Freed kamaiyas demand permanent shelter
Dang, Jan 9: Freed kamaiyas (former bonded workers) in the central and far-western regions have demanded that the government ensure permanent shelter for them.
The two-day gathering of liberated kamaiyas of five districts in the central and far-west regions- Dang, Banke, Kailali, Bardiya and Kanchanpur- concluded with a demand before the government to provide them with permanent shelter.
At a press meet organised during the concluding session of the gathering, Freed Kamaiyas Rehabilitation Supervision Central Working Committee coordinator Binitiram Tharu said of 32,509 freed kamaiyas identified by the government, 4,965 have not got land from the government. The gathering was coordinated by the Backward Society Education (BASE), an organisation advocating for the rights of the freed kamaiyas.
Freed Kamaiyas Surveillance Group Kailali coordinator Ramfal Chaudhary said freed kamaiyas are going through a miserable situation as the government failed to live up to promise regarding their rehabilitation
The government announced the liberation of kamaiyas (a traditional system of forced labour prevalent in the western Tarai) in 2007 with the promise of a rehabilitation package.