Sindhuli’s Silent Exodus: Skilled Youth Forced Abroad by Job Crisis
10th March 2025, Kathmandu
Sindhuli’s district headquarters, Sindhulimadi, remains quiet, with only a few tea stalls showing activity. Some youths, preparing to leave for cities or abroad, engage in conversations, while others rush toward uncertain futures. Among them is Pujan Basnet, a 22-year-old IT graduate from Kanyakhola, Sindhuli.
Sindhuli’s Silent Exodus
Skills Without Opportunities
Basnet has expertise in website design, mobile app development, graphics design, and videography. However, he struggles to find employment that matches his skills. He attempted to start a business with a friend but lacked investment. The bank refused to provide loans without collateral, and his family’s financial condition was weak.
“I don’t have the capital, and banks won’t lend without collateral,” Basnet said. His decision to go abroad is not a choice but a necessity. He applied for IT Officer positions multiple times, passing 15 written exams but failing at the interview stage.
Low Pay and Job Frustration
Currently, Basnet works for a local institution but earns only NPR 10,000 per month. Even that salary does not arrive on time. Long working hours with minimal pay have left him frustrated and hopeless.
Basnet is not alone. Many youths in Sindhuli face similar challenges. The lack of employment forces them to migrate, leaving behind farms, aging parents, and rural responsibilities.
Another Young Aspirant in Dilemma
Sabina Danuwar, 21, a second-year BBS student, also faces uncertainty. She struggles to decide between continuing her education or moving abroad for work. “My family’s financial condition is weak. There are no job opportunities. Managing daily expenses is difficult. I am thinking of leaving my studies and going abroad,” she said.
Many of her friends have already moved to Australia and Dubai. Conversations with them influence her decision. “They say earnings are better abroad, even with struggles,” she added.
Youth Exodus from Sindhuli
Basnet and Danuwar are just two examples. A large number of young people in Sindhuli are preparing to go abroad. Local consultancies facilitating foreign employment witness increasing crowds.
Sindhuli’s District Administration Office reports that 28,652 passports were issued in the past five years. According to Safe Migration Project (SaMi) Coordinator Vijay Dahal, around 10,000 youths leave Sindhuli every year for foreign jobs.
Risks of Foreign Employment
Despite the promise of better earnings, foreign jobs come with risks. Over the past 16 years, at least 151 Sindhuli residents have died abroad. In the last 11 years, 51 returned with serious injuries or disabilities, unable to repay debts incurred for migration.
Sindhuli lacks employment opportunities, forcing its youth to migrate. Without government intervention to create jobs, the cycle of migration, struggle, and loss will continue. RSS
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