DANG: Freed kamaiyas (former bonded workers) in the central and far-western regions have demanded that the government ensure permanent shelters for them.

The two-day gathering of liberated kamaiyas of five districts in the central and far-west regions - Dang, Banke, Kailali, Bardiya and Kanchanpur - concluded with a demand before the government to provide them with permanent shelters.

At a press meet organised during the concluding session of the gathering, Freed Kamaiyas Rehabilitation Supervision Central Working Committee coordinator Binitiram Tharu said among as many as 32,509 freed kamaiyas identified by the government, 4,965 have not got lands from the government.

The gathering was coordinated by the Backward Society Education (BASE), an organisation advocating for the rights of the freed kamaiyas.

Freed Kamaiyas Surveillance Group Kailali coordinator Ramphal Chaudhary said freed kamaiyas were going through a miserable situation as the government failed to live up to promises regarding their rehabilitation.

The government had announced the liberation of kamaiyas (a traditional system of forced labour prevalent in the western Tarai) in 2007 with the promise of a rehabilitation package.