Opinion | The families who wait
Summary
Families left behind by Nepali migrant workers carry the emotional and practical burdens of long separations, with many wives showing symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. The piece calls for stronger community support, better family-oriented orientation, and quicker help when workers die abroad.
Key Points
- Nepal’s remittance economy and large-scale foreign employment leave millions of families coping with long absences, uncertainty and financial strain.
- A study in Jhapa found high levels of depression, anxiety and stress among wives of migrant workers.
- The article urges local health posts, ward offices and orientation programs to support families left behind, not just the workers abroad.
- It argues that the hidden cost of foreign employment includes anxiety, loneliness and grief at home.
