Chitwan, Dec. 20 -- For Maya Devi Thakuri, a bitter irony is impossible to miss. She has lived decades on a tiny plot in Bhagyodayatol (which means a place where one's fortune blossoms) in ward 6 of Gaidakot Municipality in Nawalparasi East. But she has never received the ownership certificate for the seven ana (222.57 sq metres) land that would make it truly hers.

"In 2010, the land ownership document was prepared in my husband's name. We were told the chairperson of the landless commission would sign it and stamp it. We thought our struggle was finally over," recalled Maya. "Then we were told a case was filed somewhere. Since then, nothing has happened."

Originally from Sarlahi, Maya married Shankar Bahadur Thakuri of Dhading. With no...