Alleged irregularities on money meant for freed Haliyas

BAITADI, Aug 13: Sixteen former bonded laborers from Dasharathchand municipality-9, Gwallek of Baitadi have jointly lodged a complaint against a member of the District Hliya Mukti Samaj for alleged irregularities at the District Administration Office.

Those who lodged the complaint said that Koli had demanded bribe of Rs. 8,000 each from the Haliyas if they were to receive the money under the Haliya Rehabilitation Program of the Nepal government. 

Birman Mahara, a local Haliya, said that Koli had demanded Rs 8,000 each from the amount received through the District Inland Revenue Office. 

The case came to the spotlight after Koli demanded Rs 9,500 from Dukhi Rana on August 2. Rana immediately registered a complaint against Koli. 

The Chief District Officer, Chandra Prasad Gaire pledged to carry out necessary probe into the incident. "We’ll take legal action if he is found to be involved in seeking commission from the money that is being given to free the Haliyas.” 

Likewise, Rajuram Bhul, former central chairperson of Haliya Mukti Samaj, expressed doubt over the misuse of amount meant for former bonded laborers across the district. However, Koli claimed that he did not receive any money from the previous bonded laborers. He said that it was a political conspiracy to assassinate his character. 

It may be noted that a big chunk of money had come for 1,000 freed Haliyas in Baitadi last year under the Freed Haliya Rehabilitation Programme. 

For each freed Haliya family, the government has been providing Rs 325,000 for house construction, Rs 200,000 for land purchase and Rs 125,000 for house maintenance. 

The data reveals that Baitadi alone has 2,022 freed Haliyas. RSS