Kathmandu, November 28:

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today recommended that the government come up with required policies and regulations to form a Land Reform and Implementation Commission to ensure citizens’ right to land and to put the same into practice.

A press statement issued by NHRC here today said that recommendations had been made on the basis of a regular monitoring, study of the commission related to land rights and the victims’ demands.

“The demands put forth by National Forum for Land Rights are important from the perspective of human rights and social justice and can be fulfilled through a strong political will combined with an amendment in existing laws,” the statement read. The NHRC has also urged the government to solve the problems of the landless who have been staging a sit-in at the Khula Manch since November 17.

The statement said, “The NHRC has found that the landless, squatters, freed kamaiyas and haliyas are being legally and socially discriminated,” adding, “The commission is regularly monitoring the protest programmes and the demands forwarded by the people not benefiting from development activities.”

As enshrined in the article 33 of the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2007, the state is set to put an end to the feudal landlordship and enforce a programme of scientific land reform.

It is the responsibility of the state to ensure economic and social security of the people such as squatters, kamaiyas, haliyas, haruwa/charuwa and those who fall back socially and economically, said the statement.

The article 11 of the interim constitution has also noted that the state holds itself responsible for ensuring its citizens food, clothes and shelter, besides enforcing a special provision of positive discrimination for the landless, squatters, kamaiyas, and people in deprived communities.