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Paper short abstract:

Kamlahri is a bonded child labour system exclusively in young girl of the Tharu ethnic people in Nepal. The rescue, return and rehabilitation of Kamlahri is continued, but many of them are struggling for proper rehabilitation and enjoyment of freedom due to ineffective law, policies and programmes.

Paper long abstract:

The study was conducted with the objectives of assessing situation of Kamlahri and their parents, who were also bonded labour (Kamaiya), in post-freedom after 2000. Mixed method approach was used to elicit information between 2010 and 2017. Household survey was carried out in 120 randomly selected households in two villages namely Janatanagar-Tesanpur, Bardia District and Kohalpur Municipality, Banke District of Nepal. Direct observation and personal interviews were also accomplished with five Kamlahri to understand the issue in-depth. Moreover, interviews and discussions were also done with the staffs of non-governmental organizations working in Kamlahri child labour issue. The study showed that there was remarkable decrease in the number of Kamlahri whilst some young girls are still working. Their parents sent their daughters with a dream of better education, quality of life and wages than their own house. Unfortunately, the realities are mostly opposite where majority of young Kamlahri had to work very hard in extended hours with no or minimum pay without going to school. It also observed that the household with large family size, higher economic and child dependency ratio and illiteracy rate has comparatively more chance of sending their girls as a Kamlahri than those who are not sending their daughters in Kamlahri. The rescued/ returned Kamlahri have started education and trainings with support from the government of Nepal that needs to be continued for their empowerment and employment. Child labour should strictly follow national and international standards so that domestic labourer can also employ and earn with dignity.