BAGLUNG, Oct 4: Baglung district received remittance worth Rs 400 million for Dashain celebration this year.
Sayapatri Money Transfer of Mahendrapath alone distributed more than Rs 10 million per day before the main festivities of the Dashain festival began last week. “It is usual for remittance distribution to increase during Dashain festival. We made remittance payments to over 100 clients per day,” Hira Poudel, a staffer of Sayapatri Money Transfer, told Republica.
Similarly, the Baglung branch of Global IME Bank distributed around Rs 5 million every day before the Dashain festivities began. “We distributed Rs 4 to 5 million every day,” Arjun Poudel branch manager for Global IME's Baglung branch office, said. “During the Dashain festival, around Rs 40 million entered into the district through our channel.”
Likewise, Baglung branch of Prabhu Bank distributed Rs 3 to 3.5 million every day before the Dashain festival, according to Amar Jyoti, manager of the branch.
Anup Rijal of Kalika Money Transfer said that the remitter distributed Rs 5 to 6 million a day during the festive season. “The crowd was relatively less this year as there are remitting agents in every village,” he added.
The Baglung branch of Nepal Bank Ltd (NBL) also distributed remittance worth around Rs 20 million this festive season. Durga Prasad Aryal, branch manager of the NBL, said they served few clients this season as the branch office was crowded with people withdrawing their salaries and exchanging crisp notes for Dashain celebration. “Nevertheless, we distributed around Rs 20 million from our branch,” he added.
Galkot, which is often called the remittance capital of the district, however, received less remittance this year compared to last year. “This year we distributed only Rs 1 to 1.2 million per day,” Yam Bahadur KC of Galkot Money Transfer, said. “Maybe because workers have not received their salary yet,” he said.
Global IME also has a branch office in Galkot, while NBL has a branch office in nearby Haripur.
More than a dozen branch offices of commercial banks as well as money transfer companies as well as cooperatives provide remittance service in district headquarters Baglung Bazaar. Commercial banks have also opened their branch offices in other commercial centers in the district like Galkot, Kushmi Shera and Burtibang.
Remittances come to the country mostly from Gulf countries, Japan, European countries as well as the US.