KATHMANDU: The Mukta Kamaiyas have served a 15-day ultimatum to the government to fulfil their demands or face stern protests. Organising a press meet in the capital today, the freed bonded labourers lamented that the government had failed to rehabilitate many of them even after 14 years since their emancipation. 

 

Binti Ram Tharu, coordinator of Freed Bonded Labourers’ Rehabilitation Watch Central Struggle Committee, warned that the freed Kamaiyas would launch strong protests in the capital if the government failed to take the initiatives to rehabilitate them within 15 days. “The promises made by the government are yet to be realised,” he said. 

 

They have demanded that the government form a high-powered commission on freed bonded labourers and provide at least five katthas of land to each family, cash and timber for the construction of house, and implement the past agreement reached with the struggle committee. 

 

Mukta Kamaiyas are the people who used to do agricultural work and physical labour based upon verbal agreement with landlords. They are mainly found in Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur. The population of Mukta Kamaiyas is around 200,000 and most of them live in Kailali and Bardiya.