Sarita and Ram Prasad Chaudhary – Community Self Reliance Center

Land Access and Ownership

Beginning its journey through supporting tenant farmers in claiming their tenancy rights and advocating for farmers’ rights over agricultural trust land, CSRC has been at the forefront of land rights advocacy for over three decades. Today, CSRC continues its focus on ensuring land rights and long-term access for landless individuals, tenants, former bonded laborers, and smallholder farmers.

Our approach includes building the capacity of poor women and men, influencing policy changes, developing alternative land reform models, and mobilizing community change agents to support pro-poor rural initiatives. We emphasize that secure land tenure is essential for economic stability, growth, and social cohesion achieved through clearly defining land rights and responsibilities.

CSRC works to improve the livelihoods of marginalized and landless individuals by creating a stable foundation for agricultural and land-based activities. Our advocacy efforts involve organizing policy dialogues to ensure that the voices of the landless are heard, leading to more equitable and inclusive policies and improved policy outcomes.

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Agro-ecology Promotion

CSRC has been working to promote sustainable farming and secure livelihoods through a holistic approach. The efforts focus on advancing organic and sustainable farming practices among marginalized and small farmers by providing them with essential training and resources. CSRC advocates for the conservation of traditional crops, the use of eco-friendly fertilizers, and bio-pesticides to ensure the long-term health of the land and its people.

Our approach includes facilitating community-led action and fostering collaborative agriculture. The organization supports the development of holistic land and agricultural models that uplift marginalized families and train community members to implement innovative farming practices. By mobilizing farmers to engage in shared farming methods on communal lands, we aim to enhance their ability to build secure livelihoods.

Additionally, CSRC works to ensure that small farmers are informed about their rights and state provisions. CSRC actively follows up to ensure these benefits are accessed and effectively implemented, collaborating with local governments to improve outcomes and support sustainable agricultural development.

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Securing Women Land rights

A person’s relationship to land is crucial for their well-being and identity. In Nepal, despite the significant role women play in agriculture, their rights over land remain a challenge. Despite legal provisions, weak enforcement and a lack of awareness hinder women’s access to their rights.

CSRC has long championed women’s land rights, advocating for stronger enforcement of existing laws and the introduction of new policies to protect these rights. We support initiatives that enhance women’s access, ownership, and control over land. Since the implementation of the Government’s Joint Land Ownership (JLO) Policy in 2011, our campaign has successfully allocated joint land ownership to 10,493 couples. CSRC is continuously advancing this important initiative as we recognize that JLO campaign is pivotal in boosting women’s self-esteem and dignity.

Evidence shows that women with land access have better livelihood options, increased bargaining power, reduced domestic violence, and greater access to civil and political rights. Thus, securing women’s land and property rights is essential for a better future of Nepal.

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Building Resilient Communities

Building resilient communities requires enhancing the ability of individuals, families, and communities to adapt to challenges. In Nepal, climate change has intensified heatwaves, droughts, and floods, making disaster preparedness crucial. CSRC addresses these multifaceted climatic challenges through comprehensive Disaster Risk Management (DRM) initiatives at the community, local, provincial, and federal levels.

The organization focuses on marginalized groups, including the poor, landless, and women, who disproportionately suffer from multi-hazard disasters and often lack representation in mitigation plans. CSRC enhances resilience by employing inclusive community engagement and Participatory Planning, ensuring that these groups are actively involved in DRM planning and decision-making.

CSRC empowers local communities to lead and implement their own DRM projects, ensuring their voices are at the forefront. We also implement Shock Responsive Social Protection (SRSP) and Forecast-based Action (FbA) strategies, aligned with the Government of Nepal’s DRM strategic plan for 2018-2030, to reduce human casualties and build the long-term resilience of the communities.

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