In the last ten years Patan's slums have undergone a sea change. Stone pavements have replaced dirt tracks, all houses have toilets and each ward has a learning centre and children's library. This is in large part due to the Lumanti:

Support Group for Shelter, which has been working since 1993 with squatters and slums dweller on housing issues. Lumanti, founded by Lajana Manadhar (pictured) in memory of her urban planner husband Ramesh, addresses urban poverty by improving squatter communities' living conditions (\'Lajana\'s helping hand,\' #160) .

Now, Lumanti's efforts are gaining wider recognition. Manandhar received the million-yen ($8,426) IYSH Memorial Matsushita Prize at a ceremony in Tokyo in October for Lumati's "contribution in improvement of livelihood and for its work with squatter communities". The International Year of Shelter for the Homeless Memorial Fund was founded by Japan Housing Association, and awards long term activities that help solve housing and human settlements problems.

Lumanti has projects planned Butwal, Birganj, and Dharan, and also works indirectly with community partners and squatter federations in rural areas. Manandhar says Lumati will use the award money to establish a fund for those who have been forcefully evicted, to pay for legal counsel and other services.

Mallika Aryal