Nepalese return to India in search of jobs via Gauriphanta and Gaddachauki checkpoints

Dhangadhi: Most of the Nepalese who returned from India due to Coronavirus and gearing up to go back to India to earn a livelihood. Mahesh Thapa, who was spotted at Gauriphanta checkpoint in Trinagar on Tuesday afternoon, was preparing to enter India along with his family. Thapa, who returned from India four months ago, during the lockdown, is now re-entering India.

"There is more fear of starvation than of the Coronavirus. I had to stay unemployed even in my own country, that’s why I am going to India, ”Thapa said. They are allowed to return to India on the basis of an identity card provided by the Indian government.
Dev Saund of Bardagoria Rural Municipality in Kailali, who was also on his way to India, said, "I lost my job in India due to Coronavirus and returned home. But Nepal's government did nothing to provide employment they only focused on controlling Coronavirus. I am now going to India as it is difficult to make ends meet.”

The number of people returning to India is more than the number of people entering Nepal. In the last few days, the number of people going to India has been increasing rather than entering Nepal through Gauriphanta and Gaddachauki checkpoints. DSP Amar Bahadur Thapakshetri, of the District Police Office, Kanchanpur, said that 620 people had entered India through the Gauriphanta checkpoint on Tuesday alone. On Tuesday, 663 people entered India through both the checkpoints while only 140 people entered Nepal. One hundred and twenty-one people had entered through the Gauriphanta checkpoint on Monday and two hundred and eight had left. Similarly, 17 people had entered Nepal through the Gaddachauki checkpoint in Kanchanpur and 39 had entered India.