Kathmandu, July 9 -- For nearly two days this week, the government stopped serving meals at all seven holding centres sheltering displaced landless families across Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchok. The decision left hundreds of people uncertain about their next meal and drew widespread criticism before authorities restored food distribution on Tuesday evening.

Among those affected was Kali Maya Pariyar, who has been staying at the holding centre in Kharipati, Bhaktapur, since her family was displaced from the Manohara riverbank settlement.

"They didn't just stop the food. They locked away the water jars and wouldn't even let us have drinking water," Kali Maya said when Kantipur met her at the holding centre on Wednesday. "People ...