The commitment to increase indigenous land ownership to 20 percent by the end of 2024 remains a steadfast goal of the Government.
Minister Susan Rodrigues, who holds a pivotal position within the Housing and Water Ministry, reiterated this commitment during her presentation at the Regional Forum on Urban Housing and Financing in Ecuador.
Minister Rodrigues highlighted that the government has already approved 16 percent of indigenous lands, following a surge in land titling requests and the successful completion of demarcation exercises.
This significant milestone was made possible through the implementation of the administration’s Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) Project, which grants indigenous communities the legal rights to safeguard their lands and natural resources.
She affirmed that efforts to secure the remaining four percent are currently underway, demonstrating the government’s unwavering dedication to this cause.
Minister Rodrigues emphasized, “Our aim is to increase that by the end of 2024. We have, as a government, facilities within the villages.”
In addition to land titling, Amerindians are also benefiting from an innovative program facilitated by the housing ministry, which provides individual land titles and supports home infrastructure design. Beneficiaries receive one million dollars to initiate the construction of their homes, with local banks offering an additional two million dollars in loans to ensure project completion.
“The full unit would be paid for, and they would have individual land titles,” explained Minister Rodrigues.
The drive for indigenous land titling was initially championed by President Dr. Irfaan Ali during his tenure as Minister of Housing and Water.
As the government advances this transformative initiative, indigenous communities are moving closer to securing their rightful ownership of lands and resources, setting the stage for greater autonomy and prosperity.
Trichell Sobers for NCN News