PARIS: Coronavirus pandemic has spread to more than 210 countries worldwide. The USA, Spain, Italy, France, Germany has been badly affected by the pandemic.
Nepalis, who are involved in various sectors in France, are also experiencing numerous problems.
The Nepalis there are encountering lots of hazards both at the policy levels and in implementation levels and relief distribution.
Narendra Shahi, Non Residential Nepali (NRN) France President revealed that many Nepalis in the country are undergoing through hard times.
“There is a high risk of COVID-19 in France. Many Nepalis expect the relief materials to ease lockdown life,” Shahi said, “With the tightening grip of the pandemic, the government has been expanding lockdown period.”
However, Nepalis can receive relief package applying to various mechanisms established by various organizations and agencies.
President Shahi informed that NRN distributed relief materials for one month to 55 Nepalis there.
France is the fourth most affected country in the world in terms of coronavirus infection. Although there are 152,894 cases of infection and 19,718 deaths due to coronavirus in France, no Nepalis have lost their lives to date there.
“Although the exact number of coronavirus infected Nepalis in France is not known, none has lost due to it,” Bhakta Bahadur Wagle, the President of Prabashi Nepali Manch said, “ NRN and the mechanism of all Nepali related organizations in France have been working on relief activities.”
He added that the joint mechanism in France is planning to add 2500 Euro in the government relief fund.
Sudhir Rana, the President of Nepali Jana Samparka Manch, France thinks the relief should be focused on newly arrived Nepali students or those who have been living there without enough formal documents.
Sampurna Pathak, a restaurateur in France is worried about the tax burden as they are not exempted though the lockdown in extended up to July 15. “We have been paying 45-50% tax here, after the closure of business it’s really difficult to revive,” he told Khabarhub.
The closure of most of the shops has made the life of students difficult. Besides, the relief package offered by NRN and other organizations is not remarkable.
According to Rista Maharjan and Jamuna Shrestha, two students in France, the relief package consists of 10 kg rice, 1-liter oil, 1 kg salt, and 1 kg dal. “We asked them to distribute to new students, as they are in more need than us,” they said, “We have applied for relief from the government by offering our details.”
Shrestha said that the language and college fee were two additional hunting things to the new ones there.
“We can speak in English too, but the priority is given to French and most of the communications take place in French here,” Shrestha said, “The difficulties lie in case we have to consult a doctor; the new students seek the support of NRN members and other organizations here for facilitation in such cases.”
Not only this, Nepali students here have found it difficult to pay the college fees. The colleges have not made any public declarations about waiving off of the fee. There is no means of earning, the students wonder how to pay if the fee is not waived off.
Nirmal Aryal, a contestant for the post of Deputy Mayor of Aubervilliers municipality, opined that like the government of Nepal French government has also failed to handle the situation on time. However, he hoped the situation would be under control soon. He added that the French government has the offered special loan package for Nepalis there.
Laxman Gagan, a Nepali in French Army informed that there are 1000 Nepalis in the French army, with their relatives the number becomes 1500. He said that all that was in the service and their relatives were treated fairly. “There is nothing to panic, here,” Gagan said.
Binod Khakural the President of Nepal France Friendship Society appreciated the Nepal government’s role in rescuing the French in Nepal and believed the French government would also help the Nepalis there.
There are 152,894 coronavirus cases in which 19,718 have people have lost their lives to date.
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