Bhusal, Shiva Lal Sharma, 1961-. Examining a rights based approach to the development of the ex-Kamaiyas of Western Nepal . Master's Degree(Human Rights). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2004.
Examining a rights based approach to the development of the ex-Kamaiyas of Western Nepal
Abstract:
Although the Nepalese government outlawed slavery in 1926, it has persisted
in different forms. One of them is known as the Kamaiya system of agricultural
bonded labor. In 1994 the government recognized its existence and in 2000 a
government decree annulled the debts of Kamaiyas and declared the system illegal
and punishable by law.
This thesis explores the government's development initiatives towards the
ex-Kamaiyas and examines whether these initiatives are compatible with a rights
based approach to development. A conceptual framework of the rights based approach
was used to frame the field research.
The research concludes that though the declaration complies with the right to
freedom, the government programme to rehabilitate the ex-Kamaiyas through
providing land is inadequate: a large number of ex-Kamaiyas are yet to receive their
legal land entitlement as they were left out of the initial survey to identify bonded
laborers, and a group of ex-Kamaiyas declined to accept government entitlement. The
development initiatives lack ex-Kamaiya participation and are not in accordance with
the principle of a rights based approach to development. A large number of ex-
Kamaiyas are still suffering poverty and rights abuses. The findings of the research
further show that a new exploitative system has emerged called Jirayat that has
elements similar to that of bonded labor, namely very low or no wages and unlimited
working hours.