BAJURA: Freed Haliyas in the Bajura district have been compelled to bribe the Land Revenue Office to receive the grant allotted by the Nepal Government of fiscal year 2016/17.

The traditional system of Haliya allowed a well-to-do family to keep a tenant as slave for whole life and in return lend a small sum of money until the government had decleard them free of bonded labour, practiced in the far-western of Neapl, on September 6, 2008.

The incident came to light after one of the Haliyas Gorakh Sarki was caught red-handed while giving bribe of Rs 80,000 to a temporary contract overseer at LRO Kopil Raj Giri from a local hotel in Martardi, district headquarters. Sarki had colleted Rs 80,000 from 40 families with Rs 2,000 each.

Giri is said to be the cousin of the Land Reveue Office Chief Hira Lal Giri.

Police Chief of Bajura District, DSP Jagdhish Bhatta confirmed the incident and said it was a nexus between the LRO Chief Giri and his cousin.

Bhatta further said that Gorakh Sarki has claimed that District Land Revenue Office Bajura Chief Hira Lal Giri had repeatedly asked for bribe to release their funds. He also claimed that Giri had asked in phone and in person.

It has been learned that the Land Revenue Office has asked for commission up to 5 % of Rs 645 million and Rs 540 million respectively.

Earlier, Nepal Government had allotted Rs 645 million and Rs 540 million for the Haliyas to be distributed through District Land Revenue Office under the Ministry of Land Reform and Management.

As many as 20 Haliyas families residing in the northern parts of the district were enlisted in 'A' category to receive grant worth Rs 3, 25,000 for reconstruction of houses and Rs 2,00,000 for land purchase in the district.

The government had also disbursed grant worth Rs 540 million for 420 Haliya families enlisted in 'D' category to receive Rs 1,50,000 for house reconstruction.

Meanwhile, Bajura Chief District Office Devendra Lamichanne has assured of a probe into the case.

Bajura District Office has verifed 1,311 Haliyas in the district, however, Land Reveune Office has issued category 'A' cards to 102 families, 'B' cards to 225 families, 'C' cards to 136 families and 'D' to 724 families.

Earlier, Minister for Peace & Reconstruction Janardhan Sharma and National Haliya Free Society had signed five-point agreement for the Haliya Rehabilitation Plan.