Recent updates from the field

A team of the representatives of the Local Development Ministry, World Food Programme and German Organization GTZ recently visited various freed Kamaiya camps in Kanchanpur district to take stock of the relief work being carried out under food for work programme for the freed Kamaiyas and see what they can do for their rehabilitation.

In course of the visit, the team was apprised by the Local Development Officer of the progress in the identification of freed Kamaiyas and public land for distributing them.

Some of the freed Kamaiyas in various camps in Kanchanpur and Kailali districts are getting some employment and food under the food for work programme, while those taking shelter in the Children's Organization building at Mahendranagar town in Kanchanpur complain that they have not received any employment and food as yet.

Puran Devi Chaudhari, who is a sort of leader of the freed Kamaiya women, said some NGOs including BASE are doing their best to provide some food and health care to those in the camps. But their stock of relief materials is also dwindling fast. NNSWA, an NGO which has also been providing food and medical care to the Camp inmates is fast running short of relief materials, said the president of the organization indicating that it will not be able to continue with the relief work any longer.

In addition to hunger, the freed Kamaiyas are also falling a prey to various kinds of diseases.

Meanwhile, District Police Office, Kanchanpur has employed 10 out of the 68 freed Kamaiyas in the nearby camps for some days promising to pay them Rs. 80/day, the minimum wage fixed by the local authority. This is the first time these Kamaiyas are getting the minimum wage fixed for agricultural labourers by the government.

With the former Kamaiya masters protesting against the government decision to free the Kamaiyas and waive the debt some tension is growing between the landlords and their freed Kamaiyas. Given this situation, it has been imperative on the part of local intellectuals, social workers, elected representatives and journalists to contribute from their respective quarters to building an atmosphere of goodwill and understanding.