I Acquired Power Through Land

My Name is Dol Maya Karki. I live in Kisan Nagar of Mahottari district. Albeit I was interested in studying in my childhood my parents never sent me school due to poverty. My parents forced me to get married with a farmer- Netra Bahadur Karki of Bardibas ward-6 Kishannagar, Mahottari district, southern plain of Nepal. Comparatively, my husband's family was richer than mine. They had 2 hectares of land.  However, there was no happiness in my family because of having two mother-in-laws. My mother-in-law was not satisfied with my work at home. She always blamed me and did not help in my difficulties. The total land of the family was registered on my step mother-in-law's name and she thought herself as a superior person of the family. Unfortunately, she became ill one day and we were compelled to sell our 0.63 hectare of land for spending in her treatment. But she was not recovered and finally died. My husband was also not helpful to me. He was an alcoholic person and he battered me.

 

After the death of my step mother-in- law, my family members partitioned properties including the land. Whatever the land we got from the family that was registered land in my husband's name. I could not say anything because of fear. I was not happy for the registration of land in my husband's name because he was not a good person.

 

Albeit I heard the name of village land right forum (VLRF) in my village. I was totally unaware on what it did. One day a saw a crowd in Rastriya Primary School. When I reached to the school and I found that the crowd was a joint land ownership (JLO) encampment organized by VLRF. I got the information on JLO and its importance through the encampment. When I came back to home, I requested to my husband for JLO but he was not convinced with my proposal. Then, I shared my problems with the members of the VLRF. They came to my house and convinced my husband as well. Then, he was ready to acquire the JLO after this VLRF intervention. My husband and I got the JLO on 21 May 2017 from district land revenue office, Mahottari. Now, we have 0.133 hectare of land. I felt now strong when I got the joint land certificate. My husband also cares me and we are happy at this time.

CSRC Nepal