A STUDY ON FREED-BONDED LABOURER (MUKTA KAMAIYA) IN NEPAL

CHAUDHARY (THARU) BUDDHI RAM

Kamaiya system is the bonded labour system that used to prevail in the rural economy of western Tarai of Nepal. Kamaiya used to enter into contract with landlord (Jamindar) verbally for one year, but usually gets trapped in the debt called 'Saunki' to fulfill their family's basic needs, and become bonded labourer for generations. Kamaiya freedom was announced on 17 July 2000, and was made illegal in the country by "Kamaiya Labour (Prohibition) Act 2002". The rehabilitation of Mukta Kamaiya is still not completed after more than one decade. They are one of the socio-economically most disadvantaged people. This study assesses the socio-economic status of freed-bonded labourer (Mukta Kamaiya) and also analyzes the effect of Kamaiya freedom on farm management of landlords (Jamindars). A survey was carried out in 120 households of Kohalpur Village Development Committee (VDC) of Banke district and Kalika VDC of Bardiya district (60 households in each district) and 30 Jamindars from two districts from August till September 2010.

The average family size of Mukta Kamaiya was found higher (6.5) than the national (5.45) and district average (5.74 in Banke), but in case of Bardiya, it is slightly lower (6.52). The literacy rate was found to be 68% in Banke and 70% in Bardiya respectively, and it is higher than the district as well as national average. It is largely due to the contribution of informal education programme (28%). Formal education and literacy rate is higher in younger population, but limited in lower secondary level (8th grade).

Due to the extremely small size of land (0.088 ha), many Mukta Kamaiyas are drawn into a daily labouring work. Wage labouring is the basic livelihood strategy that employed 47% of households heads and contributed 68% of total annual income. In spite of several skill development trainings delivered to them, overwhelmingly large number of household-heads (85%) are involved in unskilled wage labouring. It is due to the less utilization of technical skill trainings learnt (44%). The second most important source of income is farming that contributed 12% of the total annual income. Average annual gross income (cash and non-cash) of a household is NRs. 98,354 and annual expense is NRs. 91,751 (1 USD = NRS 72). Food security is an alarming issue among the Mukta Kamaiya. Only 4% of the households have food self-sufficiency whereas more than 33% have less than 1 month food self-sufficiency. Based on the minimum calorie intake, a large fragment (36% of households) are in food insecure condition and their average calorie intake is quite low (<1400 KCal/AE/day) than the recommended (2,144 Kcal/AE/day) in Tarai region of Nepal.

Kamlahri form of child labouring is still prevailing in Mukta Kamaiya. It was found that 11% of households are sending their children as Kamlahri. Among the employed children, the larger proportion is working as Kamlahri (65%) and the majority of them are girls (67%). Twenty per cent Kamlahri are not getting opportunity to go school from the employers' house.The majority of the Kamlahris (70%) are working just for education and meal.

After the prohibition of Kamaiya system, Jamindars are managing their farming basically through share cropping. The animal power based farming is gradually substituted by farm machineries due to the decreased livestock size and labour shortage. According to Jamindar, yield of major crops (rice, wheat and maize) has not increased much due to inadequate management.

Physical infrastructure development, skill enhancement and educational support should be continued. This study suggests the creation of awareness by Mukta Kamaiyato deal with the root causes of this problem. Long term educational programme is necessary for the returned and rescued Kamlahris.

経済 [ 330 ]

英語

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[作成日] 2011-09-22