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CSRC Social Audit: 9 September 2011 : An overview

CSRC conducts an annual Social Audit which seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of its work in a manner which ensures transparency & accountability to all partner organizations, rights holders/beneficiaries and stakeholders. Public scrutiny and feedback allows CSRC to be responsive to input from all of its stakeholders.

The program was chaired by Shasikala Dahal (Vice-Chair, CSRC). Chief guest and key note speaker was Ms. Purna Kumari Subedi (Vice-Speaker, CA). Also in attendance were Chiranjivi Adhikary (Care Nepal), Saraswoti Subba (Treasurer, NLRF), Ganesh B.K (Chair, Human Rights Alliance), Rajkumar Lekhi (Chair, NEFIN), Apsara Chapagain (Chair, FECOFUN), Sharmila Karki (Chief Secretary, NGO Federation), Shyam Shrestha, (Frontline Worker, Civil Society), Lalmani Joshi (Secretary, Land Reform & Management Ministry), Brinda Pandey (CA member of the Committee of Fundamental Right and Directive Principles), alongside representatives from NGO/INGO, political parties, various stakeholders, civil society bodies, government officials, social activists, academicians and international diplomats.


Key elements of the proceedings were as follows;

• A documentary film showing past experiences and achievements of the Land Rights Movement, accompanied by Gallery Presentations of the work of CSRC, Resource Centres (RC) and Resource Organizations (RO)


• Presentation of CSRC progress report and finance report by CSRC staff


• Review of CSRCs financial report by the Auditor Kiran Dongol


• Review of program progress, achievements and challenges associated with the land rights movement by Mohan Mardan Thapa (Consultant).


• Saresh Nepal, (central member of Landless Problem Solving Commission) highlighted some of the problems caused by land being provided to those people falsely claiming to be landless (Hukumbasi).


• Although indicating that the Land Act of 1964 has not yet been implemented, Lalmani Joshi, (Secretary of Land Reform and Management Ministry) highlighted the work currently being undertaken by the Land Ministry to accurately document land ownership and possession within Nepal.


• Brinda Pandey, (CA member of the Committee of Fundamental Right and Directive Principles) emphasized that although involved in the land rights movement for three decades now, real progress in respect of women’s entitlement to have only been apparent in the last 7 years or so. Campaigns needed to be accompanied by affirmative action if there was to be any real change. To illustrate this she noted that whilst the interim constitution of Nepal ensured the daughter's share on parental property, there had been no visible progress with regard to implementation.


• Dr. Bishnu Raj Upreti made participants aware of the publication of a book entitled "An Annotated Bibliography on Land Research in Nepal” published by Consortium for Land Research and Policy Dialogue (COLARP). The book contains research undertaken by national and international scholars & academicians on land related issues within Nepal.


• The keynote speech by Ms. Purna Kumari Subedi (Vice-Speaker, CA) praised the transparency of CSRCs social auditing process before going on to stress the importance of ensuring that those who are currently excluded from land rights by virtue of caste or class are encouraged to become active within the movement. The issues of land ownership and land distribution have been problematic for many years. Land ownership must be assured for all who till the land and landless people must be made owners of productive land. Regular campaigns needed to be conducted both to ensure that rights were claimed and achievements protected. Only when land rights were ensured within the constitution would it be possible to guarantee other individual rights. The work of CSRC and of the land rights movement as a whole is crucial for the process of change. In conclusion, Ms Purna Kumari Subedi indicated her commitment to this process.

Policy announcement on Women's Access to Land

Over time a number of women led land rights campaigns have brought about important changes at national policy level. In a patriarchal country like Nepal, access to land is fundamental to women’s empowerment. Land rights bring about security, independence and confidence, which together enable women to become active in all social and political arenas. The 11 day Padyatra organized by the NLRF in March 2010 illustrates the importance of this. 337 land deprived women from 42 Districts vowed to remain continuously active in the movement until their land rights were assured under the new Constitution. Similarly the National Movement for Timely Constitution Writing and Land Reform saw of more than 1,000 poor women (and more than 100 men) from 50 districts descending upon Kathmandu. This historic event saw working women raising their concerns directly with members of the various political parties.

Achievements:

• It has been agreed that both the husband and wife would have joint ownership of land provided by the state.



• A policy announcement has been made which makes it easier for women to be granted joint ownership of their husband’s land. The cost to the wife of affecting this transfer of ownership is a tax of 100 NPR. In addition a 40% discount in the land registration fee will be granted to village women living in remote areas.


• There is a general agreement, from the government level downwards, that work will continue to be undertaken over the coming years which will address the issues of women's land rights.

After continuous pressure from the land rights movement the issues of Haruwa & Charuwa (bonded labour), landless and tenants farmers have now been addressed in the government's policy making framework and budget setting for 2011/12, paving the way for their freedom. Within the category of Social Justice and Inclusion Development, special programs have been planned for the provision of employment, education & shelter, targeting all landless people, Kamaiya, Haliya, Haruwa/Charuwa, Kamlari, Badi & Gandharva. The government has also announced that it intends to implement the High Level Scientific Land Reform Commission report over the coming year, which will address the problems of landless and tenant farmers. This builds upon the consensus agreement made between the government of Nepal and the National Land Rights Forum in March 2011.


