Former Kamaiyas demand

Five years after they were declared `free’ by the government, former `bonded laborers’ or `kamaiyas’ have demanded that the government make adequate provisions for their food, shelter and employment.

In mid-western district of Kailali, former ‘kamaiyas’ braved incessant rains and submitted a ten-point petition to the government. They also handed over two ‘wooden ploughs’ to the CDO indicating that they did not have land to plough.

In the far-western district of Kailali, hundreds of former ‘kamaiyas’ gathered at the District Administration Office at Dhangadhi and handed over a plough and a yoke to CDO to be sent to vice chairman in the council of ministers Kirtinidhi Bista.

The former `kamaiyas’ are demanding food, land, education to their children and medical facilities.

The then Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government had declared ‘bonded laborers’ free and made it illegal to employ people as ‘bonded laborers’ on Srawan 2 (July 17) five years ago.

Officials say they have rehabilitated thousands of former ‘kamaiyas’ since then. nepalnews.com by July 18 05