A slowdown in remittance inflows and depleting foreign exchange reserves had sparked widespread concern, but perhaps the worst is over. In the last fiscal year, Nepali migrant workers sent home a record Rs1 trillion, up 4.8 percent over the previous year. While growing remittances signal prosperity for Nepali families, the failure to retain our labour force by providing employment opportunities also points to a glaring policy gap. And as a consequence, we see this popular trend of young Nepalis jetting off to foreign lands in search of better jobs and opportunities, leaving an ageing population to mind the towns and villages in Nepal.

The departure of Nepali youths boils down to the lack of economic opportunities at home. Migrant departures had briefly stopped in the wake of the pandemic. A worsening global economic crisis saw reverse migration, with official data suggesting that nearly half a million people required rescuing. But no sooner had the pandemic waned than people who had returned to their homes due to the loss of jobs during the lockdown started leaving in droves. However bleak, the pandemic presented an excellent opportunity for the authorities to retain the people who had returned for the country’s development needs.

But this opportunity was callously squandered by the authorities without thinking about how we could have thrived from the crisis. It is estimated that around 500,000 youths enter the job market annually, and 80 percent of them find their way to secure foreign employment. Those left to do domestic work probably have no thoughts of going for greener pastures at the earliest. So, what has precipitated this scenario? Over the past few decades, Nepal has been governed by visionless leaders whose only purpose in politics has been the betterment of themselves and their near and dear ones.

The economy indeed took a hit during the decade-long Maoist insurgency, and it was then that people began leaving their homes in droves for a safer working environment. The country has had time to recover since the end of the fighting, yet nothing has been done to create employment opportunities at home. Instead, we are made to feel fortunate that foreign governments have shown interest in hiring our youths to plug their labour shortages. From doctors to nurses to skilled and semi-skilled labour, Nepal has seen nothing but an exodus of people from all walks of life at the slightest opportunity.

Devoid of investment which could contribute to generating output, Nepal has become reliant solely on imports. Nepal imports even farm products, which is ironical in a country classified as agricultural where 66 percent of the total population are engaged in farming. If we are to see any form of meaningful economic development, policies and programmes will be needed to ensure job creation for the youths entering the labour market. A conducive environment should be created to attract people who have ventured abroad and are now equipped with skills which could be helpful in various sectors. The current scenario is only likely to worsen if the development policies aren’t addressed sooner.