Situation Analysis of Kamalari in Kailali District: A Case Study of Dhangadhi Municipality

Abstract

The Kamalari in Nepal are getting very low wages .Because the family member have taken the heavy loan from the master. Consequently the system of debt bondage and serfdom still exists in many district.Kamalari system has been a serious problem in Mid western and Far western Development Region. Despite the September 2006 supreme court order on the implementation of an existing law that prohibits child exploitation , including the Kamalari system no concrete steps have been taken to end the practice and adolescent girls from poor Tharu families continue to be suffering from it . This study attempt to provide a new dimension and perspective of Kamalari existing in Kailali district. Kamalari has got many problems for survival of life. They are facing food shortage, shortage of settlement also, this poor family send their daughters as Kamalari towards.Practice is still prevalent. Out of the total Kamalari’s in Kaialali district, 11.62 percent Kamalarisare age of(6-10) years, 55.60 percent Kamalari are age of (11-15) years and 32.78 percent Kamalari are age of 16 years above. Almost, 60 percent Kamalari are illiterate, they understand only Nepali language.The research study found that Kamalari could only read and write simple Nepal. Some Kamalari were found visiting informal education such as praudh shichchha, Balbihani etc.About 80 percent Kamalaris are found in rural areas. The average size of the families of the Kamalari is found to be 8.5, which is very large as compared to the national average of 5.6. The majority of the Kamalari family’s population belongs to age group of(0-14) years, which is considered economically in active group.In Nepal,there are two types of family in our society one is nuclear and the other is Basant Kumar Chaudhary -Rural Development -2010 joint family. It is not possible for all to work, due to the nuclear family practiced. Almost, 88 percent of the respondents reported that their fathers are alive where as 85 percent respondents mothers are alive.Remaining 12.5 percent and 15 percent respondents of fathers and mothers are dead. Maghi is one of greatest festival of the Tharu. The month of magh is the time to change the new master. Thousands of Kamalari have only oral contract to work the master’s house. Parents send their daughters to be Kamalaris as a last resort when they are under extreme pressure to settle down debts many of them end up being trafficked. Government should take concrete steps to prohibit this practice, search for the missing Kamalaris and provide for rehabilitation to those who have been victims. The campaign is also calling for an end to the practice of contracting Kamalaris during the Tharu festival of Maghi.