Daily bread beats ballot for Nepali youths on seasonal migration
Summary
As Nepal's election campaign intensifies, young migrants from Sudurpaschim province prioritize work over voting due to limited local job opportunities, crossing into India to sustain their livelihoods.
Key Points
- Young Nepali migrants in Sudurpaschim prioritize daily wage labor over voting in the upcoming House of Representatives elections.
- Many migrants travel to Indian cities for short-term labor despite harsh conditions and risk missing election day.
- Armed Police Force records indicate increased labor migration at Nepal-India border crossings during the election period.
- Labor migration to India from western Nepal has historical roots and remains driven by poverty and lack of local economic opportunities.
