NAWALPARASI: Land ownership certificate shave been distributed to landless Dalits and squatters in Kawasoti Municipality, Nawalpur.
On Wednesday, 25 families from Ward No. 4 received legal ownership of the land they have been living on for generations.
Local resident Amrit BK expressed joy after receiving the land ownership document. “We’ve been living here since my grandfather’s time, but the land was never in our name. I’m finally the legal owner, and it’s a huge relief,” he said. “It used to hurt knowing the land I lived on wasn’t mine. That pain is gone now.”
Another beneficiary, Homkumari Pariyar of Kawasoti-4, also shared her happiness: “I finally have land in my own name. It’s a proud moment.”
According to Chief Administrative Officer Lila Raj Poudel, 697 landless Dalits, 1,240 landless squatters, and 5,596 unorganized settlers have registered for land title deeds in Kawasoti Municipality. The distribution process began from Ward No. 4 and is being carried forward by the municipality independently.
Mayor Bishnu Prasad Bhusal said that the effort launched in Ward No. 4 will soon be expanded to other wards in coordination with the Land Problems Resolution Commission. He emphasized the need to simplify the complex process of land title distribution.
Expert member of the commission, Homanath Jaisi, stated that the newly reconstituted Land Problems Resolution Commission has started distributing land titles in the district. While the previous commission had already distributed around 300 titles, the new initiative aims to reach more families.
Around 35,000 landless Dalits, squatters, and unorganized settlers have submitted forms across Nawalpur, and land surveys have been completed in most of the district’s eight municipalities.
Ward No. 4 Chairperson Narayan Prasad Lohani expressed satisfaction at helping longtime landless residents gain ownership. He said preparations are underway to distribute titles to unorganized settlers soon.
Former Member of Parliament Tilak Mahat remarked that this is the first time such an effort has been launched in the district since the formation of the joint government between UML and Nepali Congress. He urged the commission to accelerate the process, noting that families who had been denied land ownership for years are finally beginning to see justice.
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