Ensure employment for youth: Locals

on the feedback trail

TANSEN, PALPA July 20: When he was young, he worked as a security guard in India. Now his son works as a security guard for a company in Saudi Arabia.

Kaman Singh Tamang, 55 of Madan Pokhara, Palpa district witnessed a lot change in the world of politics. However, Tamang, a father of four, doubts if Nepali politicians will sort out major problems that have plagued common Nepalis for generations.

"All of my children are +2 graduates but no one gets job in the country," complained Tamang, adding the main problem plaguing the country is unemployment. "How long will Nepalis have to work in a foreign country to earn a living?" questioned Tamang. He said a nation cannot develop if youths fly abroad for employment.

Every day over 1,800 youths leaves the country for employment abroad. Over four million youths are estimated to be working in various Gulf countries. It is estimated that double that number of youths are working in India.

Tamang said he has read the draft constitution and is prepared to give some suggestions to the Constituent Assembly (CA) members who are visiting electoral constituencies to collect public feedback. He said he would request the leaders to draft a constitution that can ensure overall development and employment for the jobless.

Palpa is popular for Dhaka cloths (hand woven cloths) and Karuwa. But most of the factories in the district have been facing acute manpower crisis. "I can hire over 60 people in my factory but it is hard to find workers here," said Kapil Karki, proprietor of Karki Dhaka Industry, adding, "It is not difficult to earn Rs20, 000 to Rs 30,000 here, but no one wants to work here." Karki's factory has employed sixty people. He said due to acute shortage of manpower he has been struggling to deliver order for cloths and is compelled to hire Indian workers.

"Educated youths do not want to weave Dhaka clothes. Instead, they are ready for hard labor in Gulf countries," Karki complained. Similarly, the Palpali Karuwa is widely famous in the whole country. But the industry is dying due to the lack of interest of the concerned authorities to promote local products.

Devi Prasad Basyal, chairman of CPN-UML, Palpa district agreed that despite huge potential unemployment rate is too high and that this is the reason why most youths are flying abroad for work. "Concerned authorities as well as political parties have to bring programs targeting the youth population," he said. Basyal said the draft constitution has given positive message to the people, who are desperate for lasting peace and development. "We have to convey a positive message by responding to youth grievances as well," he added.

The district can be developed as a tourist hub, as it has several heritage sites like Palpa Durbar, Rani Mahal, Bhagwati Mandir and several others. People from the Tarai and India visit the place during summer. "One can invest in tourism sector as well," said Basyal.

Krishna Bhusal, a political activist said that he is highly positive about the proposed federal model, though the name and boundaries of the federal states have yet to be finalized. "We can develop our place by using local resources," said he. He hopes that the development of the district will gather momentum under the federal setup.

Nepali Congress (NC) leader of the district Bir Bahadur Rana said the government and political parties should bring programs targeting the unemployed once the constitution is promulgated.