The government is expected to incorporate rehabilitation packages for freed Haliyas in the upcoming budget once FHSC submits its report. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) is preparing to announce budget for the next fiscal shortly. [break]
“The government may announce rehabilitation package for freed Haliyas thorough the budget speech,” Joint Secretary at MoPR Bishnu Prasad Nepal, who is also a member of FHSC, told myrepublica.com. “This, however, is possible only if FHSC submits its report before the draft of the new budget is finalized.”
A meeting of FHSC held on Friday decided to send three of its members to various districts inhabited by freed Haliyas to collect the remaining data. The meeting decided to send its coordinator Hari Shripaili to Banke, Doti and Surkhet. Similarly, member Chakra BK will be sent to Dailekh, Jajarkot and Kalikot while Raju Bhul will be sent to Bajura, Darchula and Baitadi districts.
FHSC has collected data of some 15,000 households of freed Haliyas so far. The coordinator and members of FHSC will collect data of all the remaining Haliya households. “We have decided to divide works among three of our members to meet the new cut-off date,” Nepal said.
FHSC, formed by MoPR, was due to complete its task by April 13, 2009. FHSC has already exceeded its deadline by one year. MoPR set a cut-off date as the collection of data of freed Haliyas progressed very slowly. “We will not exceed our deadline this time,” Raju BK, one of three FHSC members sent to collect remaining data.
FHSC was set up on recommendations of a commission constituted by the government on September 6, 2008.
Haliyas´ plight persists
Haliyas in various districts in mid and far western regions continue to live under miserable conditions. Infuriated by the government´s announcement of freeing Haliyas, neither do landlords allow Haliyas to till their lands nor do they lend loans.
In most villages, freed Haliays have long been not able to repair their thatched roofs damaged by winds. Worse still, some landlords are still asking freed Haliyas to either pay off loans taken by their ancestors or toil for them.
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