Government Distributes Land Ownership Certificates to Over 9,000 Families

Kathmandu. The government has distributed land ownership certificates to nine thousand twelve landless slum dwellers and unorganized settlers across the country. The certificates were distributed through the Land Problem Resolution Commission to landless slum dwellers and unorganized settlers who had registered their applications.

Commission Expert Member Tek Bahadur Shah informed that after the district committees under the commission recommended names to the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation for the distribution of title deeds to landless slum dwellers, the government tested and permitted the distribution of the deeds.

A one-door system was coordinated and collaborated with local levels to collect the records for the distribution of the deeds. The deeds were distributed after all records were authenticated in coordination with the district committees under the commission, the concerned municipality, and the ward level.

According to Expert Member Shah, 'landless slum dwellers' refers to families across the country who own no land and individuals and their dependent family members who are unable to manage land through their income, resources, or efforts. During the distribution of deeds, priority was given to 'landless Dalits.' 'Landless Dalit' refers to landless slum dwellers from communities listed as Dalit by the National Dalit Commission.

'Unorganized settlers' refers to families who own land somewhere in the country but have been residing and cultivating elsewhere for decades without the land being registered in their names. He informed that deeds were distributed to individuals and their dependent family members who have been residing and cultivating for at least 10 years, upon payment of the prescribed revenue. The commission stated that the authentication process is ongoing.

Although the management of landless slum dwellers is the responsibility of the state, the commission stated that settlements built by encroaching on public spaces, cultural heritage sites, etc., will not be authenticated.