Bhajani (Kailali). It has been 24 years since Kamaiya Mukti was declared. On July 2, 2057, the government announced the release of workers. Even though half a decade has passed, Ganesh Chaudhary of Shivnagar, Tikapur municipality of Kailali is waiting for rehabilitation. He says that even though the state has announced the rehabilitation of Kamaya Mukti with loan waiver, hundreds of families like him are still waiting for rehabilitation.
“The state has not been able to do the restoration work yet. Until today, Kamaiya has not been able to build even one living house with his ability. We have to live on the support of others”, Chaudhary says, “We have received assurances many times, but we have never received support.”
Ramphal Chaudhary of Shivnagar has been touched by old age. He spent 20 years in the camp hoping for rehabilitation after the government guaranteed rehabilitation. “Rehabilitation agreement is only done, we are forced to live a difficult life for decades.”
Shantaram Chaudhary’s problem is also the same. Even today, he is forced to earn his living by working in other people’s houses. “Yesterday, when you worked in other people’s house, you didn’t have your freedom, today you have freedom, the only difference is that.”
Two decades ago, after encroaching on the land in the name of Tikapur Multipurpose Campus, hundreds of Muktakamaiyas have taken shelter and have been living there until today. Not only Muktakamayya but also hundreds of squatters have been living in that area. “If the state had managed it properly, there would have been no compulsion to live on other people’s land”, said Chedu Chaudhary, a local, “we who have no land can leave this land and go anywhere.”
Bimal Chowdhury, secretary of Mukt Kamaiya Samaj Sudurpaschim Province, said that there are still 4,200 exempt muktkamaiyas to be restored in Kailali. There are nearly 12,000 Muktakamaiya families in the province. In Tikapur alone, around 600 families are waiting for rehabilitation. Secretary Chaudhary said that he has been coordinating and cooperating with all three levels of government to manage Muktakamaiya.
“As announced by the state, the management of all Muktakamaiya should be done as soon as possible”, he said. Muktakamaiya family resides in 11 local levels in Shailali and 6 local levels in Kanchanpur. The local level has given a public holiday on the day of the declaration of Kamaiya Mukti. Tikapur Municipality, Bhajani Municipality, Janaki Rural Municipality, Joshipur Rural Municipality, Kailari Rural Municipality and other local levels have given public holiday today on the occasion of Muktakamaiya Day.
