SOCIAL EMANCIPATION AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF

WOMEN IN NEPAL THROUGH THE JOINT LAND CERTIFICATE

Keshab Dahal

GENERAL CONTEXT:

• Only 23 percent land is suitable for the cultivation.

• In the total Agriculture land, 20 percent remains unused.

• 13 percent of the upper class people hold 48 percent of the cultivable land.

• 40 percent farmers own only 9 percent of the agricultural land

• 80 percent women don’t have a land ownership.

• According to National Census 2011, 66 % of rural people's main occupation is agriculture.

• Only 30% of them have legal status as tenant-cultivators. Rest of the number are not registered as tenant.

ISSUES:

• Land rights has been one of the most controversial topic in the political economy of Nepal.

• Land ownership is a issues of power building and expanding the position.

• Real farmers don’t have the land ownership. • All rights provided by the state have been

connected with the land ownership.

WOMEN, LAND AND POVERTY: • The traditional land

ownership system continue patriarchy.

• Landless women have

- No social status, - No access to political decisions

- No access to credit institutions.

Landlessness is a, Cause of domestic

violence.

Disempowering women in several ways.

Challenge to women’s identity, freedom, and food security in Nepal.

POLICY ANALYSIS In 1951s, political parties didn’t give their attention

to gender aspect of land rights. In the first Land Act 1964, no any provisions were

introduce to provide land to the women.

After the restoration of democracy in 1990, political parties did not Imagine land ownership to the women.

In 1997, the land act (1964) was amended, but again failed to provide inherit property rights to daughter.

NEW DEBATE ON LAND TO THE WOMEN:

Civil society interventions

Effect of Maoist guerrilla war and people movements

Social movement and women empowerment

Strong advocacy and people’s pressure brought policy change

JOINT LAND CERTIFICATE: A SOLUTION Joint Land Certificate

(JLC) policy

- Proposal - Agreement - Change Actions

CAMPAIGN ON JLC IN NEPAL

People mobilization and advocacy Forum Building Consensus building Media Partnership Door to door Campaign

ACHIEVEMENTS

Increase women’s ownership on land

Government incentives raisedJLC included on Terms of Reference

(ToR) of the Landless Problem Solving Commission.

Women have more control over land.

Women's voice and stake increased.

CHALLENGES

Low level of education

Social norms and traditional value system.

Man and mindset

LEARNING Building a rapport with government and

policymakers is fundamental to install change

Use of local resource gives moral power of campaign.

Partnerships with civil society can go a long way at ensuring the dissemination of policy at local level

Macro-micro linkages is importance to bridging people mobilisation and policy work.

Policies on joint land ownership can increase women's rights and security without isolating men

Giving women greater control over land and assets has wider benefits for households and society.

Land ownership is an important means to provide freedom, power and self -esteem to women..

Thank you