Nepal, May 17 -- Only four of the 100 points included in the government's annual policy and programme, presented in Parliament, directly address land-related issues, prompting concerns among land rights activists and landless communities about the government's commitment to resolving the longstanding issue.

Point 17 of the policy document mentions the concept of a land bank. The government says it will discourage the growing trend of leaving cultivable land barren and use a land bank system to bring unused farmland back into production. It has promised to ensure access to such land for young people, women, landless groups, and small and marginal farmers.

The policy also says farmers will be identified through official registration, iden...