Jajarkot saw women fly overseas as migrant workers even during Tihar

By Basudev Sharma

Jajarkot, Nov. 5: When other people were preparing to mark Tihar, a few women in Jajarkot were preparing to fly overseas as migrant workers. 

Economic hardships are driving many to work overseas to support their families.

Young people are increasingly leaving their homeland to improve their livelihoods by seeking jobs abroad. 

Sharing her experience, Laxmi Khatri of Bheri Municipality-2, said that after completing hosiery training about a year ago, she started a small hosiery business by renting a room in Khalanga, a district headquarters located in Bheri Municipality.

However, despite her aspirations of becoming independent, Khatri eventually decided to migrate abroad due to a lack of support from Bheri Municipality and other agencies.

Khatri said that although she started her business with limited personal investment, her requests for support from local authorities went unanswered. 

Khatri shared that she had to leave the country, even during the festive season, despite her desire to earn a living locally to support her family.

She shared she had to abandon her business and leave the country in search of foreign employment.

“The idea of investing the skills learned locally in a business becomes challenging without significant financial backing,” she said. 

She shared that all her investments went in vain due to a lack of support from the local government. 

“Although the local government prioritises making rural residents business-oriented and production-focused, many are seeking foreign employment because the actual distribution of funds often relies on kinship and political connections, leaving the genuine needy without support,” she added.

According to Premmaya Sharma of Barekot Rural Municipality-8, she had to go to the Gulf because she could not find employment in her village.

Sharma stated that since local authorities failed to prioritise creating employment opportunities, locals are forced to work tirelessly abroad. 

She noted that the number of people leaving the country in search of livelihoods is increasing because the local government was not working according to people’s aspirations. 

She emphasised that both the provincial and federal governments fail to prioritise programmes that reflect the actual needs of the people.