CA panel asks ministry to release Guthi report

EKANTIPUR REPORT    

KATHMANDU, JAN 29 - The Commission on Natural Resources, Financial Rights and Revenue Sharing (CNRFRRS) of the Constituent Assembly on Friday directed the Ministry of Land Reforms (MoLR) to release the report of the High-level Commission on Scientific Land Reform (HLCSLR). 
A meeting of the panel members, MoLR representatives and land rights activists on Friday came up with two other decisions related to land. The panel directed MoLR to present a study report on the relevance of Guthi land within 15 days. It also decided to visit eight districts including Sindhupalchowk, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Palpa and Dang to study the land distribution patterns there and plan suitable measures for land reform in those districts.
“We asked MoLR to do a study on Guthi land amid growing complaints that many farmers are deprived of land ownership due to dominance of Guthi sansthans in many districts,” said CNRFRRS chairperson Santa Chaudhary.  “Besides, we asked MoLD to immediately release the report of the land reform commission.”
The government had formed HLCSLR in 2008 with a view to managing land ownership and access. Though the commission submitted the report to the government on May 5 last year, the latter has not made the report public yet. Among other things, the report has recommended joint ownership (of both spouses) of land and distribution of land to freed Kamaiyas, Haliyas and other marginalised communities.
 Human rights bodies including Informal Sector Service Centre and Community Self Reliance Centre had filed complaints at CNRFRRS and the Office of the Council of Ministers on Dec 24 last year demanding the immediate release of the report. Issuing a 35-day ultimatum to the government, the rights bodies had warned that they would release the report on their own if the government failed to do so.
Posted on: 2011-01-29 11:57          

http://www.ekantipur.com/2011/01/29/top-story/ca-panel-asks-ministry-to-release-guthi-report/328836.html

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http://www.csrcnepal.org/index.htm

Land Reform Act amendment on cards

	PRABHAKAR GHIMIRE KATHMANDU, Jan 4: The Ministry of Land Reforms and Management (MoLRM) is preparing to table a bill for amendment to the Land Reforms Act in the coming session of the parliament, including a provision for disclosure of land details only by the people holding land more than the ceiling set by the government. The existing Act makes it mandatory for every landholder to disclose details of land under their ownership.  The MoLRM´s came up with the amendment bill after the government failed to allocate budget for collecting landholding details across the country as proposed by the ministry. “It is not possible to collect land details across the country given the limited human resources and financial resources at the ministry. That is why we are preparing for the amendment to the Land Reform Act to pave the way for collection of details of only the people holding land more than the government-set ceiling,” Madhav Regmi, joint secretary at the MoLRM, told Republica on Monday. Regmi, who is also the spokesperson of the MoLRM, said the ministry has already demanded Rs 660 million from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to collect details of about six million landholders across the country if the amendment bill is not endorsed in the winter session. A committee led by MoLRM Secretary Chhabiraj Pant had worked out the estimated budget for administrative cost, cost for data processing and salary of staffers. Earlier, the ministry had demanded Rs 660 million from the Finance Ministry to collect details of landholding across the country. However, the plan has faced a setback as the government did not allocate the budget in the current fiscal year. The MoLRM three months ago had started implementation of the Land Reform Act (Fifth Amendment)-2001 -- that bars people from owning land in excess of the ceiling -- by issuing a 35-day notification. The MoLRM had even proposed to distribute land in excess of the ceiling to underprivileged and landless people. Responding to a writ petition seeking immediate implementation of the Land Reforms Act, the Supreme Court a few months ago had ordered the government to implement the law enacted in 2001 that envisages bringing landmark changes in the country´s land reforms. In response to the apex court ruling, the MoLRM had issued a 35-day notice urging people across the country to disclose their landholding details at the Land Reform Office or the Land Revenue Office in their respective districts. As per the notice, people having landholding below the allowed limits could furnish details to concerned village development committees of municipalities. As per the Land Reforms Act (Fifth Amendment), a person can own 20 ropanis of land in Kathmandu Valley, 10 bighas in Tarai districts and 70 ropanis in hilly districts. Likewise, a person can own five ropanis in Kathmandu Valley and hilly districts and one bigha in Tarai districts for homestead purpose.
Published on 2011-01-04 02:03:19 http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=26770

Land access key to HR: Activists

POST REPORT

KATHMANDU, DEC 28 -
Land rights activists say that access to land is the key to ensuring human rights and uplifting the living standards of marginalised communities.

Speaking at an event organised by Human Development and Peace Campaign (HUDEP) on Tuesday, land rights activists said that people having little or no access to land are generally deprived of their human rights and basic needs like food, shelter and education.

“Right to land is linked with the rights of Dalits, Kamaiyas, Haliyas and other marginalized communities as they are lagging behind chiefly due to poor access to land,” said land rights specialist Jagat Deuja.

According to Nepal Human Development Report 2004, one-fourth of the people living in rural areas are estimated to be landless (29 percent) and most of them are Dalits, ethnic minorities and women.

The report also mentions that 37 percent of agricultural land of the country is owned by only five percent people who belong to the elite class.

“Unless the government takes strong measures for scientific land reforms and stops the haphazard encroachment on land by profiteering groups, the marginalized community will never get access to land,” said Pradeep Pokhrel, chairperson of HUDEP.

Posted on: 2010-12-29 08:06

http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/12/28/nation/land-access-key-to-hr-activists/216591/

Rights bodies pile pressure on govt

POST REPORT

KATHMANDU, DEC 26 -
Human rights groups have started piling pressure on the government to release the report of the High-level Commission on Scientific Land Reform (HLCSLR). Though the commission submitted the report to the government on May 5, the government has not made it public yet.

Commission members and various rights groups have filed a complaint at the Commission on Natural Resources, Financial Rights and Revenue Sharing (CNRFRRS) of the Constituent Assembly and the

Office of the Council of Ministers. They have questioned the government’s dillydallying in publishing the report.

Giving a 35-day ultimatum to the government to release the report, the rights bodies have warned that they would release the report on their own if the government failed to do so within the deadline.

“It is people’s right to information to know what the report is like,” said Subodh Raj Pyakurel, chairperson of INSEC. “We will release the report on our own and take legal help if the government does not heed our urge.”

  The HLCSLR was formed in 2008 with a view to managing land ownership in the country.

The report was prepared after holding a series of dialogues with the locals in 35 districts. The document focuses on lawful access to and ownership of land and strong administration for land and agriculture management, among others.

The report has recommended for joint ownership (of both spouses) of land, subsidy on registration charge of land owned by female, implementation of land ceiling and lad distribution to marginalised communities.

Posted on: 2010-12-27 08:25

http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/12/26/nation/rights-bodies-pile-pressure-on-govt/216509/