Thousands of freed kamlaris still without identity cards 12 years after liberation

Dhangadhi: Even after 12 years of liberation, more than 3,000 freed Kamlaris have yet to receive their identity cards.

According to the Freed Kamlaris Development Forum, the delay has been caused by the absence of updated data and the lack of clear procedures for rehabilitation. The forum reported that 3,279 freed Kamlaris have not been issued identity cards.

The forum stated that there are 12,769 freed Kamlaris across five districts—Kailali, Kanchanpur, Bardiya, Banke and Dang. Of them, the government has updated data for only 9,490 individuals. Statistics from the fiscal year 2080-81 show that 26 freed Kamlaris have been residing in four hostels so far.

The forum further informed that seven freed Kamlaris—three from Kailali and two each from Bardiya and Dang—have died while living in the houses of their former owners. It was also reported that 13 Kamlaris were raped by their owners. At present, 42 freed Kamlaris in Kailali and 85 in Lumbini Province are pursuing bachelor’s and master’s degrees, said outgoing forum president Hira Chaudhary.

Following a nationwide movement by freed Kamlaris, the government announced their liberation through a 10-point agreement on Ashad 13, 2070. However, as the agreement has not been fully implemented, many freed Kamlaris have still not received identity cards even after 12 years of liberation.

Stakeholders say the lack of a clear rehabilitation procedure, patriarchal assumptions that freed Kamlaris would automatically be rehabilitated after marriage, and the notion that their rehabilitation would occur automatically if freed Kamaiyas were rehabilitated have prevented concrete action on the issue.

Sita Dangaura, president of the Freed Kamalari Development Forum Kanchanpur, said that many issues, including rehabilitation, remain unresolved and that the state must urgently amend directives, finalize working procedures and provide the services and facilities that freed Kamlaris are entitled to. She said it was regrettable that identity cards have still not been issued even after 12 years of liberation.

Pashupati Chaudhary, central president of Mukta Kamaiya Samaj, said confusion over the rehabilitation of freed Kamaiyas has persisted due to the absence of clear instructions to local levels. He stated that offices under the federal government failed to send documents to local bodies, and that the working procedure was not approved because the Ministry of Finance did not grant approval.

Although the Sudurpaschim Province government has formulated a working procedure, Chaudhary said the issue of freed Kamaiyas cannot be resolved until the concerned local levels also develop and implement their own procedures. Prem Daulyal, head of the Land Reforms and Land Revenue Office, said identity cards cannot be issued to new beneficiaries until the association’s working procedure is approved. He added that in Sudurpaschim Province, authorities would proceed in accordance with the working procedure prepared by the provincial government.

Suni Lama, president of the National Indigenous and Nationalist Women’s Forum, said that while the form of liberation has changed, the condition of freed Kamaiyas has remained largely unchanged. She urged freed Kamaiyas to move forward by initiating a countdown.