One thousand couples have made joint land titles in Rautahat district. The District Bhumi Adhikar Manch has been campaigning and facilitating couples to make joint land ownership certificates in the district under the state programme launched five years ago.

The majority of couples living in Nayabasti of Gujara Municipality-2 have made joint land ownership certificates. “In the past, the land was registered only in the name of my husband. Now, we have made a joint land ownership certificate. We don’t have any family dispute,” said Dhanimaya Yonjan of Nayabasti in Gujara-2. 

Most of the couples from the remote parts of the district are interested in making joint land deeds. Anup Majhi, coordinator of District Bhumi Adhikar Manch, said the confidence level of women in the area has increased after making the joint land titles. “Both husband and wife will have to agree if they are to take a loan against their land.

This in effect will empower women in making decisions in the family,” said Majhi. 

The government is also promoting people to make joint land ownership certificates. “My wife is happy after I made a joint land ownership certificate for her,” said Krishna Waiba of Nayabasti. 

The government has also started providing the joint land ownership certificates with the aim to reduce the number of landless and impoverished people.District Land Revenue Officer Sikandar Sah has noted a rise in the number of couples making joint land ownership certificates of late. “The government has fixed only Rs100 as the land registration fee for making a joint land ownership certificate,” said Sah. 

The District Bhumi Adhikar Manch has also launched awareness campaigns making a pitch for the joint land ownership certificates in Chandrapur, Gujara, Brindaban, Phatuwa and 58 areas of Bijayapur Municipality.