Economy Standing on the Sacrifice of Thousands

While the government is basking in the glory of a remittance-driven economy, a darker side of this story is unfolding. The number of Nepali youths losing their lives abroad in the name of employment is increasing daily.

In the fiscal year 2080/81 alone, a staggering 1,346 Nepali youth lost their lives overseas. This is just official data; the actual number could be higher.

According to the Department of Foreign Employment, 743,595 Nepalis went abroad for employment in the last fiscal year. On average, four Nepalis died and returned home every day during this period.

The highest number of deaths occurred in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Qatar, and the UAE. Other countries like South Korea, Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain, Romania, and Japan also reported Nepalese fatalities.

The Foreign Employment Board provides a relief amount of seven hundred thousand rupees to the families of the deceased. However, this amount is far from adequate compensation for the loss of a life.

Experts attribute this crisis to the practice of sending youths abroad without proper training, skills, or safety guarantees. The government must take this issue seriously and address it promptly.

Instead of solely relying on remittances to drive the economy, the government should focus on creating jobs within the country. The increasing number of young lives lost abroad is a significant loss for the nation. This trend will have a long-term negative impact on the country’s development.