KATHMANDU: Over the past three years, 47 individuals from Arghakhanchi who sought employment abroad have tragically lost their lives, with nine fatalities occurring this year alone. Additionally, the Safer Migration (SaMi) project reports that 74 individuals have suffered serious illnesses or disabilities, and by mid-June of this year, 18 more had encountered significant health issues. Zia ul Haq, SaMi Coordinator for Lumbini Province, noted that these statistics pertain specifically to those with labor approvals for foreign employment and may differ for those migrating illegally or on tourist or student visas.

In the fiscal year 2022/23, 9,526 people from Arghakhanchi went abroad for work, and by mid-June of the current fiscal year, 8,175 individuals, including 633 women, have already left. Arghakhanchi has also seen 10 cases of fraudulent practices in foreign employment, with victims receiving Rs 1.46 million in compensation, as reported by Chief District Officer Surya Bahadur Khatri.

Nationally, a significant migration trend is evident, with 7,720,708 work permits issued since mid-May of fiscal year 2006/07. In the latest fiscal year 2022/23, 771,327 people sought foreign employment, the highest yearly number in 17 years. By mid-June of the current fiscal year, 609,699 individuals have already departed for work abroad, with 93 percent choosing Malaysia and Gulf countries, while the remaining seven percent went to nations like Japan, Bahrain, Korea, and Croatia.

Regarding the use of remittances, the National Statistics Office reveals that 72.40 percent of remittances are spent on daily household expenses. Additionally, 15.8 percent is used for debt repayment, 4.6 percent for education, and 1.9 percent for real estate investments. The savings rate for future needs stands at 1.9 percent, with 56 percent of households nationwide receiving remittances, and a higher proportion, 89.6 percent, benefiting from remittances in Lumbini Province.