Anjali Choudhary of Nauwasta in Nawalpur, Banke, was kept by her parents at the house of Hari Bahadur Basnet as a Kamlari (intentured girl child labourer). She is now studying in grade seven.
Though Anjali is going to be freed as the existing laws bar the practice of keeping Kamlaris , she is worried about whether she will able to continue her studies after her emancipation.
Like Anjali, many Kamlaris, who are going to be freed, are in the same situation. They have urged the District Administration Office (DAO) to seek alternatives to ensure their education after emancipation.
“Alternative provision should be sought to ensure that freed Kamlaris can continue with their education,” Anjali said, adding that they will be left in the lurch without such assistance from the government.
Sunita Chaudhary, another Kamlari working at a government official’s house at Nepalgunj-16 and is preparing to attend the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examinations, said her studies might be hampered after she is freed as her parents cannot afford to educate her.
Meanwhile, the Freed Kamlari Development Fourm (FKDF) has agreed to support the
kamlaris who are going to be freed until they attend their SLC
examinations.
“We have initiated efforts to rescue Kamlaris The government should guarantee that they can continue their studies,” said FKDF District Chairperson Dilkumari Chaudhary.
The rescue operation was initiated after the government and the United Committee for the Elimination of Kamlari Practice agreed to rescue Kamlaris on June 7, 2013.
According to the FKDF, 59 Kamlaris are yet to be rescued in Bardiya, 79 in Dang, 83 in Kailali and 26 in Kanchanpur. Bishnu Sahani, DAO official, said efforts to rescue Kamlaris are under way. “Action will be taken against anyone found to have kept Kamlaris” he said.
source-.ekantipur.com
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