From semi-slavery to parliament — one woman’s fight for both forests and landless communities

Ramesh Prasad Bhushal

Until 2006, Shanta Chaudhary was a bonded labourer who had never attended school. But today this accidental politician chairs Nepal’s parliamentary committee on Natural Resources and Means and is responsible for government policy on land, water, forests and the environment.

In addition to Chaudhary’s role on the parliamentary committee, the 30 year old parliamentarian represents the country’s landless community in Nepal’s Constituent Assembly. The two roles are closely interlinked but there are tensions between them. Keeping the forest intact is not possible without evicting the large number of landless people who live there illegally.

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The ‘Forest voices’ series aims, through the work of local journalists, to provide insight into the forestry context in each of these countries and illustrate how locally controlled forestry and partnerships are working in practice on the ground.