ms.dk - Update 16 October 2000 (original) (raw)

Freed Kamaiya Status Report

Kamaiya Dashain

16. October 2000

Dashain, the greatest festival of Hindus in Nepal brought joys to many but for some others it did not matter much. Whether it be a festival or not, it is all the same for them. The ex-Kamaiyas languishing in several camps in Kailali and Kanchanpur did observe Dashain-but not as usual. However, since merry making is in their blood, they pressed their pent-up feelings and enjoyed the festival in whatever way they could. They had no good food to eat, no beautiful clothes and ornaments to wear (Tharu women are very much fond of ornaments) and no places of their own to gather and dance. But still they seemed happy because they were FREE.

Dressed as women and, dancing and singing to the beautiful tune of Madal (traditional drum) Raj Dev Chaudhari and other male inmates of his camp visited the offices of the organizations, which have been supporting the freed Kamaiyas in various camps, to express their gratitude. The absence of women in the group was conspicuous. They might have abstained, as they had no beautiful clothes and ornaments to wear on such an occasion.

The Deputy Prime Minister visited the camps just before the festival began on Oct. 4 and distributed some rice, which was enough for 15 days to the ex-kamaiyas so that they need not roam around looking for work to earn some wages to celebrate the festival. This came as a big relief to them, albeit transitory.

During the Dashain festival they usually killed goats, sheep, pigs and ducks to make offerings to their family gods and celebrated the festival happily eating meat varieties, dancing and singing. But this year they couldn't make sacrificial offerings to their gods; they just offered flowers and worshipped the gods according to their tradition.

Some NGOs had given the ex-Kamaiyas in the camps some money to buy meat and other delicacies. But the Kamaiyas utilized the money in buying new clothes, shoes and sandals for their children and see smiles in their faces.

Dashain passed off, may be helping those in the camps forget their sufferings for some days. The next morning they woke up, they found themselves in the same situation-no land, no food, no medicines, no work- virtually nothing.

On the one hand the "freed" Kamaiyas are desperately in need of work, while on the other the landlords are reluctant to employ them to harvest their paddy. The reluctance is a manifestation of a sense of revenge on the part of the landlords. In such a situation, it would be wise on the part of the government authorities, local social workers and the NGOs supporting the freed Kamaiyas to build a congenial environment so that the ex-Kamaiyas get work in the fields of the farmers and are paid the minimum wage.

Various programme staff have contributed to this report.