KAPILVASTU, July 21: Land ownership in the name of women in Kapilvastu is increasing due to the provision of exemption in registration. Until a few years ago, the number of women owning land was negligible.

The land ownership in the name of women has increased significantly in the district after the government provided a special discount in revenue to those who registered land in the name of women. The land ownership of women has increased significantly after the government provided concessions in registration while purchasing land in the name of women

The government has given a concession of 25 percent on the registration fee for purchasing land. Taking advantage of this, families are rapidly registering purchased land in the name of women. Since the last decade and a half, the government has provided a discount on the registration fee charged for buying land in the name of women, and the number of people registering land in the name of women has increased dramatically.

“Until this provision was made, a negligible amount of land was registered in the name of women, but now land is being registered in the name of women.” Rishi Ram Poudel, head of Land Reform and Revenue Office Taulihawa, said, “Nowadays, there is a crowd of women in the land revenue office. 

According to land revenue office employees, the ownership of land in the name of women is increasing after the provision of exemption was introduced. Land was registered in the name of 5,084 women in the last Fiscal Year (FY) 2022/23 in the district. 

Land was registered in the name of 5,155 women in the FY 2021/22. In 2020/21, land was purchased in the name of 5,435 women.

Women's rights activists of the district have said that the provision of exemption made by the government is appreciable and a matter of happiness for women. “At first, men were reluctant to register land in the name of women, but after the implementation of the exemption system, land is being registered in the name of women,” said human rights activist Pushpa Regmi. “This provision has sent a positive message.” 

Women's rights activists complain that even though land is owned in the name of women, men dominate in decision making on purchasing and selling of land. She says that even though the rights seem to be provided to women on paper legally, the rights on decision making are still dominated by men.

Madhuri Shrestha, another women's rights activist, says that due to the registration of ownership of land, violence against women has also increased. “This is the reason why some women have been forced to endure violence,” she said. “When women try to sell the land registered on their name, other members of the family put various obstacles, in such cases how can we say that women are provided a handful of rights. Writing a woman's name on land ownership certificates does not mean that women have their rights to take fair decisions on their ownership of land.”  

In the last fiscal year, land was registered in the name of 784 Dalits. There is a provision to get a 50% discount on registration when Dalits purchase land. Because of that, Dalits have received Rs 4.83 million concessions during registration of land. Land has also been registered in the name of 67 senior citizens, who are over 70 years old and for that about  25 percent of concessions has been provided.

The land has also been registered in the name of 21 minors in the district.  About 51 industries have got a discount of Rs 18,89,815 for 75 percent discount. Three disabled people have received 4,600 discounts of 25 percent. Another 15 people have got a discount of Rs 615,185.

On the other hand, a total of Rs 225 million of revenue was collected in the land reform and revenue office in the last financial year. 

 
• Land_ownership
 
• registration
 
• women