“Yesterday the government agreed to meet 10 of our main demands. The government had made such promises earlier but did not follow through. However, this time, we are quite hopeful that we won"t have to wage another war,” said Jamuna Rana, a former Kamlari from Kanchanjangha. [break]
Former Kamlaris had agreed to call off their agitation and sign the deal after the government agreed to release all those arrested while enforcing general shut down in the far-west and mid-west regions. The deal includes distributing identity cards to former Kamlaris without any delay, forming committees to rescue all Kamlaris who are still working as indentured laborer, proper investigation into the cases of former Kamlairs who were found dead in suspicious conditions, providing proper compensation to the families and rehabilitation of former Kamlaris within one month, among others.
According to Amrita Chaudhari, the talks between the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MoWCSW) and the joint struggle committee for abolition of Kamlari tradition went very well and there is room for high hopes that the agreed points would be realized. “However, if the government fails to do it, we are ready for another phase of struggle. We have already faced unexpected suppression from the police this time and this has made us stronger. We are not going to give up. Slavery should no more exist in Nepal,” she warned.
The police had used force against agitating former Kamlaris last Sunday as they tried to cross the prohibited zone in front of Singha Darbar. Many of them were injured and taken to hospital following the clash. Among severely beaten former Kamlaris, Urmila Chaudhari, Sujata Chaudhari and Meen Chaudhari have been discharged from Norvic Hospital just today. However, they cannot join the team of former Kamlaris returning home tomorrow.
“They have been discharged just today and the doctors have suggested them to take good rest for 10 more days. So they are not going back with us,” informed Santosh Dahit, assistant secretary of the struggle committee. “We are very happy about the agreement. The experience this time has made the Kamlaris even stronger. They will not take rest until and unless the government makes them feel the change,” he said.
The long tradition of keeping indentured laborer was abolished from the country in 2000.
However, in lack of government initiative to provide them alternatives, the system continues to violate the rights of young boys and girls till date. Many children of Tharu communities from the far and mid-western regions are still forced to serve well off families due to poverty.
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