Call for effective rehabilitation of freed bonded labourers

Kathmandu, May 19: Participants in a policy dialogue in Kathmandu urged the government to expedite and complete the long-delayed rehabilitation of freed bonded labourers including agricultural bonded labourers, Kamaiya, Haliya, Kamlari and Harawacharwa communities.

The call was made in an event organized by the National Agricultural Bonded Labourers Joint Struggle Committee. 

During the event, stakeholders criticized the government for failing to effectively implement rehabilitation programmes despite officially freeing Kamaiya in 2057 BS, Haliya in 2065 BS, Kamlari in 2070 BS  and Harawacharwa in 2079 BS. 

They also demanded a clear 'cut-off date' on the part of the government for rehabilitation and stronger implementation measures for fair and effective reintegration of these communities.

Putting forth the views, Surendra Chaudhary, member of the House of Representatives (HoR), said that the lawmakers should be sensitive to the need for the State's structural transformation.

Likewise, another HoR member Thakur Singh Tharu asserted that the issue of the freed agricultural bonded labourers is also linked to human rights and social justice and thus stressed that the State must take responsibility to ensure respect for their rights along with their protection and full readdress.

Participants also highlighted the need for adequate budgets, verified data collection and coordination among all three-tier of government to address the longstanding rehabilitation of these communities.

According to the Committee, a total of 1,104 freed Haliya families are yet to receive their final installment of the rehabilitation programme while 1,135 families are still waiting for rehabilitation. 

At the time of their liberation, 32,509 freed Kamaiyas and 14,242 freed Haliya families had received identification card while 12,970 freed Kamlari were identified across the country, it was shared. 

Nevertheless, thousands of freed bonded labourers across the country also still deprived of proper identification, verification and rehabilitation, it was said. (RSS)