18 July 2000

His Majesty's Government through a cabinet decision dated 17 July has outlawed the practice of bonded labour prevalent under what is known as the Kamaiya system for over centuries. The government announcement has declared saunki (loan), the major binding element, illegal and has expressed a commitment to framing a law eliminating bonded labour system. The government has also expressed its willingness to launch skill development programmes for the kamaiyas. As this is a much looked for and long-awaited step, we would like to offer a vote of thanks to the government of Nepal.

On this occasion of pride and pleasure, we would like to sincerely congratulate the kamaiya brothers and sisters who incessantly and dedicatedly fought all hurdles—administrative, social, economic, and others—to arrive at this point. We are equally thankful to the many NGOs, INGOs, trade unions, individuals and other institutions for their support, moral as well as material, to the kamaiya freedom movement. The chief opposition party—the UML—deserves special thanks and applause for its substantial solidarity that played a key role in liberating those trapped into bondage over generations.

This declaration marks the end of the first phase of INSEC movement the seed of which was sown a decade ago with an objective of liberating the kamaiyas. We would also like to inform that from today, our movement has entered to the second phase, which aims at empowering the liberated kamaiyas.

We call on the government and other concerned to initiate immediate steps towards rehabilitating the kamaiyas, frame a law that guarantees the tenancy rights and implement the principle: land to the tiller. Kamaiyas be given land from the plot they had worked on since long. The government should guarantee and ensure that the kamaiyas have access to the minimum wage, and should pay equal attention to their health, education and their individual and collective security.

In this phase of Nepalese history that heralds the era of formation of a new society based on the principles of human rights, justice, dignity and equality, INSEC calls upon the masters, holding kamaiyas as their workers up till the moment the announcement was made, to help kamaiyas entertain their rights. Their humane and wise decision would certainly help things proceed on their course smoothly and as expected. We are confident that they will not let the society take a step backward.

As soon as the announcement was made, we got some news that some kamaiyas were threatened of retreat by their masters and/or their associates. This is quite unfortunate. At this point of time, all Nepalese should be proud and jubilant of liberation; that the land has now been free of slavery, the achievement that many countries made years back. We should rather be repentant on our slow pace that we had to wait long to liberate ourselves, our kin and kiths and our humanity.

The law enforcing authority is responsible to provide all sorts of protection measures and security to the kamaiyas. The government should be alert and attentive to this aspect. Otherwise, the just-liberated kamaiyas would themselves be compelled to fight all hurdles, disturbances and enmity. If this situation were to occur, the impact would surely be painful. The government as well as other concerned should be aware of this.

The complete elimination of the Kamaiya system requires significant reforms in the existing socio-economic structure. It must begin with scientific agrarian reform for land redistribution and management. The agrarian reform should ensure that the landless have access to land, the major productive resource. We call on the government, opposition parties and other individuals, institutions and NGOs to direct their concerns and actions to this end. We publicly declare that we are ready to provide any type of assistance and support in our command and authority to this campaign. It is in fact the more challenging part of the movement just begun.

Subodh Raj Pyakurel

General Secretary