Kamaiya situation in Kailali and Kanchanpur

What has transpired from the present situation of the former Kamaiyas is that with the government announcing on July 17 the liberation of Kamaiyas from bondage the freedom has rendered them homeless, jobless and for that matter helpless.

About 40,000 Kamaiyas have been relieved of their debt bondage to their masters in Kailali, Kanchanpur, Banke, Bardiya and dang. No sooner had the government announced the abolition of the Kamaiya system and waiver of “sauki” (debt), which had compelled the Kamaiyas to work for their masters generation after generation, the landlords started evicting the Kamaiyas from their houses forcefully. It is about two months since the kamaiyas were freed. They are still languishing temporary camps set up in different places in Kailali and Kanchanpur with very little or no food.

According to BASE, there are a total of 13,000 freed kamaiyas (1412 families) in Kailali district, while the number of freed Kamaiyas in Kanchanpur district is 6,976 (1050 families). Some of the freed Kamaiyas in Kanchanpur district have started working under the food for work programme from Sept. 9. The government has decided to distribute 600 quintals of rice under the programme.

This was disclosed at a meeting of the freed Kamaiya rehabilitation district coordination and monitoring committee on Sept. 8. The meeting also set four criteria for the identification of the freed Kamaiyas. According to the criteria, those who do not have land and house fall in category A, those who are living in public land in category B, those who have less than 2 katthas of land in category C and others in category D.

I/NGOs like ADRA, NNSWA, CCS are making some contributions to the relief of the freed Kamaiyas but such contributions are far too little. The freed Kamaiyas who are taking shelter near and around the district headquarters and town areas are receiving some relief assistance but there are many freed Kamaiyas in places quite far from the district headquarters and towns. And they have not received any relief materials except for some tents. They are suffering from hand to mouth problem not to talk of health problems brought about by a lack of adequate food and proper shelter and sanitation.