26 Years On, Kamaiyas Await Justice

Nepal declared Kamaiyas free in 2000, ending a centuries-old bonded labour system in which mostly poor agricultural workers were forced to work for landlords in exchange for loans.

But many freed Kamaiya families say their rehabilitation remains incomplete.

Some families with official identification cards have not received resettlement support, while others have land ownership certificates but lack updated records.

Some also report that the land allocated to them is vulnerable to flooding and river erosion.

Government data shows that among 27,570 Kamaiya families identified as eligible for land support, 25,195 families have received land.

However, 661 families were provided land considered unsuitable, while 4,463 families have not received identification cards.

Another 463 families with identification cards have yet to receive rehabilitation packages, and 173 certificates have been cancelled.

Rights groups say progress on the remaining cases has slowed in recent years, partly due to uncertainty over responsibilities among Nepal’s federal, provincial and local governments.

Freed Kamaiya communities are calling for unresolved land, documentation and resettlement issues to be addressed.