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United Nations Economic and Social Council
Commission on Human Rights
Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and protection of
Minorities
Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery
24th Session
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Geneva, 23 June - 2 July 1999
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Report prepared by: Deepak Deo Bhatt, President,
Thagil Social
Development Association, Nepal
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Agricultural bonded labour in Baitadi
District
Far Western Region, Nepal
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Introduction
Nepal is the second poorest country in the world, the land of Mount
Everest, and the birth place of Lord Buddha. It is also famous for
its natural beauty, its resources and its unique tradition and culture.
Behind Nepalese culture there lie a number of traditions hidden from
the outer world. One of them is forms of slavery. These include child
labour in the formal and informal sector, child domestic work, and
the trafficking of girls into prostitution in India. In agriculture,
the Kamaiya and Haliya systems are living examples of
contemporary slavery in Nepal.
Since the arrival of democracy in 1990 many national and international
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have become aware of the extent
to which these forms of slavery pervade Nepalese life. Anti-Slavery
and its partner organisations have produced evidence of these before
this Working Group in previous sessions.
In Nepal, slavery-like practices vary according to geographical location.
In the fertile terai, particularly in the western part, one
finds that debt bondage is widespread among the Tharu community.
Under the Kamaiya system, kamaiya (male) and bukhrai
(female) labourers are forced to work for landlords from whom they
receive loans. Their labour is used to pay off the interest on these
loans. This form of exploitation of thousands of Nepalese men and
women has been justified in the name of tradition. As a result, the
wealthy elite have maintained these traditions to strengthen their
power in Nepalese society.
Haliya in Debt Bondage
As I am about to describe, debt bondage exists within the Haliya
system of labour. Haliya means "one who ploughs", but it is
understood to have the broader sense of an agricultural labourer who
works on another personΉs land. The Haliya system is found
throughout Nepal.
Baitadi District, is a hilly remote area, located in the Far Western
region of Nepal. It is enveloped by neighbouring Doti and Bajhang
Districts in the East and Darchula and India in the West. To the South
it is bounded by Dadeldhura District, and Darchula and Bajhang Districts
in the to the North. The size of this area is 1519 sq. km.
The total population is 200,716. The total number of households in
the District is 38,232 and the average household size is 5.69. The
focus of community life is seasonal agricultural production, although
the level of production is insufficient to sustain the population.
Preliminary investigations in 1994 produced evidence that debt bondage
existed in Baitadi District, and in 1997, Thagil Social Development
Association began its "Research and Awareness Project " in the District.
The ultimate aim of the project is to eradicate agriculture bonded
labour through the implementation of awareness and rehabilitation
projects
. The immediate objectives of the project are:
To reduce agriculture bonded labour in Baitadi District
To increase the level of awareness and education among bonded labourers
of their individual human rights.
To change the accepted mindset of both landlords and labourers through
increased education.
Findings from the Baseline Survey
As a first step, a baseline survey was conducted among 600 individual
agricultural labourers (Haliya), and the women in their households,
using questionnaires. Focused Group Discussions were carried out within
the wider community as a means of understanding community attitudes
to the Haliya system. The main findings of the questionnaire
section are:
all 600 are 'untouchable',ie, from the lowest level of the caste
hierarchy
all are providing labour as re-payment of the interest on debts
borrowed from their landlords, i.e. the capital sum is not paid off
through labour
All 600 Haliya reported that they receive only one meal
per day in return for working for the landlords; they receive no daily
wages, and this is the principle reason for their indebtedness
276 Haliya had family member(s) working for the landlord,
for which they were paid one meal per day
Of these, 261 wives were working for their landlord
The survey team noted that boys start ploughing work at the age
of 13-14, while wives of Haliya are obliged to do both domestic and
agricultural work
29 per cent reported that they had to work between 9-12 hours per
day
Out of 600 Haliya, 128 said they are working for two landlords
and 96 for more than four landlords. The reason for working for more
landlords is because of the impossibility of meeting basic family
survial needs
the majority had inherited some form of debt from
their ancestors. 105 out of 600 said that they got this job from their
parents, and it is clear that the Haliya system goes from one
generation to another, until the debt is repaid to the landlord
440 said that they were obliged to repay their debts in cash. Since
this is virtually impossible, it can be expected that their debts
will be passed on to future generations.
the Haliya reported that their work is seasonal, and, in
order to survive, they must migrate to India or neighbouring districts
to find out-of-season work
70 per cent of women said that their husbands leave the District
to find work. For most, the period of absence was between three and
six months. This places significant social and economic problems for
households headed by women
to questions on the existence of gender discrimination and male
violence against women, all 600 males said that these did not exist
to the same questions 600 women said that both discrimination and
violence existed
The survey included both questions and discussions concerning the
attitudes of the bonded Haliya and other members of the community
to the Haliya system. These views are important, since it
is hoped to measure changes in attitudes over time, according as the
programme activities continue. The main purpose of this presentation
is to draw the attention of members of the Working Group to the scale
of debt bondage within this District, and the stark poverty of the
majority of its inhabitants.
Until now, the Government of Nepal has acknowledged the existence
of debt bondage only among Kamaiya in the Tharu community.
This survey provides clear evidence that debt bondage is more widespread
than has been acknowledged. Besides this, it gives clear indicators
to a level of gross exploitation which can indeed be described as
"similar to slavery". That workers who are paid only one meal for
a day's work are also obliged to work overtime (ie, more than eight
hours) for their landlords, without any remuneration, is surely extortionate.
Programme Activities
After completion of the baseline survey, a programme of activities
was introduced for families and individuals who exist under the yoke
of debt bondage. Educational classes, outreach activity and self-help
group mobilization were employed. We wanted to promote human rights
among agricultural bonded labourers. Moreover we urged landlords to
reduce their ever increasing interest rates and pushed for an end
to the Haliya system. Socio-religious barriers, lack of education,
misconceptions, myths and stigmas surrounding social issues were the
major problems we encountered in implementing project activities.
One of the ways to combat these stereotypes was through developing
a feeling of trust among the bonded labourers and landlords. The baseline
survey was an effective tool for measuring the widespread nature of
bonded labour. Furthermore it allowed us to introduce our organisation's
perspective whilst strengthening the relationship between vested interests.
Recommendations:
For Government:
Develop and implement a concrete policy for the eradication of bonded
labour
Standardise wages and rates of interest for landless agricultural
labourers
Governments should engage in full co-operation with the work of
international NGOs and local NGO
For local NGOs
Literacy classes, and direct communication events are very powerful
means for communicating messages and making the target audiences understand
difficult and new concepts .
There is a need for much greater cooperation between NGOs, to bring
pressure to bear on the government, and raise the issues within national
media.
For international NGOs
Undertake national and international advocacy work in support of
the abolition of debt bondage
Bring pressure to bear on the Government of Nepal to implement policies
designed to abolish debt bondage
Project planning should be done on a sustainable basis and oriented
towards concrete results. |
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