National
Joint land ownership campaign leads to rise in number of women land owners in Baitadi
The number of women with land ownership certificate in Baitadi district has risen over the past few years.The number of women with land ownership certificate in Baitadi district has risen over the past few years. Women land owners have increased significantly after the government introduced the policy of offering discount on land registration fee for women. The government offers announced a 25 percent discount on land registration in the name of women.
The joint land ownership campaign launched to empower women has also contributed to the rise in the number of women land owners.
“The number of women visiting the land office for land registration and transferral of ownership has grown significantly after the joint land ownership campaign was initiated in the district 10 years ago,” said Anil Chand, acting chief of the District Land Revenue Office. As per the data available at the land office, 79 women acquired land ownership certificates in the district in the fiscal year 2016/17.
The figure stood at 92 in 2017/18 fiscal. The land office said that land ownership certificates were issued to 66 women in the first nine months of the current fiscal year. Saraswoti Nepali, a woman rights activist, said that the government’s policy and increasing level of awareness among people has increased the number of women land owners throughout the country.
“It is a good sign that today more women own property. It is a step towards women empowerment and raising their confidence,” Nepali said. Lila Bista, deputy chief of Sunarya Rural Municipality, believes that allowing more women to own property also has social significance.
“It could put women in the decision-making position, because without their consent, no property can be sold or transferred. Women will be empowered and become financially independent to a certain degree if they own property. It could also help reduce the cases of domestic abuse and violence against women,” Bista said.