“We are yet not free,” the head of the family, Bandhu Rana, said. “We can not go anywhere. If we had a card, we could have claimed the land.” [break]
Freed Kamaiyas are former bonded laborers. The government had freed all Kamaiyas 10 years ago. But, Bandhu´s family remained unmindful of the government decision to this effect until recently.
When he learnt that all Kamaiyas were freed and provided lands to live on, Bandhu´s family sought identity cards required for claiming the land. But, it was too late. The local administration had already stopped issuing the cards. “No one informed us that the government was distributing identity cards to Kamaiyas,” Bandhu said.
His family has been working as bonded laborers in lawmaker Rana´s house for last 11 years.
Pashupati Chaudhari, chairman of Free Kamaiyas´ Society, says it is hard for the Bandhus to obtain identity cards as the government has already stopped issuing them. “They will receive cards only when the government starts the third phase of distribution of cards,” Chaudhari said.
However, lawmaker Rana says she has not kept Bandhu´s family as Kamaiyas. “I have never treated them as Kamaiyas,” she said. “I have treated them as my children.” Rana was nominated by Sadbhawana Party to the CA.
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