Palpa, Feb. 13 -- year-old Jit Bahadur BK of Jaisi Chaupari in Tansen Municipality-6, land ownership has remained elusive for more than three decades.

BK moved to Palpa from Dhurkot in neighbouring Gulmi district 32 years ago. A blacksmith by profession, BK settled on a small plot of land. At the time, officials from a government commission formed to address squatter issues allowed him to live on the land. However, he has yet to receive an official land ownership certificate.

"I have applied to the land commission more than half a dozen times. The land has been measured many times, but the certificate has never come," BK said. "Every government forms a new commission. They say something will happen, but nothing does."

According to BK, ...