BAJURA: Freed haliyas (bonded labourers) in Bajura have submitted a memorandum to Sudurpaschim Province demanding housing and food from the government.

The former bonded labourers from 48 households in Pipaldali of Budinanda Municipality-1 in the district have submitted an eight-point memorandum including the demand for distribution of identity cards to remaining 20 haliya families, to Prakash Shah, Minister for Internal Affairs and Law of Sudurpaschim Province.

A decade has elapsed since the labourers were proclaimed free, but their problems are unresolved, forcing them to reach out to various bodies of the government, informed Ujjani Sarki of Haliya Food Right Group.

Nepal Government had declared emancipation of haliyas after it signed a five-point agreement with Mukta Haliya Mahasangh on September 5, 2008.

However, after the declaration, not all the agreements have been implemented by the government, a freed haliya Banche Sarki lamented.

The memorandum further demands additional rehabilitation programmes, distribution of at least five kattha land, execution of the five-point agreement, free health care, and children’s education.

Minister Shah while receiving the memorandum said the demands of the freed labourers will be brought before Province Chief Minister and Provincial Assembly.