Ironically, while the locals have been reaping the benefits from the land, educational institutions have been compelled to ask for donations even for petty expenses. [break]
The locals have been tilling around 700 bighas of land owned by colleges and schools for several years now. Around 1,000 locals have been tilling the land.
They had agreed to pay less than around three quintal rice every year for being allowed to cultivate a bigha of land, but they have not honored the agreement.
Mechi Multiple Campus--the biggest education institute in the district-owns around 120 bigha of cultivable land at Saranamati VDC but it receives nothing from the 180 locals who have been cultivating the land.
“The individuals are reaping the benefits, while the campus has to ask for donations even for petty expenses,” rued Campus Chief Chinta Mani Dahal. Dahal revealed that though a few of them were paying the rent until a few years ago, even they have stopped paying after the country went republic.
Over two dozen community schools in the district, including Shanti Adarsha Secondary School, Shantinagar, Adarsha Higher Secondary School, Ghailadubba, Janata Higher Secondary School, Saranamati and Balabhadra Janata Higher Secondary School have the same story to share.
The schools had even formed a struggle committee to collect rent but their efforts failed after the tillers retaliated. Hari Charan Baniya, coordinator of the struggle committee, said some tillers even warned the school administration of dire consequences if the former demanded rent.
Encroachment by India
Around 55 bighas of land owned by Birendra Higher Secondary School, Chandragadi has been under Indian control for over three decades.
“We have the land ownership certificates but the land is being used by the Indians,” complained principal Tanka Pandey.
The land remains encroached since 2034 BS and Indian political parties have settled squatters there. “We have urged the government to take efforts to recover the land but to no avail,” Pandey added.
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