CHITWAN: Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration Pratibha Rawal has said that land ownership certificates are a right, not a political assurance, for landless Dalits, squatters and unorganised settlers.
During a visit to Chitwan to discuss land-related issues, the minister met locals at Ganeshsthan in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-11 on Monday to hear their grievances and discuss the process of distributing land ownership certificates.
Rawal said the distribution of land ownership certificates had been used for political gain in the past, stressing that land ownership should not be linked to politics. “Land ownership certificates and politics should not be linked. You should receive land titles because it is your right,” she said.
The minister said the government had removed policy obstacles to distributing land ownership certificates to landless people and squatters through an ordinance. She urged local governments and land problem resolution committees to expedite the process.
“Policy is no longer an obstacle to obtaining land ownership certificates. Now, it is a matter of intention. Local governments should speed up the process, and land committees should complete their work promptly,” Rawal said.
She acknowledged that landless people and squatters had suffered for a long time due to delays in the distribution of land ownership certificates and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing them as soon as possible.
During the interaction, local residents shared their problems and grievances with the minister. They also expressed gratitude for the government’s initiative to address their concerns.
Rawal is scheduled to visit all local levels in Chitwan to listen to the concerns of landless Dalits, squatters and unorganised settlers. She pledged to work towards resolving their problems promptly through consultations with local residents and discussions with relevant stakeholders.
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