Decades of Broken Promises: The Land Ownership Crisis in Bardibas

Bardibas, Mahottari. In Gauridanda, Bardibas Municipality-3, time seems to flow at a slower pace. The deep lines on the faces of the residents reflect a hidden hope that still lingers—the hope of receiving land ownership certificates (Lalpurja).

This hope has bound them for decades.

77-year-old Indra Bahadur Bhujel is a living example of this hope. Despite spending over four decades on this soil, he holds no legal proof of ownership in his name. 'Our main problem is the Lalpurja,' he says. 'Leaders come, promise to provide it, but results never follow.'

Bhujel, who migrated from Sukhjor, Ramechhap in 2041 BS, wishes to be buried in this soil, yet he feels deeply saddened by being 'temporary' on his own land. The story of Gauridanda is not just Bhujel's, but a shared reality for hundreds of families.

75-year-old Krishna Maya Bhujel has been farming here since 2039 BS. When elections approach, political activity increases and assurances are given, but once the elections end, the situation remains unchanged. 'We have trusted them many times,' she says, 'but the problem remains the same.'

According to local residents, the greatest irony here is being landholders without legal ownership. They have homes, fields, and land used for generations, but no legal proof.
65-year-old Ambika Ghimire from the same area says, 'Sometimes rumors of eviction spread, and I cannot sleep all night.'

This fear is not just Ghimire's; it has become a collective psychology.

The history of the Gauridanda area is tied to this issue. This region, under the former Gauribas VDC, contains approximately 364 bighas of public land. Originally allocated for tea plantations during the Rana regime, this land was later recorded as public land in government records. People gradually settled, the community grew, but legal ownership was never granted.

Most families in this settlement have migrated from various districts. People from hilly regions like Ramechhap, Sindhuli, and Kavre are spending the rest of their lives here. They cleared forests to create arable land, built houses, and established a community, but they never received legal recognition.

Bhadra Bahadur Magar, who arrived from Mahadev Danda, Sindhuli in 2030 BS, bought two katthas of land to start his life here. 'I never thought I would have to live as a squatter for my entire life,' he says. Not having a certificate for the land he bought makes his life feel incomplete.

State agencies have attempted to resolve this issue from time to time. From the Squatter Problem Resolution Commission to the National Land Commission, data was collected and surveys were conducted. However, these efforts were often halted, commissions were dissolved, or processes remained incomplete, making the problem more complex.

Recently, the National Land Commission led by Pitambar Mahato in Mahottari district was preparing to distribute Lalpurja in Bardibas Municipality. After the commission arrived, land surveying was underway in various places, and the process for issuing certificates had begun in some areas. However, after the movement on Bhadra 23/24, the government dissolved the commission again. Although the officials were reinstated following a court order, the impact of these disruptions is visible at the local level.

Bardibas Municipality Mayor Pralhad Chhetri states that legal complexities are the main obstacle. 'We have not forgotten our commitment,' he says, 'but it is difficult to move forward when the law is not clear.'

According to him, although the process is ongoing, it will take time to see results.

Experts argue that this problem is not just administrative but also linked to political will. According to Ramkumar Karki, a retired Under Secretary of the Government of Nepal and a resident of Bardibas, the squatter issue has long been used as a 'vote bank.' 'This issue is raised in every election,' he says, 'but there is little serious effort to solve it.'

Local activist Aarti Budhathoki echoes this sentiment. According to her, Gauridanda has the highest number of squatter issues in Mahottari. 'It is easy to ask for votes by highlighting the problem,' she says, 'but a long-term plan is needed for a solution.'

The elderly citizens of Gauridanda have one wish: that their children do not live an uncertain life like them. 'We have suffered a lot,' says local elder Manmaya Khadka, 'but at least our children and grandchildren should get land in their names.'

Rights activist Urmila Karki says, 'This desire is not just about property, but about dignity and identity. For the residents here, the Lalpurja is not just a small piece of paper; it is proof of their existence. It transforms them from temporary residents into citizens with rights.'

But the irony remains that they have been waiting for this small piece of paper for five decades.

Assurances are repeated in every election. Candidates visit the settlement, announce plans, and instill trust. The community hopes again. But after the elections end, those promises slowly fade away.

Even today, the residents of Gauridanda have one question: When will we get our Lalpurja?