At present, Manjita is waiting for her class 12 results and says she wishes to pursue commerce in her Bachelor’s in order to be a bank manager. “I want to continue my studies in Dang. We have a cooperative organization which we hope to upgrade into a bank. After I graduate, I’ll be the bank manager,” she states. [break]
Please tell us something about yourself.
I’m a former kamlari involved in the movement seeking to eliminate the kamlari system. I’ve been a part of the children’s club, youth club, radio listener’s club as well as the first cooperative organization of the free kamlaris. Currently, I’m leading the FKDF and working on various awareness programs in Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts.
What are the most common problems of kamlaris?
The fact that kamlaris are still not identified or recognized is a big problem. The other troubles concerning kamlaris are the lack of food, lodging, clothes; trained and educated former kamlaris are still unemployed; guardian-less kamlaris have to be placed in good hostels; child marriage has also increased.
What should be done for those who’ve been rescued from bonded labor?
The government can help them in a lot of ways, starting with identifying those with no land or means of earning their living. Sufficient scholarships should also reach them in time. For those who are skilled or trained, the government should reserve a quota and provide employment. As I mentioned above, there are many kamlaris who have no guardians to turn to and if they’re provided with lodging then it’ll be a big help. The package program by the government should also be reestablished.
What exactly does Freed Kamlari Development Forum do?
FKDF collects data of kamlaris and also rescues them with the help of the district authorities. We have counseling programs. We also try to help by giving scholarships and vocational education. There are potential kamlaris who we help by providing scholarships and vocational training. One of the things we do is meeting people at their homes and trying to make them aware of the state of kamlaris and why they should avoid sending their children as bonded labors. FKDF also organizes cooperative development and promotion programs to improve the financial state of former kamlaris.
What are the duties you undertake as a central chairperson of the Freed Kamlari Development Forum?
I’ve been involved in many awareness programs at the village and the district level. My work till date includes fighting for the rights that the government should provide us, meeting the rescued kamlaris to talk about their problems, monitoring and evaluating programs and coordinating many organizations. I’ve put in my efforts to help in the establishment and development of the cooperative, been a part of many empowerment meeting between freed kamlaris and their guardians. In my role as the central chairperson of FKDF, I have organized the collection of welfare funds to compensate the victims of fire and flood. Now, we’re all preparing for the second convention.
At present, what are the most important issues pertaining kamlaris?
While the kamlaris have been declared free, the effort to rescue them is ongoing. It’s important for those who’ve been freed that the reestablishment package be continued.
In your opinion, what are the reasons behind the ongoing practice of hiring kamlaris despite acts like Human Trafficking Control Act, Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, and the Kamaiya Labor (Prohibition) Act forbidding its practice?
These acts seem to have no effect on those people who’re still continuing with the practice. There’s no one to listen to the troubles of the kamlaris. First of all, the kamlari family is troubled in every aspect. They’re landless; some have no guardians and the ones that do have incapable parents. People take advantage of the effects of geography, class, ethnicity and poverty on these families. The ones who make these laws are the ones who are breaking it. The ones who keep kamlaris are capable of understanding what they’re doing but they’re the ones in power. Poverty and lack of awareness are the reasons behind the parents sending their children to work.
What are your hopes regarding the recent announcement by the government to abolish the practice?
I’m hopeful because the announcement also includes the kamlari reestablishment program which has scholarship schemes and hostel management for freed kamlaris. It’s important that we also make an effort to see that the announcement is implemented. But if the government is serious about this issue then it’ll be successful.
When do you see the practice being abolished completely? And what are the ways to make it happen?
The first step should be the government’s immediate execution of the reestablishment program package. The family’s economic state is very important and if the government extends its support to the cooperative set up by freed kamlaris by providing funds, it’ll be a big help. Another step is to punish the guilty parties. A combination of these will see to it that there is change.
What is FKDF doing at the moment?
We’re holding meetings to look at ways in which the programs announced by the government can be implemented. Our other areas of work are providing encouragement, helping to supply school stationeries, supporting vocational education and skill development training programs, discussing ways to stop child marriage, counsel freed kamlaris and working on earning a livelihood through the cooperative. FKDF is also busy with the preparations for the second convention which is going to be held on October 2 in Dang.
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