Demanding increment in the scholarship amount granted to Kamalaris, they said only a fraction of the amount allocated by the government has been utilized so far.[break]
"In the previous fiscal year too only 30 million rupees was spent, though the government allocated Rs 120 million for the rehabilitation of Kamalaris," Kamala Tharu, chairman of Freed Kamalari Development Forum (FKDF), said at a press meet organized in Kathmandu on Friday.
According to her, the money could not be fully spent as it was received at the end of the fiscal year. "The rest of the amount allocated for last year got frozen even though many Kamalaris were deprived of scholarships," she said.
In the current fiscal year, the government has allocated 160 million rupees for the purpose. "But even as the fiscal year is about to end soon, the Kamalaris are yet to get financial aids and scholarships," as per the statement issued at the meet.
Representatives from FKDF and other organizations active in the sector blamed the local authorities of being uncooperative with them. They accused the education ministry, the education department and the district education office of not distributing the amount meant for the welfare of Kamalaris.
"Though the government has allocated sufficient budget, freed Kamalaris are compelled to seek support from various organizations due to the negligence and dillydallying by the government authorities," said some FKDF representatives.
They demanded that the current scholarship amount of 1,000 rupees per annum to the primary level students and Rs 1,500 to secondary level be increased to 7,000 rupees. They have also demanded that the scholarship amount for the secondary and higher secondary level students, who receive Rs 1,700 and Rs 5,000 respectively at present, be increased to 10,000 and 13,000 rupees. Likewise, they have urged the government to allocate a scholarship of 20,000 rupees per annum to university level students.
Sending young daughters as Kamalaris to the service of landlords and well-heeled is widespread in the Tharu community from Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur.
The representatives at the press meet informed that over 7,000 Kamalaris are enrolled in schools in various parts of the country but more than 1,200 have no access to education at all.
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