Kamaiyas to get 10 Katthas of land

Update on situation via MS-Nepal, received from Mahendranagar on January 9th 2001

At a time when thousands of liberated Kamaiyas languishing in several camps in the five districts of the western Nepal are getting more disappointed by the lackadaisical attitude of the government towards their proper rehabilitation, the Kanchanpur district ex- Kamaiyas rehabilitation coordination and monitoring committee has decided to provide 10 Katthas (.3 hect.) of land to the freed Kamaiyas who have more than five family members.

According to convenor of the committee and chairman of Kanchanpur District Development Committee Rishiraj Lumsali, the committee has, at the same time decided to provide five Katthas of land to the freed Kamaiyas who have less than five family members.

Officials concerned in the district say that the distribution of land will start within mid-January. However, this decision has generated some concern among the ex-kamaiyas, who refer to a case in which the Kailali district kamaiya rehabilitation coordination and monitoring committee's decision to provide five Katthas of land to the freed Kamaiyas by taking back the unregistered land already occupied by others gave rise to a lot of controversies.

Therefore, member of the Kamaiya liberation movement mobilization committee Ashok Bikram Jairu says, the government should not drag the already suffering ex-kamaiyas into any such controversy. The ex-kamaiyas should be provided with (problem free) land, which does not pull them into any controversy.

The outbreak of diseases like pneumonia, and cold wave, which are common in the Terai area during winter, have already claimed nine lives, children and elders being the main victims. Lack of proper food and clothes, medicines and basic amenities accompanied by further delay in their rehabilitation are likely to further worsen the conditions of the ex-Kamaiyas in the camps.