Advancement of a country largely depends on its active workforce, which undeniably act as the pivot for driving a country's economy forward. Needless to say, this workforce invariably includes the economically productive element of a country - the youth. In the absence of youth workforce, a nation cannot achieve its optimal development and economic growth. From fulfilling the requirement of physical labour or to semi or highly skilled manpower, the youths are an indispensable force as a nation can never imagine about its all-round development if it remains deficient on its youth power.

Unfortunately, Nepal is one of the countries that has confronted deficiency of its youth workforce for the past several years, thanks to an excruciating dearth of employment opportunities in the country that has caused a frequent exodus of a large number of youths to foreign countries. It is often said that several of Nepal's villages are now bereft of male youths, simply because most of them have gone abroad as migrant labourers. A rough estimate suggests that out of many Nepalis currently living abroad about 2.6 million of our youths have been working as unskilled, semi-skilled and highly skilled workforce on foreign soil. They are providing the foreign countries their labour and skill, and in the process, are helping swell the economies of these foreign nations, whereas the economy of Nepal has suffered due to lack of sufficiency of its own workforce.

Also true is the fact that the Nepali workers do confront several problems in foreign lands. Exploitation, harassment, sexual assaults and disease and deaths are the common problems they often confront there. Despite all the problems they have faced, the Nepali migrant workers have been very supportive in keeping the nation's economy afloat during the time of crisis. They send billions of rupees back to the country in the form of remittance, which, needless to say, forms a considerable part of our economy. Remittance is the most favourable aspect of undesired exodus of our youth workforce abroad. In this regard, the government should not always remain passive in stopping the exodus of youth workforce only by glossing over the billions of remittance the country receives. It is, however, heartening to note that the government has now geared up to stop the youth's exodus by encouraging them to stay back through various means and ways.

In an address to the nation on the occasion of the International Youth Day, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli aired this view stating that the government is formulating policies and programmes to help youths engage in income generating works and livelihood activities in the nation. As part of these policies, the government has allocated a budget of Rs. 76 billion aimed at uplifting the condition of youths. It won't be an exaggeration to say that the government's policies and programmes, as mentioned by the Prime Minister himself, would go miles in bailing out the youths who are compelled to go abroad looking for greener pastures. The country is in great need of youth workforce to drive its economy forward and the youths are encouraged to stay here and provide their service as they are in the prime of their productive period who can assist in alleviating poverty, backwardness and help boost the country's economy to a new height.