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One more
Kamaiya movement in the offing
(update received from the field -Oct. 24)
With
the government failing to speed up the rehabilitation programme even about
three months after the July 17 announcement that freed the Kamaiyas, the
"freed" Kamaiyas are once again in agitating mood.
A
recent meeting of the Kamaiya Liberation Struggle Mobilization Committee (KLSMC)
and Kamaiya Liberation Action Committee (KLAC) has decided to launch an
agitation once again demanding proper and speedy rehabilitation of the
freed Kamaiyas and their families.
According
to KLSMC coordinator Dilli Chaudhari, very much frustrated by the
lackadaisical attitude of the Government the ex-Kamaiyas have set the
stage for one more movement, which will be kick-started by submitting
memorandums to the District Administration Offices in all five freed
Kamaiya-populated districts on Oct. 23.
The
two committees-KLSMC and KLAC-have decided to meet on Nov. 4 to finalize
arrangements for a protest rally on Nov. 6 so as to give a new impetus to
the struggle.
In
course of the movement, cases will be filed with the courts of law
demanding legal action against exploitation and atrocities the ex-Kamaiyas
are still undergoing, sit-ins will be staged at the District
Administration Offices in all the five districts, and general strikes (bandh)
will be organized in the district--Kailali, Kanchanpur, Banke, Bardia and
Dang.
As
part of the movement an interaction programme will be organized in
Kathmandu involving MPs, journalists and intellectuals, an orientation
programme will be organized to educate the freed Kamaiyas about their
rights and a sit-in will be staged in front of Singha Durbar, the central
administrative complex in the capital.
Amidst
complaints from NGO sector that the registration of ex-Kamaiyas is far
from satisfactory, the Government has completed the task of identifying
land that can be distributed to the ex-Kamaiyas and registering the names
of the ex-Kamaiyas. Distribution of identification certificates to the
registered ex-Kamaiyas is also underway in some areas.
Land
reform officers in Kailali and Kanchanpur say that the Dashain and Tihar
festival holidays have caused some delay to the rehabilitation work. All
the ex-Kamaiyas will be provided with identification certificates within
about 20 days and then the distribution of land will follow, they say.
A
total of 594 families are taking shelter in 17 freed Kamaiya camps in
Kailai district. Out of the 5,679 freed Kamaiyas already identified in the
district 2,647 are homeless.
Likewise,
2,727 freed Kamaiyas have been identified in Kanchanpur district. They are
living in 10 camps.
The
freed Kamaiyas and their families in the camps are living in miserable
conditions. They have hand to mouth problem, their children are deprived
of education and malnutrition has been a serious problem. The tents that
they have received from government and/or nongovernmental sectors are
wearing out. The winter is drawing nearer and the ex-Kamaiyas do not have
proper clothes to wear-not to talk of warmer ones.
They
are in big confusion. The rumour that the government is planning to
provide each family with only one Kattha of land (equivalent to the size
of a volleyball court) has very much frustrated them. Officials concerned
say no decision has been taken as yet as to how much land the ex-Kamaiyas
will be given.
Some
ex-Kamaiyas are getting work and wage under the food for work programme.
But the freed Kamaiyas in Kanchanpur have different kind of problem. The
food for work programme launched there through the District Development
Committee required them to go to the hill areas in the district to work
under the programme. But they don't have the courage and skill to work in
the hills. They are refusing to go to the hills and consequently they
don't have any work.
This
being the situation it is imperative on the part of the government to
expedite the rehabilitation programme. Likewise, it would be better if the
NGOs and other sectors concerned helped build an atmosphere of trust and
reconciliation between the freed Kamaiyas and the farmers (former
landlords) to see to it that the landlords invite the freed Kamaiyas to
help them harvest their rice crop and pay them the fixed minimum wage.
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