Villages near Tatopani crossing left deserted

BY CHITRA MIJAR,Sindhupalchowk, July 16: Several villages in Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality and Barhabise Municipality have become empty as young people have started migrating abroad. Furthermore, the villages in the Himalayan region of Sindhupalchowk have begun to be deserted as the youth have left for foreign employment. Since there are no job opportunities in the villages and the Tatopani crossing is not fully operational, young people from the border area have sought employment abroad.

Due to the lack of employment, the youth are unable to remain in the villages, and the trend of seeking employment abroad has not ceased. Consequently, the villages are becoming vacant. Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality has of five wards, and Barhabise Municipality has two. These wards are becoming deserted as people are going abroad for employment.

Residents from villages such as Tatopani, Listi, Dugunagadhi, Phulpingkatti, Marming, and Bokchen in Gapa of Bhotekoshi, and Ghumthang, and Gati in Barhabise have migrated abroad. Since farming, agriculture, and animal husbandry are not viable options in these villages, the youth have chosen to migrate abroad.

With the youth leaving for foreign countries and women and children moving to market areas for education, the villages are left with only elderly residents.

Most of the young people who have gone to work abroad are in Gulf countries, while some have gone to America, Japan, and Portugal. When the Tatopani crossing was fully operational, the young people from that village sustained their families by engaging in general bagging business, importing and exporting goods for large enterprises, and other similar activities. However, after the 2015 earthquake, the crossing was only partially operational, leaving many people unemployed.

Currently, Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality has a population of 17,000, with more than half of the total population having migrated abroad for employment. Similarly, over 2,000 individuals from Ward No. 5, 6, and 7 of Barhabise have also migrated abroad. Except for children and senior citizens within the same family, everyone capable of working has gone for jobs in foreign countries. As a result, it has become challenging to find people to participate in cremation ceremonies.

Pasang Nirpu Sherpa, Chairman of Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality, stated that efforts were being made to encourage self-employment and provide employment opportunities within the village. The rural municipality was focused on the comprehensive development of the youth, women, Dalits, and the poor by providing skill-oriented training programmes, he added.