Freed Bonded Labour in the Far Western Tarai

Abstract

The bonded laborers (Kamaiyas) were mostly from the indigenous Tharu ethnic group, who are still socially and economically disadvantaged. They have been surviving on the agricultural labor practice for centuries in the mid and far western Tarai of Nepal. This paper concentrates on the socio-economic and demographic background and means of livelihood of the freed Kamaiyas in Kanchanpur district of the far western development region of Nepal. For study purpose, 55 heads of household were selected from Krishnapur, Daijee VDCs and Bhimdatta municipality. All of them were from the Tharu community. They were from 20-55 years of age group and average age of the freed Kamaiyas was38 years. Educational background was unsatisfactory and they all were married. The Kamiyas were not well settled from the side of government. Therefore, they were compelled to change their continuous means of livelihood. The study shows that they have been employed in different sectors of economic activities. Agriculture wage labor, sharecropping, non-agriculture wage labor, government and private services within and outside the country, carpentry, masonry and many other types of occupation have been conducted by the freed labor (Kamaiyas) in the study area. They were economically in the worst condition and the average income was only NRs 3400 per month. They have raised some concerning issues via landlessness, education, employment and rehabilitation.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ttp.v11i0.11527

Third Pole
Vol. 11-12, 2012

Page: 29-33