Rights versus Reality: Land Ownership Challenges of the Mushar Community in Kankai Municipality Through a Social Work Lens

 In recent times, land has been recognized as a source of social, economic, and political power. Although Mushars are the native people of the land, working on and worshiping it, they still lack ownership and basic housing facilities. This qualitative study aims to understand and examine the land ownership issues and major challenges Mushars of Kankai Municipality face. The study, conducted among 8 participants, was narratively analyzed. The findings of the study show that the Mushar Community around Kankai Municipality is still landless and faces several livelihood, health, and social challenges. Due to the lack of ownership, they have limited livelihood activities, low employment, no access to entrepreneurial activities, less involvement in the educational periphery, and poor health accessibility. These challenges have furthermore made them more vulnerable, making them backward and inducing the cycle of poverty. The community also possesses several messages, including the provision of land for agriculture and settlement, the creation of more job opportunities, the provision of skills and resources and education, and awareness to the community and children.