Without the documented evidence, they said we cannot apply for loan in banks, nor sell our houses in times of financial troubles.

“None of us own lands elsewhere. These houses are all we’ve got in the name of property,” said Maila Vabu Dyola. “Without the ownership documents, we’ve been facing difficulties in every step of our life.” 

Charan Prasad Dyola said, “We have put our problem before many political leaders and government officials, but all we got was their assurance and nothing more.”

Bhelukhel, which is located just five minutes walk from Bhaktapur Durbar Square, is largely inhabited by Dyola people. Although their ancestors worked as Kharpan (vegetable basket comprising of two carriers tied at two ends of a bamboo pole), most of the Dyola people in Bhelukhel today work as sweepers and wage labourers. They are among the most neglected and impoverished people in the district.

There are around 800 Dyola people in Bhelukhel. Only 10 percent of them are educated.

According to Baburatna Dyola, when the people from Survey Department visited Bhelukhel in 1964 for property measurement, many people had fled the village believing that the government officials were there to confiscate their properties. “As a result, many families did not receive the ownership documents for their houses. Neither the government nor the local administration here took any initiative to issue ownership documents after that,” said Baburatna.

Local people claimed that they have been demanding ownership documents for their houses for more than two decades. They accused the political leaders of using them during and elections and forgetting them once they have reached in power.

Maila said that their demand remains unaddressed because they do not have their representative in the Constituent Assembly to exert pressure on the government.

“We even took our demand before Girija Prasad Koirala, Jhala Nath Khanal, Madhav Kumar Nepal and Puspa Kamal Dahal when they were prime minister in the past. They, too, gave us false assurances,” said Maila.

The people of Bhelukhel said that their problem has not been taken seriously by the government and local administration.

Ram Mani Bhattarai, executive officer of Bhaktapur Municipality, said he was unaware of the issue. He has agreed to do the needful to address the demand of Dyola community.