Minister Pratibha Rawal Pledges to End Dual Land Ownership, Protect Farmers' Rights

Kathmandu. Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation, Pratibha Rawal, has stated that the government is committed to ending the dual ownership of land and protecting the rights and interests of farmers. Responding to questions from members of the National Assembly on Friday, she informed that land reform activities are progressing rapidly in accordance with the prevailing laws. Minister Rawal clarified that the Land Act, 2021, Section 25, provides for the registration of tenants who were identified as such by December 1, 2021, as tenants, thereby protecting the interests of farmers. According to her, Section 26 (d) of the same act also legally ensures that half of the land belongs to the tenant. Clarifying the provision in Article 51 (d) of the Constitution of Nepal and the context of ending dual land ownership, Minister Rawal said, 'If neither the landowner nor the tenant has applied for land distribution as per the provisions of the Land Act and Regulations, there is a provision to jointly register the land in both names and cancel the tenant's record. Furthermore, there is a legal provision to divide the land held in joint names equally when they demand it.' Responding to a supplementary question, Member of Parliament Bhuvan Kumar Sunar drew the government's attention to the fact that despite the abolition of 'birta' (land grants), farmers in districts like Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Gorkha, and Pyuthan are still facing displacement and have had to resort to protests. MP Sunar sought a response from the ministry regarding the delay in implementing scientific land management and establishing the actual rights of farmers. In response to the MP's question, Minister Rawal informed that the ministry is focused on the serious issues raised and that the necessary legal and administrative processes have already begun. She also expressed commitment that the ministry is working on the issues of landless squatters and farmers in the mentioned districts and will provide detailed information to the parliament with a comprehensive report within a few days.