23 years after freedom, Kamaiyas awaiting landownership document

By Laxmi Timilsina, Jamunah, May 17: Although the 10-year restriction on selling and transferring land granted to the freed Kamaiyas has expired, they still do not enjoy ownership or control over its use.

The government allotted land to freed Kamaiyas 23 years ago, but they complain that they can only live on and farm the land, they are still not permitted to sell it, divide it or use it as collateral for loans.

Kaliram Tharu, a freed Kamaiya from Loknagar, Kohalpur Municipality-11, said they were given land with land ownership certificate in 2000. 

But the land has not been officially released. “We cannot sell it or take a loan using the land. The government should give us full rights, especially since we are from poor backgrounds,” he said.

Agania Tharu of Muktinagar, Kohalpur-2 said that political leaders know about their problem but have not helped. “They only use us for votes and never try to resolve our problems,” he said.

Bhola Mahat, Lumbini Province Coordinator of INSEC, said freed Kamaiyas deserve full land rights. “They were bonded labourers for generations. They should not be treated like that again,” he added.

In Banke district, there are 14,500 freed Kamaiyas living on 27,500 katthas of land.

Meanwhile, the freed Kamaiyas have filed a case in court demanding full rights to the land provided to them. 

They are requesting the court to revoke rules and notices that prevent them from selling, transferring or obtaining permanent ownership certificates for the land. They argue that these restrictions are unconstitutional and discriminatory.

The High Court in Nepalgunj, under Justice Poonam Singh Chand has issued a notice to the government, seeking clarification on the rationale behind these restrictions.

The case will proceed once the government submits its response. The court will hear arguments from both sides before delivering a final verdict.

Advocates Basanta Gautam, Sunil Kumar Shrestha, Lok Bahadur Shah and Bikash Acharya are participating in the hearings on behalf of the freed Kamaiyas in the case.