"My heart aches even today when those horrible days dance in my eyes. I cannot explain how bad I would feel when I was treated as a laborer. I had to work like a machine," Ramita reminisced. "Such slavery is a very bad experience to have."Born and brought up in Gulariya – 2 of Kanchanpur district, Ramita served as Kamlari for seven years. She served five years as Kamlai in one house and another two years in another landlord's house in Mahendranagar. "The landlords' family members would never see your toils or illness. They would never ask you to take rest even when during illness. No matter how young you are, all they wanted you to do is work," said Ramita.
Though she could not join school during her childhood, Ramita always dreamt of a free and independent life. By the time she was freed from the role of Kamlari, she was already 15 years old. And she was not even literate. "But I did not lose hope. I wanted to make out a way for myself," Ramita said, adding that she managed to join adult literacy classes as well as vocational trainings. She learnt to cook several dishes during the training and since the past one year, Ramita has been running her own mobile food stall business. She cooks and sells local delicacies chowmin, mo:mo, pakauda and samosa, among others. This has been enabled her to make a good living.
"I could not go to school. So, big jobs are not in my reach. However, there are different ways to earn and I'm doing one of those," she said proudly. She is happy that she is free and independent nowadays unlike her childhood. Post-Kamlari days, happiness came to her even in the form of marriage.
"We were in love and we tied nuptial knot right after I was freed from the house. Now, my husband fully supports me in my business," said elated Ramita. Her husband, Neeraj Chaudhari of Joshipur, Kailali added that the business is thriving as Ramita is a well-trained cook.
Neeraj, who could not study above class eight due to poverty, had plan to move to India for job. However, after he saw that he could enhance wife's business by staying back with her; he dropped the idea of landing anywhere else.
The couple earns Rs 40 to 50 thousand in month. Encouraged by the return, Ramita is planning to open a hotel in Dhangadi. "If we can earn so much through a food cart, we can definitely do better if we expand it," said Ramita, now 22. "We are going to open a hotel with a restaurant in Dhangadi soon," she added.
Ramita's success has inspired many in her locality and Jogina Chaudhari is one of them. According to Jogina, Ramita has been able to establish herself as a businesswoman in very short time and has shown to people that hard work pays off.
"She has been an example for many ex-Kamlaris. Those who are in dilemma regarding their future look up to her and try to do something," Jogina said. She added that Ramita has not impressed freed bonded labors alone. Instead, many educated and jobless people also praise her.
Another ex – Kamlari, Sujata Chaudhari maintained that Ramita has clearly showed that there's a way, when there's a will. "Instead of being hopeless that we could not go to school in young age, we need to look forward and think what we can do at the present and for our future. We get such feeling by looking at Ramita's life, she's truly an inspiration," Sujata said.
Meanwhile, Gopal Hamal, central member of FNCCI remarked that people with will power and a clear goal are always successful. "There are many examples of people fast climbing the ladder of success when they are focused. Many of the successful business entrepreneurs today have started from grassroots levels," he said. He added that Ramita could reach new heights, too.
While stating that freed Kamlaris have started to write their own future, Dharma Dev Bhatta, Chief of Aishwarya Multiple Campus said that Ramita has indeed been one of the best examples. "Many of our youths are leaving country for job in foreign countries. But people like Ramita are showing that there are lot of things you could do in your country itself," he said.
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