| Kamaiyas' Freedom: What Next ?
Although the notorious Kamaiya system has got a formal goodbye in Nepal, flouting of rule is still apprehended. Chiranjibi Kafle writes from Kathmandu.
The Nepal government on Monday, July 17, abolished the notorious systemof bonded labour, declaring an instant freedom to over 200 thousand people who were bound to do hard menial work for their landlords against some loans which their parents or grandparents had or might have taken from them and subsequently failed to repay.
The 'kamaiya' or the bonded labour system is hereby declared illegal, said a government decree which the Minister of Land Reform, Shiva Raj Joshi, read out to members of the House of Representatives, the lowerhouse of parliament, on Monday. Bonded labourers are thus absolved of all the debts they might be owing to their landlords.
Significant: The announcement no doubt comes as the most significant step, probably next only to the promulgation of the present constitution in 1990 which had made the people of Nepal sovereign by curtailing the country's absolute King's power to a mere constitutional leadership under a multiparty framework. Despite the existence of the Civil Code 1962, which categorically brands all form of slavery, including the kamaiya system or bonded labour, as illegal, these forms of exploitation have continued over the decades.
Over 36 thousand families were compelled to work as "bonded labourers" in various parts of the country, particularly in the western terai belt. And an overwhelming majority of them may still continue to remain "boundup", as they can't leave their landlords straightway for fear of repression or even bullying from them.
Apprehension
"A clear and effective mechanism must be worked out without any delay to ensure that the landlords give a safe passage to their bonded labourers," says Khemraj Upadhyaya, a Kathmandu-based social-sector enthusiast who has spent four years, working in Kamaiya communities in various districts. He cautiously cites the example of various decisions gone astray in the past and says Kamaiyas cannot be convinced of the move unless it is truly put into practice by strictly punishing the landlords who defy the announcement.
Nevertheless, it goes without saying that the move to abolish the kamaiya system is bound to have far reaching positive consequences in the country's socio-economic development. For the moment, what existed as a form of savagery in a land that has been ever independent from foreign colonialism has finally been declared "illegal". With all political parties joining hands in this highly positive initiative, there's now every room for hope that 'correct politics' may soon start to reign the kingdom, which, till now, is marred by ugly and opportunist political wagers.
Background
The Kamaiya liberation movement, launched by social sector individuals and organizations through various initiatives such as awareness campaign through media, interaction of ideas and, above all, the concerns from Kamaiyas or the bonded labourers themselves, gained momentum particularly during the past two years.
Three months back, Kamaiyas in different parts of the country decided to appeal for their liberation first to their respective local authorities at the VDC/Town level. Later, they went to the district authorities but to no avail. Their final plea to the government, too, had gone long ignored before it was finally responded in the form of Monday's 'liberation' announcement.
Main opposition CPN-UML's formal proposition on Sunday that no business be carried out in the House until Kamaiyas are declared free worked as a major key to expedite the move that could have taken at least another few years before it was duly responded.
Kafle is a Newslook contributor based in Kathmandu. He can be reached at chiranjibikafle@hotmail.com