Kathmandu, January 8:

Common Forum for Kamalari Freedom (CFKF), an organisation working for ending Kamalari tradition, has sought their complete liberation from domestic exploitation by declaring five districts as Kamalari free zone by mid-January.

CFKF has demanded that the government declare Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchhanpur districts Kamalari custom free districts by January 14 on the occasion of Maghe festival and asked for their rehabilitation with free education and professional training.

“Although they are declared free by the Supreme Court, they are yet to be liberated in practice” said Urmila Chaudhary, district chairperson of the CFKF. “We have asked the government for ending the inhuman Kamalari custom forever.”

She demanded punishment for the people who buy them and keep as Kamalari by exploiting them. “They must be compensated by the owners. They are compelled to work as Kamalaris due to the weak financial situation and the tradition.”

According to Chaudhari, Kamalari custom is a kind of bonded labour in which a girl, who is below 14 years in age, is taken as Kamalari on the day of Maghe Sankranti or Maghi festival on contracts.

The parents of the girl are paid Rs 1,500-3,000 for a period of one year. Urmila said, “I served as Kamalari in the house of a Rastriya Prajatantra Party leader in Jawlakhel of Lalitpur for 12 years.”

“If our demands are not fulfilled in time, we will launch severe protest against the government

by organising chhakajam and bandh” she added. There are about five thousand freed Kamalaris in the five districts.

“We have submitted a memorandum to the President and Prime Minister to address our problems. They are positive towards the demands and have expressed their solidarity to settle the issue,” she said.