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The jungle became a vital source of livelihood for the freed Kamaiya

Govind Kumar Chaudhary from Shivnagar, Tikapur, encouraged many freed Kamaiyas to boost their income by farming in the jungle. At first, many were doubtful and hesitant to join. As a result, few people came to work. But today, jungle farming has become a vital source of livelihood for the freed Kamaiyas. "We decided to plant cash crops in the barren land of the jungle to improve our income. Many were against it," Govind shared, noting that not only did they resist, but they also discouraged others from participating. "But now, as they see our success, many are envious," he added.

Shyam Prasad Chaudhary, a freed Kamaiya from the Shivnagar camp, shared, "We had our doubts too, but after hearing from Sher Bahadur Sir of FAYA Nepal, we decided to give jungle farming a try." Initially uncertain, they were pleasantly surprised when crops such as cucumbers, okra, coriander, spinach, and radishes flourished in the land. "Not only did we have enough to eat, but we were also able to sell and make money," he said.

Sushmita Chaudhary, a resident of the same village, reflected, "Before, we ate meals with just salt and chili, but this time we had a full plate of vegetables. We used to eat only basic meals like rice and lentils, but now we enjoy them with vegetables. Even my children, who once begged for maize, are now eating maize from our own fields."

The freed Kamaiyas, representing 500 families, collectively farmed nearly four bighas of land, dividing it into 17 groups. To safeguard their crops, they formed shifts to patrol the fields day and night. These 17 groups successfully sold vegetables worth 85,000 rupees. Ramphal Chaudhary, a leader of the freed Kamaiyas, stated that they are now planning to venture into fish farming with the support of SSBM. In the winter, they intend to continue growing vegetables and maize.

In addition to vegetables, they also cultivated turmeric and ginger on nearly five bighas of land, yielding 300 quintals of turmeric and 5 quintals of ginger. This land, part of the Kailasheshwar Community Forest, was used for cultivation. Freed Kamaiyas like Reshmi Lal Chaudhary shared their future plans: "We also plan to grow bitter melon (ghuiya) alongside turmeric and ginger."

They donated 25% of their produce, around 35 quintals of turmeric, to the community forest, making the community members happy. "Now, we farm on a total of 113 bighas of land," they said.

Once dependent on day labor to survive, the freed Kamaiyas are now thriving from the jungle's resources. "This work gives me hope that we can achieve something," said Dammer Bahadur Gharte Magar, a freed Kamaiya.