New Kamasu Partnership

MS Nepal is welcoming Kamasu Digo Bikash as our new partner. Kamasu is the Tharu word for workers and the short form name of the organisation.

Kamasu is a non-governmental, non-partisan and non-profit independent organisation formed by former Kamaiyas. The organisation is based in Bardiya and has been very active in land rights campaigning. Within a short period of time Kamasu has gained popularity among former Kamaiyas; initiating land rights campaigns and making the demands of the movement heard. 

The new one time grant partnership is focusing on capacitating Kamasu in doing land rights advocacy and strengthening their organization.

The Kamaiya system was an age-old agricultural bonded labor system, mainly affecting indigenous groups of Tharu people and prevailing mainly in five district of the Mid- and Far Western Terai.

Following a strong campaign demanding freedom, the Kamaiya system was declared illegal and punishable by law by his Majesty the King and the Ministry of Land Reform in July 2000. The declaration included debt-cancellation - a binding factor in transferring the bonded-ness from one generation to another.

The government decree grants a maximum of five Katthas (0.35 hectare) of land to each freed Kamaiya family. However, five years after the declaration thousands of the Kamaiya families have yet to see the land they are entitled to, as they do not possess the identity cards needed in order to get the land.

It is the goal of Kamasu to make the freed Kamaiyas aware of their rights to land and an improved livelihood, mobilizing former Kamaiyas living in both official as well as unofficial settlements. 

Kamasu are also active in trying to make the government review its programmes and fulfill the commitments. It has formed a network of all landless groups in Bardiya and will use this platform to create awareness among stakeholders through public debates.

This will empower the organization; making it possible to participate, monitor and respond rapidly to government and other I/NGO supported programmes targeting former Kamayas.

MS-Nepal has helped Kamasu in linking up with CSRC- Community Self Reliant Service Center – a national level land rights organization based in Kathmandu. In April 2005 two focal persons from Kamasu have been on an exposure tour to Northern parts of India, learning new methods on how to advocate for land rights. Via such exposures and close linkages to MS and MS-partner BASE-Bardiya it is the aim of the partnership that Kamasu will develop even more confidence and strength for the benefit of their land rights movement.  

Kamasu have an office and a counseling center for the former Kamaiyas in Gulariya.