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New
Kamasu
Partnership
By Shiva L. Bhusal, Program Officer, MS Nepal
MS
Nepal is welcoming Kamasu Digo Bikash as our new partner. Kamasu
is the Tharu word for workers and the short form name of the organisation.
Kamasu is a non-governmental, non-partisan and non-profit independent
organisation formed by former Kamaiyas.
The
organization is based in Bardiya and has been very active in land
rights campaigning. Within a short period of time Kamasu has
gained popularity among former Kamaiyas; initiating land rights
campaigns and making the demands of the movement heard.
The
new one time grant partnership is focusing on capacitating Kamasu
in doing land rights advocacy and strengthening their organization.
The
Kamaiya system was an age-old agricultural bonded labor system,
mainly affecting indigenous groups of Tharu people and prevailing
mainly in five district of the Mid- and Far Western Terai.
Following a strong campaign demanding freedom, the Kamaiya system
was declared illegal and punishable by law by his Majesty the King
and the Ministry of Land Reform in July 2000.
The
declaration included debt-cancellation - a binding factor in
transferring the bonded-ness from one generation to another.
The
government decree grants a maximum of five Katthas (0.35 hectare)
of land to each freed Kamaiya family. However, five years after
the declaration thousands of the Kamaiya families have yet to see
the land they are entitled to, as they do not possess the identity
cards needed in order to get the land.
It
is the goal of Kamasu to make the freed Kamaiyas aware of their
rights to land and an improved livelihood, mobilizing former Kamaiyas
living in both official as well as unofficial settlements.
Kamasu
are also active in trying to make the government review its programmes
and fulfill the commitments. It has formed a network of all landless
groups in Bardiya and will use this platform to create awareness
among stakeholders through public debates.
This
will empower the organization; making it possible to participate,
monitor and respond rapidly to government and other I/NGO
supported programmes targeting former Kamayas.
MS-Nepal has helped Kamasu in linking up with CSRC- Community Self
Reliant Service Center – a national level land rights organization
based in Kathmandu. In April 2005 two focal persons from Kamasu
have been on an exposure tour to Northern parts of India, learning
new methods on how to advocate for land rights. Via such exposures
and close linkages to MS and MS-partner BASE-Bardiya it is the aim
of the partnership that Kamasu will develop even more confidence
and strength for the benefit of their land rights movement.
Kamasu
have an office and a counseling center for the former Kamaiyas in
Gulariya.
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