Landlessness in Nepal: Issues and Challenges with special focus on Dalit
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32674/cnfdaj04Keywords:
Landlessness, Equity, Inclusion, Dalit equityAbstract
Land occupies a significant position in the Nepalese socio-economic context. It is not just a mere productive resource, rather it is associated with a source of livelihood, identity and socio-political power. Still the Dalits, who hold a significant portion (about 13.8%) of total population, are disproportionately landless and excluded from the agrarian resources due to the structural and historical constraints like caste-based discrimination, dispossession and oppression. The paper highlights landlessness as both driver and consequence of poverty in Dalit community, entrenching bonded labor, food security, social vulnerability, gendered violence and inter-generational exclusion. The study employs the theoretical debate on caste and class and class formation process in understanding exclusion of Dalits, focusing on access to land resource and establishes strong association of caste system with land access and class status. It should include the structural transformations of agrarian relations, social protection, equity-focused land reform and recognition of the heterogeneity among Dalits (various categories among them). Only then Nepal’s aspiration of inclusive prosperity and social justice would be achieved.
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