KATHMANDU: With just three days remaining for the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5, voters appear enthusiastic about choosing capable leadership. There is public expectation that the new government will steer the country towards prosperity.
However, even as election fervor builds, the queue of youths leaving the country for foreign employment remains unbroken.
Among them is Sandesh Dhobi of Rupandehi. He has been working in Malaysia for the past eight years after leaving home at the age of 18. Recently married, he now faces the emotional strain of parting from his wife once again.
Dhobi is also anxious about his employment as tensions escalate in the Gulf, disrupting international flights.
“Had the leaders created employment opportunities within the country, we would not have been forced to go abroad despite knowing the risks to our lives. I have seen this for years, whoever comes to power, nothing changes for us,” he said, expressing frustration towards successive governments.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal, a total of 1,729,288 Nepalis are currently residing in various Middle Eastern countries.
If the conflict prolongs, the incoming government may face the additional challenge of ensuring the safe return of its citizens and creating employment opportunities for them at home. At the same time, it will have to shoulder the responsibility of strengthening an economy heavily dependent on remittance and imports.
Dhobi, who is preparing to leave again for Malaysia, said he would return permanently if adequate employment opportunities were available in Nepal.
“If I can get work like I do abroad, I would return home and live with my family,” he said.
His flight to Malaysia with Nepal Airlines was originally scheduled for Sunday morning but was rescheduled to Monday afternoon due to the regional conflict.
“I received a message that the flight has been postponed. I came here with limited money thinking I would leave soon. It is almost finished. I have not even been able to drink water properly,” he said at the airport.
Similarly, Pashupati Bhar of Bhairahawa had arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport to inquire about his flight to Qatar scheduled for March 4.
“I came to check whether my flight will operate or not. Even the officials have no clear information. If I cannot return to work, the income source for my seven-member family will stop,” he said.
Bhar said he moved to Qatar 17 years ago after struggling to sustain his business in Nepal.
“Running a business here is not easy. From registration itself, there are hurdles. Things did not work out, so I went abroad,” he said.
When asked about the upcoming election, Bhar said he remains hopeful about new leadership.
“I have never voted because I am always abroad during elections,” he said, expressing disappointment that successive governments have failed to create an environment where citizens can earn a livelihood at home.
Another traveler, Bodh Bahadur Sunar of Tulsipur, Dang, said the government’s neglect in creating quality education and employment opportunities has forced many like him to seek work abroad.
“The Constitution guarantees free education and health services, but we still have to enroll our children in private schools for quality education. That is one reason we are compelled to go abroad,” he said.
Sunar also criticized political favoritism and nepotism.
“Since 1980, I have seen how things work. Opportunities go to relatives and close associates. The poor are left behind. We feel like we are only voters during elections,” he said.
Likewise, Upendra Magar of Morang, who was scheduled to fly to Saudi Arabia on Sunday afternoon, said he was preparing to cast his vote after his flight was halted due to the conflict.
“This is my first time going abroad. With the flight postponed, I might get to vote. Leaders promise jobs during elections, yet I am leaving due to unemployment,” he said.
He lamented that despite constitutional guarantees of child rights and education, he could only complete secondary-level studies due to financial hardship.
“If local governments had connected economically weak families like ours to employment, we would not face this situation,” he said.
Magar urged the incoming government to ensure equal access to education and opportunities.
“Let there not be discrimination between rich and poor based on influence and access. Every citizen should receive equal quality education and the right to live with dignity,” he said.
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