Ghodaghodi, Kailali | August 11, 2026
The process of distributing land ownership registration certificates (lalpurja) to unmanaged settlers in Lamkichuha Municipality, Kailali, has entered its final stage, bringing renewed hope to hundreds of families who have been waiting for legal recognition of the land they have been occupying for years.
According to the Lamkichuha Municipal Land Service Centre, preparations are underway to distribute certificates to nearly 500 unmanaged settlers residing in the Bus Park area of Ward No. 1 and the Bhalka area of Ward No. 4.
Birendra Shahi, Coordinator of the Municipal Land Service Centre, said that all procedures required from the municipality had been completed before the Gen Z movement that disrupted administrative work in September 2025 (Bhadra 23, 2082 BS). At that time, files of 55 applicants had already been forwarded to the district level for revenue assessment.
Following the formation of a new administrative mechanism from the central to district levels, the stalled process has resumed, and the pending files are now being moved forward.
Shahi explained that verification is being conducted in accordance with the Identification, Verification Basis and Standards for Landless Dalits, Landless Squatters and Unmanaged Settlers, 2083 BS, as well as the Procedure for Collecting Records of Landless Dalits, Landless Squatters and Unmanaged Settlers, 2083 BS. Local land officials are currently reviewing supporting documents, while additional documents are being collected through public notices where necessary.
Once the verification process is completed, the files will be forwarded to the Land Problem Resolution Committee, Kailali for further action.
The committee is chaired by the Chief District Officer (CDO), with the Chief of the Survey Office serving as the member secretary. The committee is responsible for examining the files submitted by local governments and determining the applicable land revenue.
Hiralal Regmi, Chief District Officer of Kailali and Coordinator of the Land Problem Resolution Committee, stated that 255 files from Lamkichuha had initially reached the committee. However, due to the temporary suspension of work, the process could not proceed further. He said that once the remaining files are received, the committee plans to process 496 files simultaneously.
Lamkichuha Municipality has received applications from more than 18,000 people, including landless Dalits, landless squatters, and unmanaged settlers, seeking land ownership certificates.
Among them, 139 landless Dalit households have already received their lalpurja. The beneficiaries include nine households from Ward No. 1 and 130 households from the Badi community in Balchaur, Ward No. 3.
The distribution of land ownership certificates is considered a significant step toward social justice, secure housing rights, poverty reduction, and inclusive local development. For historically marginalized communities such as the Badi community, legal ownership of land can improve access to government services, financial institutions, housing support, and long-term livelihood opportunities.
According to the Central Land Problem Resolution Committee, a total of 9,937 land ownership certificates have been distributed across Nepal so far. Committee statistics show that 109 certificates have been issued since the beginning of 2083 BS (2026/27).
The ongoing initiative in Lamkichuha is expected to contribute not only to resolving long-standing land tenure issues but also to strengthening community stability, local governance, and sustainable socio-economic development in western Nepal.
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