Labour migration and nationalism

Reading the letter of DP Shah (12 August) gives me the impression that he has no deep
insight to the plight of poor Nepali citizens, who form the vast majority of Nepal’s population. The basic problem of rural people is that they can not meet a large part of their food requirements from their own production.

Various research conducted in rural areas by others and by myself reveal that remittance is increasingly used for meeting food requirements. So labour migration by one or more members of the family is now a survival strategy of households. Whether we like it or not, it is now a fact that remittance contributes to about 25% of GDP. Some of the research conducted in Karnali and other poorer regions reveal that as large as 80 % households have taken part in labour migration. Unless something can be done to ensure the survival of these people, the rhetoric of ultranationalism will not help.

It would be so much better if something could be provided to these poor and marginal people within the country. But our political economic structure is such that it has never worked in favour of the poorer sections of society. History is full of evidence that people have migrated to other countries for work even when the receiving state adopted harsh policies against them.

It is also sad to say that the Nepali ruling class has never taken it as its responsibility, or as a matter of self-interest, to reduce poverty. They are just interested in their power and wealth. Even the recent incident (death of a musician) proves that the ruling class places no significance on the lives of its citizens. There is a strong bureaucracy, police and army forces to shatter the rights and interests of commoners.

Under the circumstances the majority of Nepalis find themselves in today, there is a clear need to redefine the concept of nationalism, which should work for their benefit. As is usual all over the world, the poor people of Nepal face two evils - exploitative feudal structure and the imperialism (silent now). The poor and the marginal people of Nepal should have the right to decide which is the lesser evil, and how to deal with nationalism.

J Adhikari
Pokhara