The government has resumed the digital verification of displaced squatters and informal settlers living outside designated holding centres, restarting a key step in the rehabilitation process after an earlier phase covered only those staying in temporary shelters.

Anand Singh Bhat, executive chair of the High-powered Committee for Integrated Development of Bagmati Civilisation, said the current exercise is collecting detailed personal information from people who had completed only preliminary registration at Dasharath Stadium.

The committee has already completed digital verification of 1,488 people staying in holding centres out of 2,608 displaced individuals previously recorded.

“This is not a new registration drive,” Bhat said. “It is a re-verification of people who were already on the government's list but have been living outside the holding centres.”

The government has decided to provide an initial lump-sum relief payment of Rs25,000 to those who are verified and found eligible as displaced informal settlers.

In addition, beneficiaries will receive a monthly housing allowance of Rs15,000 for up to three months until permanent accommodation arrangements are made.

However, relief payments have yet to begin.

Bhat said the government has already approved the relief package, and the budget is being released.

“People staying in the holding centres are expected to receive the relief within the next eight to 10 days,” he said. “After that, those currently undergoing verification outside the holding centres and found eligible by the committee will also receive the assistance.”

The government has also formed a new committee to conduct a comprehensive assessment of squatters and other informal settlers and recommend long-term rehabilitation measures.

According to Bhat, agencies under the Ministry of Land Management will carry out a detailed review of the data, after which the government will proceed with its broader rehabilitation plan and determine the benefits to be provided to eligible households.