Gandaki Province collects statistics on 100 thousand landless squatters

KASKI, July 13: The Gandaki Province has collected the statistics of over 100 thousand landless squatters, landless Dalits and unmanaged settlers combined. The Commission Relating to Solution of Landless People informed at a programme in Pokhara that the data collection on the landless people, squatters and those living in unmanaged settlement was completed in all 85 local levels of 11 districts in the province on time.

The government had formed the Commission to resolve the landless problems and ensure land to the squatter dwellers. It has also got the responsibility to manage those living in unmanaged settlements. Commission central member and Gandaki Province representative Yek Bahadur Rana informed that there were 7,904 landless Dalits, 12,658 landless squatters, and 77,069 unmanaged settlers. The Commission also received 7, 296 applications on the incomplete works relating landless dwellers. The applications are under investigation, Rana added.

The applications were collected by the related local levels after making agreement with all 85 local levels. If the landless squatters are living in the places which would not be used for public purpose, they would be settled in the same place, according to Rana. However, in case of encroachment to the public land, they would be shifted to other places. 

The works to provide land and land ownership certificates to the real landless people would begin immediately from the new fiscal year.