DIPAYAL: Life of a freed kamaiya, Ratrani Chaudhary of Geta, Kailali, who had worked as a bonded labour in her master's house has not yet changed even after she has been made "free" from the bondage.

She is living in a hut, where water leaks every monsoon and the family is largely dependent on the previous masters.

Situation of most of the freed kamaiyas is similar as they await some permanent resettlement scheme.

Kamaiyas are bonded labourers employed by high-class families of far-western Nepal in the past. The government had declared that they were freed on July 17, 2000.

"The government, which initially freed kamaiyas 16 years ago today in the time of heavy rainfall did not even know that we need shelter" says Ratrani, adding that they did not know when they would finally be rehabilitated.

"At least we had basic shelter while living with the masters; but after we were free, it is worse" she laments.

Another freed kamaiya, Rampal Tharu from Tikapur shares that the freed kamaiyas still lack hand-to-mouth existence and a sound sleep.

He adds that the kamaiyas were accused of encroaching the forest land while they had initiated resettlement on their own.

"We know that we should not capture the forest land," he believes, "If the government gives us a place to stay, we will go and stay there."

The government had arranged rehabilitation of freed kamaiyas in Kailali, Kanchanpur, Bardiya, Banke and Dang districts in a package. But, thousands of families are still lack permanent shelter.

The government data show that 1,378 families in Kailali district are yet to be resettled out of 8,910 ones freed. Organisations working in the sector, however, claim that the figure is more than that.

Chief of the District Land Reform Office, Laxman Kathayat, says the government has spent Rs 50 million for resettlement of freed kamaiyas in the fiscal year 2015/16.