KATHMANDU, JANUARY 9

The National Land Commission has invited applications from landless Dalits, squatters, and unmanaged inhabitants for land from the Government of Nepal.

Issuing a 35-day notice, the commission called on interested applicants to fill out the form in the format as prescribed by the commission and submit it to the enumerators deputed from various wards of local levels with effect from February 1. The applications must be submitted within 35 days beginning February 1, read the notice. The notice states that landless Dalits, squatters and unmanaged inhabitants of only 68 local levels from 27 districts will be eligible to submit the application this time.

The districts include Ilam, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Udayapur, Saptari, Siraha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Bara, Rautahat, Parsa, Sindhuli, Makawapur, Chitwan, Tanahun, Nawalparasi East, Nawalparasi West, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Surkhet, Kailali, Kanchanpur, and Dadeldhura.

According to the notice, the applicants will have to get the land being possessed and cultivated by them measured from the designated survey team.

Land being possessed and cultivated by landless Dalits, squatters and unmanaged inhabitants will be transferred to them with land ownership certificate depending on its nature, area and period of possession. However, land lying within the area of religious, cultural and strategic importance; land that needs to be kept secure in view of natural disaster, disaster management and environment protection; and public lands may not be provided to anyone.

A nine-member commission has been formed by the government.

The commission has already developed the criteria and standard for identification and verification of landless Dalits, squatters and unmanaged inhabitants. It has also prepared the procedures and design for collection of inventory of the beneficiaries; identification, inventory collection and verification of beneficiaries through local levels; and map records of land.

As per the National Land Commission Formation Order-2021, the commission is required to strictly follow the existing Land Act and other provisions while making decision to provide land to landless Dalits, squatters and unmanaged inhabitants.

It is also empowered to seize any person's land beyond the prescribed ceiling and provide it to the beneficiaries as prescribed.

The government has also formed an eight-member district committee, which will perform the functions and duties as per the powers delegated by the commission. The chairperson, vice-chairperson and members of the commission, office-bearers of the district committee and other employees will not be eligible to get the land to be provided by the commission.

A version of this article appears in the print on January 10, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.