In search of better pastures (lifestyle)

Kathmandu / November 21: Youth are the pillars of every nation. They are fundamental in development and nation building. However, thousands of Nepali youth leave the country each year for education or for work leaving a gaping hole back home. Migration has always been a harsh reality for our country. The present state of affairs has affected millions of Nepalis across the country. With detrimental effects on educational institutions and businesses, we are living in insecure times where the future looks uncertain.
Milan Poudel, 29
Stock Market Trader

Once a week, I keep all my work aside and queue up for more than eight hours for five liters of fuel. My office is in New Road while I live in Bhaktapur. And thanks to the fuel crisis, it takes me more than an hour to commute the distance that would normally take about 40 minutes. More often than not, I’m risking my life by riding on the top of the bus. It was five years ago that I’d read somewhere that it would take Nepal 50 years to be a developed nation. Now here we are in what is a very bad situation for the country. It doesn’t even feel like a developing nation because those who work in private sectors have to slog all month for pay that is only enough to make ends meet. We need recommendations to get a government job. If one is to start a business, we are at the mercy of the external forces and unstable times. Education has also become an expensive commodity and there’s no guarantee we will land a good job at home to better our lives. There’s no doubt that Nepal has vast potential. But who’s willing to invest heavily and blindly during these vulnerable times? We have no one to blame but ourselves. We are where we are because of our past mistakes. We should have had more industries and business within the country instead of depending on import. Now my plan is to get married and go to Australia. I’d rather take a chance at my future there than here.

Tashi Lama, 34
Businessman

My business is importing clothes to Delhi. With the border being closed for more than three months, my business is obviously in a tight spot. I’m trying to be hopeful but the thinning wallet is telling me otherwise. I will wait for a year and if nothing improves then I will have to start afresh. I believe the government and the agitating parties should compromise. There should be no ego during the political talks. Both parties should make a deal which benefits the overall nation.

Ashish Nepal, 19
Bachelor in IT, Samajik College

We have major unemployment problems in the country. I’ve also seen that those with foreign degrees get better opportunities. So that’s why I’m preparation on going to the US next year. But the plan is always to come back home. I want to learn as much as possible before returning to build a business here. If we had ample opportunities at home, why would we need to go abroad? But we cannot point fingers at the government only. We are also responsible for the state our country is at the moment. I think communication between the public and the leaders is very important. I wish we had more access to the government. The present situation teaches us all to be more self dependent. Also, it’s high time we had younger leaders with fresher ideas on how to take our country forward.

Sanju Neupane, 18
Student

The past couple of months have certainly increased my desire to leave Nepal for greener pastures. The continuing bad news that we read about every day doesn’t make me feel like returning home any time soon. I don’t see anything improving in the next three months. I’m taking IELTS classes at the moment. I will be studying IT in Australia and I want to make it to the July intake. I know that leaving the country is not a solution but staying back and waiting for things to be better is not going to help me either. I have no idea whether I’ll return for good to Nepal.

Trishna Bhattarai, 18
CA student at CCMA College

I have no plans to go abroad. Of course, I’m frustrated about the present situation but I believe I can make a good life for myself here. I’m quite positive that the lives of all Nepali people will get better soon. I lived in Qatar for three years with my family when I was studying in lower secondary level, but I missed my relatives and friends a lot. I was never very happy there and that’s one reason that I’d never want to leave Nepal. So far, I’ve been lucky that there’s been a seat available in the bus whenever I go to classes. Many of my friends are trying to go abroad and even younger brother, who’s in class nine, can’t wait to try his luck. But I’m going to stay here.

Sophiya Bhandari, 20
Oxbridge College

I’m frustrated at being a Nepali right now. I wish I was born in a better country. Imagine travelling all the way from Thankot to attend my classes at 6 in the morning in Lagankhel. I get up at 4 AM, and even then I miss my first class most days because finding a bus with a space enough to stand is a matter of luck. I’m worried because my exams aren’t that far away. I have no plans of leaving the country anytime soon. Not because I don’t want to, but because I live with my parents and grandparents and I don’t want to leave them alone. If all of us could get visa easily, I’d have flown already. Fleeing the country isn’t a solution, but I don’t think our country will do better anytime soon. I wonder what I will do after I graduate. This blockade has made us realize how dependent we are on India for every basic need. This shouldn’t have been the case in the first place, but what can we do? I guess there won’t be any change until and unless there are young people in the policy making levels. The same old bunch of leaders won’t be able to give anything new to the nation. Youth, with their energy, knowledge of the world and understanding of the present times, can direct our country to a progressive path.
(Source: Myrepublica Daily)