Kamlari tradition continues despite govt ban: Rights group

BANKE, JAN 16 -

Despite the government proclamation on the abolishment of Kamlari (indentured girl child labourer) tradition, there are still more than 300 Kamlaris in western Tarai districts, according to the Feed Kamlari Development Forum.

Sumitra Chaudhary of the forum said due to the government failure to enforce stringent law against Kamlari practice young girls continue to be enslaved and exploited by their employers. 

“On Maghi, which is the biggest festival of Tharu community, young girls are still being send off as indentured servants while those already working as Kamlaris are being transferred to new employers by their parents,” claimed Chaudhary in a programme organised in Nepalgunj recently.

A former Kamlari herself, Sumitra started championing for Kamlari freedom after leaving her employers. She believes the Kamlari tradition should have been outlawed a long time ago. “Although the government finally came to its senses and abolished the practice 13 years ago, a very little work is being done to monitor the status of the ban, which, of course, is dismal to say the least,” Sumitra said.   

The forum along with other right groups have been pressing the government to treat Kamlari tradition as felony. Although the state authority as well as local administration have assured to rescue Kamlaris , the forum activists claim that scores of young Tharu girls are still being traded in a form of house servants. 

Dil Kumari Chaudhary, chairperson of the forum, said 76 young girls are still working as Kamlaris in Banke, Bardiya and Dang districts alone. She said they have come up with a list containing both the names and the address of the existing Kamlaris . “We have already submitted the list to the security agency and the local administration so that these young girls can be rescued, but there has been no development so far,” said Dil Kumari. 

Women rights activist Sangita Chaudhary said the government intervention is crucial to abolish Kamlari tradition. “We cannot win the battle for Kamlari freedom without government support,” she said.

Chief District Officer of Banke Jiwan Kumar Oli vowed to initiate aggressive measures to free existing Kamlaris in the coming days.