Jul 02, Kathmandu - The government has initiated the distribution of land ownership certificates, known as "Lal Purja," in Bardiya District. A total of 29 landless Dalit and landless squatters from Bardiya’s Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality-4 have received these certificates, marking a significant step toward legal land ownership for marginalized groups.

For years, many local residents lacked formal ownership of their land. With the receipt of Lal Purja, they are now recognized as legal landowners, enabling them to access banking services, loans, and other government facilities more easily.

The distribution of Lal Purja aligns with the government’s long-term goal to address issues faced by landless Dalits, squatters, and informal settlers by legally establishing their ownership rights. The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Federal Affairs has emphasized that this process will be expanded nationwide to empower genuine landless citizens.

Land Reform, Cooperative, and Federal Affairs Minister Pratibha Rijal highlighted that resolving land issues for marginalized communities is a top priority for the government. She announced that starting with Bardiya, the distribution of Lal Purja will be scaled across Nepal to ensure that true landless citizens gain legal ownership of land.