The government under a rehabilitation scheme had provided the freed Kamaiyas (bonded- laborers) plots of land in 2000. But they have not been able to use their land. According to Laxman, the land is being used by other people in the village. [break]
On July 17, 2000, the government had distributed 5 katthas, 2 katthas and 1 kattha of land to freed Kamiyas opting to stay in rural areas, roadsides and urban areas respectively. Of the total 32, 509 freed Kamaiyas in Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts, the government claims to have rehabilitated 10,015 Kamaiyas.
Speaking at a press meet organized by Kamaiya Mahila Jagaran Sangh in the district on Friday, Laxman said, “Though we have been emancipated, our plight remains the same. We are no better off than when we worked for the landlords. We have been duped by the government.” The rehabilitation committee formed by the government had given away land ownership certificates of public land to the Kamaiyas. But the Kamaiyas have not been able to use the land due to the problems posed by local authorities.
Similarly, Radha Krishna Tharu, another freed Kamaiya shares a similar plight. He was offered land ownership certificate 10 years ago, but he still does not know where the land is.
Freed Kamaiyas have been classified into four categories, said Krishna Thapa, officer at District Land Reform Office (DLRO) in the district, adding, “We provide them land on the basis of their classification.”
The government has allocated around Rs 75 million for the rehabilitation of former Kamaiyas. Recently, the rehabilitation committee settled as many as 244 Kamaiyas. Other Kamaiyas would also be rehabilitated soon, said Thapa. He also said that DLRO is investigating into the misuse land distributed to freed Kamaiyas.
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