HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Land reform aims to uplift lower class:PM

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug. 24: Members of Parliament of the ruling Nepali Congress hold discussions today on the 8-point special programme announced by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at the Parliament last Thursday.

Speaking at the NC’s parliamentary party meeting today at Baluwatar, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said that proposed changes in the existing ceiling of land ownership as only a part and the process for a comprehensive land reform programme proposed by the government.

The major issue in the special programme include a radical land reform package along with the prohibition of social discrimination of the lower class people, to boost up the social and economic situation of the lower and down-trodden class, bills for equal property right to women.

The proposed land reform package was the focus of all the 26 speakers, with majority of them speaking in favour of the government’s land reform package but a few of them thought the provision of reducing the ceiling of land ownership was a bad decision.

However, Prime Minister Deuba trying to ward off their apprehension said that the land reform programme does not mean only putting a ceiling on land-ownership and the government has also not taken it that way. "It means incentives to the farmers and to increase the productivity of land as well."

Defending his programme for land reform, the Prime Minister added that the proposed reform in land does not mean to shrink and minimize the middle class but to uplift the lower class people.

Elaborating on his special programmes, Premier Deuba said although the previous governments had made verbal commitments for generating employment opportunities, abolition of poverty and upliftment of the common masses, especially the lower and downtrodden people, but the lack of concrete social and economic programmes has led to utter disenchantment among the people.

"The present programmes are meant not to sell dreams, but to deliver what has been promised, and these programmes are inspired by the guidelines of a leader like B.P. Koirala and are based on the 14-point programme of former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala."

Deuba’s proposals received a boost within the party when the party’s President and former Prime Minister Koirala endorsed them saying that it was the continuation, and moreover, the implementing aspect of his 14-point programme.

At the meeting Koirala said that the Nepalese society is seeking a change in all aspects - social, cultural and economic - and the NC should take the lead for the changes aspired by the people.

"Our society cannot remain alien from the changes that are going on around the world, but we should go for changes on issues like untouchability, land reform and bringing women within the periphery of right to parental property by remaining within our limitations and without being affected from external influences."

He said the aim of the proposed land reform programme was to give direct and positive benefits to the middle and small farmers and the women’s property right bill was meant not to affect adversely the country’s joint family structure, which is still prevalent in the country. In his speech Koirala, however, suggested for ‘will system’ to empower women with equal property right. "All these programmes need to be implemented with a consensus and approval of all the national political parties of the country," he said.

Meanwhile, Koirala stressed for law and order in the country, saying no programme of the government would succeed without peace and stability. "So, the government should give top priority to maintain the peace and order in country," he said.

Speaking briefly at the meeting, leader of the Nepali Congress Krishna Prasad Bhattarai urged the people to support the government in implementing the revolutionary programmes brought by the government.

Likewise, Minister for Physical Planning and Works Chiranjibi Wagle assured the MPs that the bill on land reform would be brought to address the problems of the small and marginal farmers. He also asked for positive suggestions from all.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Ramchandra Poudel said the efforts made by the government to bring about changes in the society are in the interest of the country and democracy. He also said the government should not retract from reforms.

General Secretary of the Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala also said the government’s present 8-point programme was a continuation of former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s 14-point proposal. He hoped that any decision would be made with adequate homework and the policies for imposing ceiling to land ownership and other would come only after extensive discussions both within and outside the party.

He also said the party would reach to the conclusion on issues like women’s property right, land reform, commission for women and lower caste people and the distribution of citizenship papers to those whose citizenship certificates were revoked by the court after adequate groundwork and deliberations.

Meanwhile, Shailaja Acharya speaking at the meeting said that land ceiling must not be the only aim of land reform. Otherwise, she said, it would adversely affect the middle class farmers. She, however, did not hide her displeasure to the government’s land reform programme saying that we should go to land reform only after evaluating the wealth and assets of all those who were in the position of benefit since 2048 (1992 B.S.) and the confiscation of all such properties which are gotten illegally and unscrupulously. She said the Nepali Congress would not be pursuing BP’s principles until we go for progressive taxation.

There were also some who were overtly against land reform, especially putting a ceiling on land holding. Mahanta Thakur, expressed deep dissatisfaction over the Prime Minister’s proposal for clamping a ceiling on land holding. He also expressed his disillusionment on the success of the new land reform programme saying in 2021 B.S. (when the first land reform was implemented in the country) it had affected only the middle and small farmers and not the big landowners. "This time also it will be the same," he said and added that the new land reform proposal has been brought with focuss on the Terai. He also said the banning of all kinds of transactions of land has virtually destroyed the country’s economy.

Another MP from the Terai, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav also said the new land reform proposal will only distribute poverty. He even called it as a pressure programme and said the leaders from the hills have failed to understand the problem of the Terai.

Altogether 120 NC members including MPs and others were present at today’s meeting.

Earlier in the morning, the working committee of the NC’s parliamentary party decided to strengthen the club of the former NC MPs to make it more programme-oriented. It also decided to collect suggestions and opinions on issues like land reform, women’s property right and others and sent them to the party’s Central Working Committee for appropriate decision.

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