The Mass Migration of Men from Nepal
In the country of Nepal, men and women assume different roles within society. Women are responsible for household duties while the men provide for the family. In the town of Bhramarpura, women’s husbands are nowhere in sight. While women are known as the backbone of this town, the men are still providing for their families from afar. Poverty is less prevalent within this town, but it comes at a hefty cost. The husbands migrate to countries overseas to work for their families back home. Millions of Nepalese have migrated to work overseas, and fathers of new families make up a decent amount of this estimate. Overseas employers frequently take advantage of these men, but with high unemployment within Nepal, this is seen as the best option for the men with a family to support. It is reported that these stressful lifestyles can lead to addiction, and can also influence children to make bad decisions due to the lack of a father figure. With employment being sought elsewhere, jobs are not being created within Nepal, as well as existing jobs are understaffed. By expanding education to create more job opportunities within the country of Nepal, husbands can provide for their families, as well as be present physically.
Many men leave the country of Nepal daily in order to provide for their families. It is estimated that in 2006, about 2.6 million people in Nepal traveled abroad to work, the majority being men. By visualizing population data, we can see when this mass of migrants began leaving the country for jobs.
The graph above shows the population growth/estimates between men and women from the years 1980–2100. As we can see, the male population of Nepal declines significantly around the years 2005–2010. This is due to men leaving the country to support their families, either by joining the British Army or working labor jobs in the Gulf. This graph effectively visualizes the impact of the desperate need for employment within Nepal, and this migration has continued in recent years. Even though the men do secure money for their families, corporations often take advantage of their situation by lying about pay and working conditions. One man stated that he earned the equivalent of $160 for a month of work, but continued to work as it fed his family back home.
The mass migration for work in the town of Bhramarpura has created problems for the town. While women and children represent the town’s community, gender norms continue to corrupt the systems supporting them. It has been reported that banks in Bhramarpura will demand bribes for access to their husband’s remittances. The town’s economy has also been negatively affected by migration. Due to the lack of job creation within the country, goods are not produced at an adequate rate, making consumers pay more money. Labor is less available as well, which has impacted the amount of agricultural production. The biggest source of income in the town has become remittances. Mass migration also negatively impacts the health of families. Many men who work overseas come back home with addictions to drugs or alcohol due to poor working conditions. This affects their kid’s development, as the lack of a father figure can lead them to make bad decisions. Not to mention, the lack of men within the country has resulted in fewer families forming in recent years.
The decrease in men within the population has had noticeable negative effects on the town and its inhabitants, and some wonder how this situation could be improved. One solution that has been explored by some towns within Nepal is expanding English education. By teaching kids English early on, they may have access to less labor-intensive jobs overseas, which likely have better conditions and pay. I believe other forms of education could be expanded as well, including education on farming and agricultural practices. By investing time and resources back into the community, the youth can begin to understand how different jobs can support their families and others around them. While these solutions will need time to produce positive results for the people of Nepal, it is important to take steps that can improve the quality of life within the country.