 

Celebration of 101st International Women’s Day

On 8th March 2011, the 101st International Women’s Day was celebrated in 40 districts including Banke, Bardiya, Surkhet, Kapilvastu, Palpa, Rautahat, Sunsari, Morang,Jhapa,Syangja, Nawalparasi, Chitwan, Udayapur, Sindhuli, Baglung, Dang, Jumla, Bajura, Lalitpur, Kaski and Dolkha. The celebrations were jointly co-ordinated by the National Land Rights Forum (NLRF) and the National Women Rights Forum (NWRF).

The program was marked by women from each of the districts marching together, carrying banners, placards and various farming tools and equipment. The marches culminated in meetings announcing the start of National Land Rights Movement activities from 15th March, 2011. A letter of demands was also submitted to concerned parties requesting the establishment of women’s rights to land.

In addition, an interaction program took place bringing together representatives of the Land Rights Forum, other NGO’s and political parties’ who expressed solidarity towards the National Land Rights Forum and assured their commitment towards it.


 

National Land Rights Movement<

From 15th March, 2011 (Chaitra 1st), the National Land Rights Forum (NLRF) began a national level pressure program in support of the National Land Rights Movement. The movement, comprising 100 women alongside 100 men from 50 districts took part in a prolonged sit in at the Constituent Assembly Building in Kathmandu. A number of demands were made, including;

• ensuring the drafting of a new constitution before 28th May, 2011 (Jestha 14, 2068)


• ensuring that with regard to land reform, the constitution upheld the rights of male and female tillers


• ensuring the securing of women’s right over land


• ensuring implementation of the report of land commission

The participants set up camp in 12 tents at the Open Theatre, Kathmandu. Saraswati Subba, treasurer of NLRF started the program by welcoming all of the participants. One of the Chief Guests of the Program, Ms. Purna Kumari Subedi, Vice-Chair of the Constituent Assembly inaugurated the program and pledged her support for the chief slogan of the program,“Andolanma Mahila Bhumi Adhikaar Pahila” (“Within the women’s movement, land is the first right”) by holding up a plough. Supporting the movement she said she would act as a mediator and ensure that the decision makers were reminded of their responsibilities to address the demands being made of them. Meanwhile Som Prasad Bhandari, Chief-Secretary of NLRF shared with those presents the objectives and demands of the program. Baldev Ram, Chairperson of NLRF concluded the inauguration program by thanking all of the participants and guests.


 

Stand up campaign for poverty end

10 years ago (in 2000 A.D.), Chief of the govements and leaders of all over the world had promised to reduce poverty by half by 2015 but poverty has been increased in this period. Today 1.5 billion people of the world are compelled to abide hunger. Government of Nepal had also promised to fulfill millennium development goal but the nature and form of poverty in country has become staid. As per the World Food Programme (WFP) 3.4 million people are abiding hunger daily in Nepal.

There was a hope of ending poverty, discrimination, injustice and suction in Nepal through inclusive and democratic constitution but commitment of reducing poverty has become chaotic by not completing constitution in anticipated time period. As per the report of Government of 2010 A.D., related to millennium development goal, poverty has decreased in 25.4 percent in 2010 from 31 percent of 2004. The increasing torment of the people doesn't prove this data. Recent study report published by Oxford University has indicated that there is 65 percent poverty in Nepal which has raised a question in reliability of poverty reduction claim.

It is required to give worldwide pressure to the Nation to fulfill promise targeting the vital sitting of millennium conference of United Nation, which is holding on September 20 to 22 2010 in New York. In this year, common voice raised against poverty and hunger in Nepal too holding different program in different places with the slogan "Stand and take action – raise voice to end poverty for sustainable peace" under worldwide movement against poverty and hunger on September 17,18 and 19 (Aswin 1-3) 2010.

With the initiation of National Land Rights Forum (NLRF), 600 of Jogbudha Dadeldhura, 57 of Dasarathchandra municipality Baitadi, 700 of Masuriya Kailali, 300 of Jhalari Kanchanpur, 1400 of Nepalgunj Banke, 5000 of Guleriya Bardiya, 87 of Kopuwa Kapilvastu, 800 of Butwal Rupandehi, 1100 of Malangawa Sarlahi, 900 of Jaleshwor Dhanusha, 800 of Lahan Siraha, 500 of Rajbiraj Saptari, 280 of Gaighat Udaypur and 200 of Urlabari Morang landless farmers demonstrated with plough and yoke including other instrument of farming. They had come with agriculture equipments, kitchen pots and raised voice for end of poverty and hunger. They had spotlighted to all CA members and political parties to give focus in making constitution and demanded assurance of provision of poverty end and free from hunger in fundamental rights of constitution saying poverty could not be addressed without new constitution and political stability.

They had demanded rights to free from hunger and malnutrition, compensation to the family who died by hunger, provision of appropriate employment and safety shelter, to give emphasis for small and stable agriculture investing minimum 15 percent of the budget in agriculture sector and to bring target plan and program for marginalized people, women, dalit farmer, landless farmer, disable, aborigines.