Kathmandu, Shrawan 24 - The Supreme Court has issued an interim order directing the government to ensure the education, health and housing rights of children displaced from riverbanks and informal settlements in the Kathmandu Valley.
The order was issued by a single bench of Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla in response to a writ petition filed by the child rights and human rights activists demanding immediate protection of children's fundamental rights affected by the displacement.
The Supreme Court has ordered free school admission for displaced children. The Supreme Court has issued an interim order for identification and verification of children who have been displaced and to ensure that those already enrolled in school are not denied their education. Currently out of school children should enroll free of charge in nearby schools within the deadline set by the Court. The order also directs the government to give the affected children free books, school uniforms, transportation facilities, educational materials and psychosocial counseling. The Court further directed that children with disabilities be provided for the necessary support services so that the displacement does not prevent them from receiving education.
Continuous displacement has caused it to be difficult to receive regular schooling, and the government has been directed to organize a residential education where necessary and cooperate with the relevant local governments to provide an appropriate environment for the affected children.
The Court referenced the children's fundamental rights in the case and also noted that displacement may have an impact on the education and development of children, such as by leading to school dropouts or children being out of formal education system. The reasons for the issuance of the interim order are to secure fundamental rights as provided in the Constitution of Nepal, such as right to education, children rights, right to live with dignity and right to housing. Displaced children's basic health and accommodation needs are also covered by the Supreme Court order. Authorities have been tasked to provide suitable temporary shelter and essential health care services for vulnerable persons affected by displacement such as children, pregnant or postpartum women, persons with disabilities, senior citizens and people suffering from illnesses.
The Court's directions follow reports of concerns related to disruption of children's access to schools and to other essential services due to displacement of children from riverbank settlements. Reports says the education of children in the landless settlements which are not located near river banks has been impacted, reports said.
Supreme court order seeks the continuity of education; therefore, the order is particularly mindful of preventing displacement as an impediment to children's learning. The Court's order to ensure continuity of schooling, free admission, educational materials, transportation and additional support, has compelled the authorities to take urgent steps to protect the education rights of displaced children in Nepal. The relevant government authorities have been called on to enforce interim order in accordance with law.
Source: Online Khabar
