38 per cent haliya yet to be rehabilitated

The National Freed Haliya Society Federation Nepal has released a book on ‘integrated data of freed haliyas’ 2076. The book prepared with financial and technical support of the Lutheran World Federation was made public on Saturday.

The data collected from various local government units have been documented in the book and is expected to serve as guidelines for the governments, said its editor Hari Singh Bohara. The book also points out to the Haliya or bonded labourers left out in different districts from the official statistics.

On the occasion, President of the federation, Iswar Sunar said that the 37 per cent of the former bonded labourers were yet to be rehabilitated. The government should address them as soon as possible.

The government announced liberation of the Haliya on 2065 Bhadra 21. However, many did not come forward for enlisting in the government’s data due to fear of their former landlords, lack of support from then VDC secretaries and lack of access to information, among others. Hence, the federation has appealed to all the local governments in 12 districts of Sudur Paschim and Karnali states to collect the data of the left out former Haliya.

It may be noted that the Constitution guarantees livelihood, shelter and employment for the former bonded labourers including the freed Kamaiya, Kamlari, Harwa, Charwa, Haliya, the landless and the landless squatters.