The empowerment of women largely depends on their economic status. Time and again, it has been proved that women gain status and respect in the family when they are economically sound. As earning members, their opinion gets weightage in day to day decision-making.

A large number of Pakistani women still live in rural areas and are attached to agriculture. Generally, they work in the fields and receive family wage, which does not go in their hands. Women’s organisations are demanding since long that public land should be distributed among women farmers with ownership title and technical and financial help. This will be a step forward in enhancing their status in the family and reduce violence against women.

The announcement of land distribution for landless Haris including women, by the government of Sindh in 2008, was received with appreciation. It was a progressive step and yet to be seen to what extent it serves the purpose. Under the landless Haris (farmers) project", lands were distributed in three consecutive years 2008, 2009 and 2010.

What did women achieve? Did it help in changing the status of women? Such crucial questions were being asked by many. The government could not provide a satisfactory data and appeared to be clueless about its own significant intervention. Land is the key and most important assets for providing livelihood in rural communities. Women as a marginalised section of society are supposed to be benefited by landownership polices.

Recently Legal Rights Forum had conducted a study on "Women Public Land Grantees in Sindh; issues, challenges and recommendation" with the help of Action Aid Pakistan.

The study provides an insight into the land distribution to the landless women Haris. It has dealt specifically about the issues and challenges faced by the grantees. According to the study, "The beneficiaries (women peasants) were unaware of the land distribution policy-2008 as set under, the Colonization of Govt. Land Act 1912." Under the said policy all the beneficiaries (women peasants) can be deprived of the ownership of land if they fail to comply with the conditions of the said policy. According to the policy, "A Hari who is allotted land and executed a deed and has paid the initial deposit of Rs100, shall pay the same amount per annum as documentation fee, for fifteen years in order to receive ownership document". Any defaulter, due to lack of information, may lose claim to ownership.

The study has divided issues and challenges in two parts -- pre and post distribution of lands.

Pre-distribution issues and challenges:

To begin with, there is variation in the statements of the CM and Revenue Department. Initially, the CM announced in Sindh Assembly in his budget speech in June 2008 that the Revenue Department will provide details of 212,864 acres of public land in different districts and 136,784 acres in Barrage area which will be distributed among landless Haris. But the available land was 85199 acres in 17 districts.

n The team also observed that most of the distributed land is uncultivable due to water-logging, salinity and disputes. Hence the identification of land was flawed process. There are hundred of appeals against the land identification and distribution in disputed areas.

n Open Kutcheries and publicity, which was supposed to be done for identification of poor landless peasants, has not been used effectively. Kutcheries were not announced properly and no separate kutcheries were held for women.

n Lack of interest and participation of civil society and local representatives in identifying suitable public land and beneficiaries also harmed the process.

n The process of distribution in kutcheries was not based on a well thought out framework. In some kutcheries, decisions were announced along with allotment orders to beneficiaries, while at some places it was merely an announcement. The allotees were asked to visit revenue offices in their districts and it is a cumbersome process.

n Land was not distributed under a unified policy -- there are inequalities in quality and quantity of land.

n Though women were suppose to be main beneficiaries, in some areas like Sukkur, Jacobabad and Dadu men were the grantees.

Post-distribution issues and challenges:

n It was decided to grant allotment orders to poor Haris in open Kutcheries, but at many places it did not happen. The study team collected evidences from Sukkur, Thatta and Badin that the list was announced but many grantees did not get formal allotment orders. In Pano Aqil, the Haris complained that they went to revenue offices many times but did not receive any allotment order.

n In three districts, the land granted to allotees was without proper demarcation. It hindered the process of cultivation and conflicts arose due to duplication of allotments on the same land.

n There is no support economic package for grantees of public land. How could they benefit and developed their lands.

n A large number of women Haris faced court cases and appeals. Many influential people have filed appeals against poor women Haris. These women have been frequently offices of Revenue departments and districts courts but have not succeeded. No proper legal mechanism is in place to support poor landless women.

n Another key issue is the issuance of ownership documents. Majority of grantees have not received it.

n There is a lack of legal, institutional and monitoring system of the entire process.

Recommendations:

n Open kutcheries and awareness sessions must be organised at union council levels, ensuring maximum participation of landless Haris.

n The allotment orders must be issued immediately. These documents can be used for loan and other support.

For cultivation, irrigation water must be ensured and uniform criteria must be developed for distribution of support package.

n Overall uniform policy is need for distribution of land itself.

n Committees must be established to educate grantees about their rights and duties such as payment of yearly documentations feel to get ownership. Such committees must comprise all relevant government departments and civil society representatives.

n To ensure a transparency, land distribution system must be connected through NADRA.

n Free legal aid must be provided to allottees.

The study includes very few cases but it reflected how the status of peasant women changed in the family after the landownership. Mehr-un-Nisa of Junejo Goth, Badin, received 4 acres of land in 2008. She could cultivate only one acre as water table is high in the rest of the land. She said though she did not get any support, she started cultivating one acre land and gets seasonal crops with the help of her husband. Very proudly she mentioned that in the last season she was able to get 1600 kilogram of rice for her family of six children. It may not sound any plausible gain to urban elite, but for her it was an achievement.

Ikhtiar of Saleh Pat, Sukkur, was allotted 25 acres of land but she got possession of only 12½ acres. To her disappointment, there is no water for irrigation. Her demand from the government is either to provide resources to make her land cultivable or to exchange it with irrigated land.

When asked about her status, she said. "I never owned any land in my life. But since I have become a land owner my husband’s behaviour has changed. He used to maltreat me but now he is soft and ask my opinion in family matters. She hoped to gain a permanent source of livelihood for her family with government’s help which will enhance her status more.

All women grantees shared the same view. It shows how the status of women is directly linked to their economic empowerment.

Shirkat Gah had also conducted a study, "Where there is land, there is hope" in 2012. It assessed the public land grantees scheme impact on lives of women in districts Thatta, Nawabshah and Sukkur.

The number of women peasant beneficiaries is 1184 while 2845 beneficiaries are male. This study has covered the issues and challenges of women Haris in District Thatta, Nawabshah and Sukkur.

The lesson learnt from both the reports need advocacy with the government of Sindh. A joint action is needed to start the negotiation for the 3^rd phase. The demand should be to demarcate cultivable land with irrigation. Women farmers should be provided seeds, fertilizers, training and modern equipment. A mechanism needs to be set up to resolve land disputes. The land should be distributed under uniform policies. Identifications of beneficiaries needs to be a transparent process in open Kutcheries which should be well publicised.