District Land Rights Forum, Saptari has handed over a memorandum to District Administration Office and District Development Committee asking for immediate rebuilding of the houses of Dalits that was gutted in fire on March 26. The Forum said that rain immediately after the fire had exacerbated the situation of 33 victim families. Forum district coordinator Saburlal Ram, advisor Surait Sada, land rights activist Raj Kumar Paswan along with others had handed over the memorandum to CDO Birendra Kumar Yadav. The memorandum also demands priority to landless squatters by Municipality and VDCs while taking land tenants, providing land ownership certificate to those working in the land, manage their permanent shelter including toilets and encourage the couples to have joint ownership of the land, among other demands. Accepting the memorandum, CDO Yadav and LDO Komal Prasad Dhamala said that they would coordinate with different organizations and government agencies to rebuild their homes. The March 26 fire had destroyed 79 houses belonging to 33 families while claiming the life of Chalitar Sardar, 65.

Manohar Kumar Pokharel