“There is no change in my life since the Haliyas were liberated. My problem remains the same,” he said, adding that he is struggling to feed his family as he could not get any job after he was freed.

Many freed Haliyas in the district are left high and dry without proper rehabilitation while some have returned to their former landlords as they found it hard to survive without any jobs. They accused the government of being apathetic towards their problems.

Dhanlal Lohar of Bandhu VDC-9, an elderly man who can no longer work in the farm, has assigned his 10-year-old son to work in his place at his landlord’s house. “It is my compulsion to send my son to the landlord’s,” he said.

Aaula BK, who is living in the district headquarters with her husband after they were freed, said they work as wage labourers to feed the family. Debe Damai, who still works as a Haliya, said he will not quit his job until the government rehabilitates him. “It is my compulsion to become a Haliya,” he said.

The Freed Haliya Rehabilitation Taskforce has distributes identity cards to the freed Haliyas. Ramesh Shah, member secretary of the taskforce, said they have distributed identity cards to 276 families in the district so far.