Land Politics and Conflict in Nepal: Realities and Potentials for Agrarian Transformation
Publisher: Community Self Reliance Centre
Author(s): Ed. Bishnu Raj Upreti PhD., Sagar Raj Sharma PhD., Jagat Basnet
Date: 2008
Topics: Dispute Resolution/Mediation, Gender, Governance, Land, Livelihoods, Renewable Resources
Countries: Nepal
Land has not only been one of the most contentious topics in the
political economy of Nepal over the last fifty years, but it has also
become a perennial source of conflict and power struggle.
Reformative, transformative and advocacy approaches are often
followed in contemporary land debates. Different land policies
have been introduced during this period to address land related
concerns, to improve farmers’ tenancy rights and to establish
ownership of the tillers. Unfortunately, however, most of these
approaches and policies have either been flawed or poorly
implemented, and consequently poor and marginal people have
suffered heavily. Further, the Monarchy was said to be the
protector, promoter and bearer of feudalism; and it became the
source of backwardness, poverty and inequality in Nepal. Hence,
the target of various popular movements was the monarchy.
Consequently, the 240 years old Monarchy was formally ended by
the first meeting of Constituent Assembly1.