Govt abolishes Haliya system

The government has declared the abolition of Haliya system (land tillers working as indentured labourers) prevalent in mid and far-western Nepal for ages.

A cabinet meeting Saturday decided to abolish Haliya system a day after reaching a five-point agreement with Haliyas who have been staging protest in Kathmandu for some time now, demanding abolition of the system along with a proper rehabilitation plan.

"The government has uprooted Haliya system from today," Peace and Reconstruction minister Janardan Sharma announced before a group of Haliyas at Kathmandu's Maitighar Mandala, where they have been staging sit-in.

Minister Sharma also said the government would soon come up with rehabilitation programme for freed Haliyas.

There are an estimated 100,000 Haliyas, who belong mainly to Dalit and indigenous Tharu communities, in western Nepal.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had recently written a letter to the government asking to abolish Haliya system, which exists as a form exploitation of workers.

Prior to that, the Supreme Court had also ordered the government to do away with all forms of exploitations of workers including Haliya system. nepalnews.com mk Sept 06 08

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