Hundreds of Nepalese return to India in search of work

Dhangadhi: Hundreds of Nepalese that returned to Nepal during the pandemic are now entering India on daily basis from the Far-West borders in search of employment. Due to the inability to create employment opportunities at the local level, the poor have started moving back to India in search of work.

Dr. Rajendra Bir Chand, a professor and economist at Kailali Multipurpose Campus said, "The poor have to go hungry due to lack of employment opportunities in the country. We have no industry to provide employment, no modernisation in agriculture. Due to this situation, the people are forced to return to India as their children are starving even after living in Nepal."

 Ramesh Bahadur Shahi of Kailali's Lamkichuha Municipality left for India on Friday by crossing the Trinagar border in search of work. Shahi had been working in India before the pandamic and returned home due to the lock down and lack of opportinities in India at that time. However, he said, “I need to earn a living for my family I’m ready to risk it as there are limited job opportunities in Nepal. 

Similarly, Deepak Sunar of Chisapani in Kailali is also returning to India in search of employment opportunities. While thousands of people are reported positive for Coronavirus each  day, Sunar says that he has no other option other than going to India to sustain his family. "I am the eldest son of the family. I have the responsibility to take care of my sister and mother. I am going to India amidst the pandemic to make ends meet. It will be better to die of Coronavirus than to die of starvation. 
Niraj Kathayat of Kailali said, “I’m scared to go to India during the pandemic but I will die of starvation if I don’t find work.