, and by Chairperson Ramji Adhikari on behalf of Manavsewa Ashram. KMC has been spending an average of about Rs 20 million annually in collaboration with the Ashram for managing the helpless street dwellers since 2074 BS. The Manavsewa Ashram is a non-profit social organization founded in Makwanpur, Hetauda, on 29 August, 2012, dedicated to making Nepal a ‘street people free country’ by helping the most vulnerable, impoverished, disabled, homeless, physically weak or mentally or psychologically challenged people who are forced to live miserable lives in the open sky street-banks and public places. —