न्यूज अभियान
हरेक खबर विशेष खबर

Sudurpaschim, Aug 24: Various rights organisations have called on the government to ensure the identity, rehabilitation and rights of the freed Harawa-Charawa community.

The Harawa-Charawa was an inter-generational bonded agricultural labour system which was practiced in the Tarai districts. 

Five rights-related organizations have expressed their support for the campaign launched under the slogan 'Identity is our basis, restoration is our concern,' organized by the Mukta Harawa-Charawa Struggle Committee.

In a joint press release issued here today, the National Dalit Network (RDN) Nepal, the National Freed Haliya Society Federation Nepal, the Free Kamaiya Society, the Kamaiya Women's Awareness Society, and the Freed Kamalari Development Forum have said it is an irony that even after four years of being declared free, the demands of the freed Harawa-Charawas have still not been addressed.

"It has been four years since the government, through the then Prime Minister, announced the end of the Harawa-Charawa practice and the liberation of Harawa-Charawa on July 18, 2022 but their identification, rehabilitation, and ensuring rights have not been fully achieved yet. The government needs to take this seriously," reads the joint statement.

Pointing out that just declaring freedom for the Harawa-Charawas is not enough, the five rights organisations have demanded the government to ensure basic rights like land, safe housing, social security, decent jobs, livelihoods, and economic rehabilitation for the freed Harawa-Charawa communities.

RDN President Mohan Od said that they urge the federal government to take necessary initiatives, especially led by the provincial government and local levels, to address the issue and demands of Harawa-Charawa, which is considered a Madhes-centered problem.

The Madhesh Province Government had in its policies and programmes for the fiscal year 2083-84 BS, announced to ensure complete liberation of the Harawa-Charawa community, their rights to land, social security, economic rehabilitation, and dignified livelihood. "We want the government to translate such commitment into action," he said. 

According to Ramesh Koli, President of the National Free Haliya Society Federation Nepal, all the stakeholders demand that the data of these former bonded labourers gathered and verified along with the distribution of identity cards in all eight districts of Madhes Province.  

Likewise, it has been demanded that landless families be identified and a sustainable rehabilitation plan be implemented for them with the guarantee of required budget allocations. 

The Free Harawa-Charawa Struggle Committee will be launching the Madhes Province-focused movement from Tuesday to press the authorities concerned to address its demands and needs.

On the eve of that, Krishna Tharu, Central President of the Kamaiya Mahila Jagaran Samaj, issued a press release today, calling on the government, civil society, human rights activists and all stakeholders to support the campaign for securing the rights of freed bonded labourers.  

The press release has been jointly signed by the central presidents of various organisations, including the National Dalit Network Nepal, the National Free Haliya Society Federation Nepal, the Free Kamaiya Society, and the Free Kamalari Development Forum.