Freed Kamalari women becoming self-reliant

By Liladhar Oli,Ghorahi, Apr. 7: Freed Kamalari women across Dang district have started becoming self-dependent by getting engaged in different economic activities.

In the Kamaiya system, a traditional bondage practice in Western Nepal, "Kamaiyas" are male labourers and "Kamalaris" are female labourers. It was in 2000 that the government abolished the system and freed the Kamaiyas and Kamalaris.

There are said to be around 13,000 freed Kamalaris living in different districts of Western Nepal including Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur.

In Dang's Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City, Mukta (Freed) Kamalari Development Forum has been organising entrepreneurship and skill-based training since 2021 under the Mukta Kamalari Empowerment Project to help the women become self-dependent economically.

"After completing my daily chores, I visit my field and get engaged in vegetable farm. I started with a loan of Rs. 20,000 from the Mukta Kamalari Development Forum's Revolving Fund. Now I am earning a good income," said Anita Chaudhary, a freed Kamalari from Ward No. 8 of Ghorahi.

Anita cultivates potatoes, tomatoes, cabbages and chillies in five katthas of land.

Similarly, in Ward No. 4 of Ghorahi, 28-year-old freed Kamalari Shobha Chaudhary is operating a fresh house. She had started meat business after getting trained by the forum.

"Other than in the morning and evening, I used to find myself free most of the times. After I got the training, I started operating a fresh house which has now allowed me to provide some economic support to my family of five," said Shobha.

Pushpa Chaudhary, a 29-year-old freed Kamalari, has also been operating a local eatery in Ward No. 3 of Ghorahi. 

"I did not have enough money to operate a large business, so I started with a simple eatery. Now, I am happy with it as I am earning a decent income," said Pushpa, who has completed her Bachelor’s in Education after being freed. She worked as a bonded labour for four years at a house before they were freed.

"We know the importance of skill. We help freed Kamalaris, alongside people from poor economic background, to earn their livelihood independently by providing training and loan without interest," said Sulochana Chaudhary, operator for the Forum in Dang.