Varsha— Parivartan Kendra (Centre for Change) Thank you for giving me opportunity to speak! I am Varsha from India representing Parivartan Kendra(Centre for Change). I wish to draw your attention to the recommendation 77 when I focus my recommendations on minorities' women's land rights. For sustainable and dignified livelihoods and development, social status, economic independence and political influence land is crucial. A survey conducted in Bihar a northern state of India found that only 1.85% of all landowners in the locations of study were women. When you talk about minorities women, they are not found in any government or nongovernment data with regards to land rights. It is very shocking, pathetic and shameful situation. Women are not even recognized as farmers by society and also by government. In India land ownership is equated with power. My question is, don't we want to empower minorities' women? If you try to find laws and policies which clearly speak land rights to minority women, you can hardly find one. Why is it important that minorities women own the land?      To remove the gender inequalities favori ngmen in the distribution of resources. To give women more bargaining power leading to gender equal allocations of 1. Direct benefits and 2. Indirect benefits Iike crops, access to Credit, etc. Equality in land rights is critical element in women's economic empowerment and it will enhance productive efficiency of women and in turn of the society To empower women to assert themselves better within the home, in community and with the state agencies that provide inputs and extension services and also against violence against women. To enhance women's ability to challenge and change existing unequal power relations that place them insubordinate social , economic and political positions. Recommendation to Govt. of India -    Issue Joint titles in the name of Husband and wife.  Give Priority to the single women in distribution of land  Recognize minority women as farmers  Issue Title of residential land in the name of minorities' women Ensuring rights to house sites as a legal guarantee to all minorities' women in rural and urban households Distribute of waste land community land in the name of minorities' women