DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

The Prevention and Withdrawal of Working Children of Former Kamaiya

Rationale of the project

ILO and RRN have implemented the IPEC/DECL joint project on Sustainable Elimination of Bonded Labour (SEBL) and addressed the issues against bonded labour system in Nepal for the last three years. Later on, government realised that a large number of ex- Kamaiya and their working children were left in registration of ex- Kamaiya identification program. These segments of former Kamaiya families were not benefited from the development projects implemented by various agencies and were facing difficulties in their daily life. Therefore, this Action Program was mainly targeted to the children and ex- Kamaiyas who have very limited options for education, livelihoods and employment and supporting opportunities. Their children were forced to work as child labour to solve the problems of hand to mouth instead of going to school. This action program have targeted those children and ex- Kamaiyas who were identified and registered in 2004 and onwards by the Ministry of Land Reform and Management.

General Objective

To support HMG/N time bound program on the elimination of worst form of child labour.

Specific Objectives

• To enrol about 500 children (age group 6 – 18) in formal school at Banke and Bardia districts
  
• To train about 700 children (women above 18 years) on group dyanamics and skill development.
  

Results

Several positive effects have been achieved on improving the situation of working children. This project was successful in sending the working children in schools. A large numbers of children were prevented from falling into and/or continuing the worst form of child labours. It helped the children in getting out of child labour who used to work as household workers, farm workers, as a hotel boy in the restaurants and other similar places. The Kamlharis were rescued from landlords and other workplaces and younger one were mainstreamed into schools for formal education. Te older children are participating in the income generation activities for self reliance. Consequently, this action program has also prevented them entering into exploitative and bondage forms of labour.

The government line agencies such as DEO, DLRMO, public schools and teachers who are also intermediate partner groups of this action program. The significant changes have been achieved on the part of these agencies specially in making local strategies to address the problems of working children and ex- Kamaiya. The coordination and culture of responsibility sharing among in addressing the problems of child labours and ex- Kamaiya among various agencies have also increased.