'Votes for those who deliver Lalpurja, not just promises'

By Kedar Timalsina, Banepa, Feb.28: Around 55 households from the Tamang community live in the area in Torikhoriya of Panauti–2, Kavrepalanchok District.

Although these locals have been living there for four to five generations, they have still not received land ownership certificates (Lalpurja) for the land they have been using and are therefore forced to live as landless squatters.

In every election, political parties and candidates come asking for votes with promises to provide land ownership certificates to these landless residents. However, they have not received the certificates so far. This time, the residents of Torikhoriya say they are looking not for candidates who merely promise Land Ownership Certificate as in previous elections, but for candidates who will actually deliver them.

Local resident Narayan Tamang complained that candidates from various parties have been coming for years promising to provide Lalurja (Land Ownership Certificate)in exchange for votes.

"They come during elections saying they will give us Lalpurja and ask for our votes. They even say the certificates are wrapped in red cloth and ready to be given. But after they win the election, our problems remain unsolved,” he said.

He added that residents are now searching for candidates who will genuinely take initiative to provide the land ownership certificates for the land they have been using.

Narayan also mentioned that despite problems such as drinking water shortages in the village, no authority has paid attention.

The villagers had to buy pipes themselves to bring drinking water. Poor roads have caused further hardship, and although last year’s floods and landslides caused significant damage, locals have not received any relief so far.

Another local, Mohansing Tamang, said that even after five generations, they have not been able to obtain Lalpurja for the land they have been occupying.

“The land my grandfather used is now being used by my grandson’s generation, yet we still haven’t received Lalpurja. Without ownership certificates, we have been forced to live as landless people,” he said.

He added that many elections have come and gone with promises of Lalpurja, but none have been fulfilled.

 “It feels like whoever comes makes the same empty promises. Our problem remains unresolved, and now we have almost lost hope of ever receiving Lalpurja. We are looking for candidates who will truly provide it, not just promise it.”

Another resident, Surya Tamang, said they have been using the land for many years but still have not received land ownership certificates. Without Lalpurja, they face many difficulties and cannot fully utilize the land.

“If we receive Lalpurja for the land we are using, it would make things easier whenever we face difficulties in the future,” Surya said. He added that the residents of Torikhoriya are looking for candidates who will solve their Lalpurja problem rather than merely making it an election agenda.

Former mayor of Panauti, Bhim Neupane, said that although people have been living in Panauti–2 since the Panchayat era, they still have not received Lalpurja for the land they occupy. He explained that a Land Commission formed in 1994 (2051 B.S.) had completed the measurement of the land being used by locals, but the commission was dissolved before the certificates could be distributed.

Neupane added that although various land commissions have been formed since then to resolve the issue, the residents have still not received their land ownership certificates.

The Land Problem Settlement Commission in Kavrepalanchok stated that during the land measurement process, only the eastern part of Torikhoriya was surveyed, while the western part, where people currently live, was left unmeasured. As a result, residents have not yet been able to obtain Lalpurja.

Commission chair Bidur Prasad Humagain said that the ward office has recommended providing land to the residents of Torikhoriya who have not received Lalpurja. The commission has also requested the Land Revenue Office to verify whether these residents own land elsewhere before proceeding with the process.