Five years after the District Child Welfare Board declared Dang a Kamlari-free district, and about seven months after the government announced the abolition of the practice in the country, a 14-year-old Kamlari has been found with severe burn injuries suffered at her place of work, the house of a government employee in Dang.

Sarita Chaudhary, a permanent resident of Hekuli Village Development Committee Ward No 1 in the district, sustained serious burn injuries while working as a Kamlari (bonded labourer) for Shanta Devi Ghimire at Ghorahi Municipality Ward No 11.

The victim is receiving treatment at Ghorahi-based Rapti Sub-regional Hospital.

Ghimire, a non-gazzeted officer of the District Development Committee, said Sarita was injured as she poured varnish to make a fire, mistaking the flammable material as kerosene.

Ghimire said she had used Anita as domestic help for the past four months after giving birth.

Though the incident occurred on January 19, some time passed before it came to light. It has been revealed that Ghimire kept Sarita at her house with the help of Khushiram Chaudhary, an office assistant at the District Development Committee.

Rights organisations have condemned the incident. Freed Kamlari Development Forum (FKDF) on Sunday submitted a memorandum to the District Administration Office demanding legal action against the guilty.

“It is a gross violation of law as a Kamlari has ben found injured even after the government announced the abolition of the Kamlari practice,” said Gita Chaudhary, the forum’s treasurer.

She submitted the memorandum to the Chief District Officer (CDO) Rabilal Pantha, demanding action against Ghimire and urging the

Provision of compensation to the victim.  CDO Pantha has given assurances that those found violating the law will face justice.

“Strong action would be taken against those who are found keeping a Kamlari in defiance of the government’s request to free them. The administration will take action as per the existing legal provision,” said Pantha.

Shyam Prasad Chaudhary, the victim’s father, told the Post that he agreed to send his daughter to Ghimire’s house for a Rs 1,000 monthly wage and school education.

“We have no land and work as tenants. I sent her to work hoping for some help,” said Shyam. He said Sarita, the sixth grader, left her school and started working for Ghimire.

It has been suspected that Khushiram has facilitated the Kamlari system for some time. The FKDF detained him at Bhalubang last year while he was taking Sarita to Butwal.

The organisation freed Sarita and handed him over to police. The FKDF also submitted a memorandum to the Local Development Officer Bishnu Prasad Pokharel to take action against Ghimire and Khushiram.

According to the FKDF, there are still 308 Kamlaris in the districts of Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur.

Published on:  3 February 2014 | The Kathmandu Post