More than 400,000 migrant workers are working in the Gulf region as semi and non-skilled workers. Millions of foreign currencies are entering the country as remittance on a monthly basis. Nepal is a country that receives one of the highest proportions of remittance in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) in the world. In fact, remittances account for 30 percent of the country’s GDP. However, the funds from remittances are mostly being used as a means for survival of their families. So far, there are no other provision of the government for giving benefits except providing compensation of Rs. 700,000 to the immediate family of the migrant workers in case of their death or if they are critically injured or seriously ill while working abroad. It was wonderful to know that the children of migrant workers will be provided with free technical education from March 2018, “Free technical education for kids of affected migrant workers” (THT, December 5, Page 11). The Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB) is preparing for the first time to provide free technical education in view of supporting the families of migrant workers who pass away or suffer serious injuries or illnesses while working in foreign lands. This programme includes free education in the field of civil engineering, nursing and agriculture, for which FEPB will bear all the cost of the beneficiary children. This cost includes course fee, uniform, rent and travel costs. The purpose of this programme is to help the children of migrant workers develop technical skills to be used for generating livelihood opportunities. Under this programme, children, who can read and write, will be provided with one year vocational training in the field of agriculture. Likewise, children who have passed the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) are given three year diploma courses designed by CTEVT. FEPB has allocated for this fiscal year 120 seats for a three-year diploma course in civil engineering, nursing and agriculture and 200 for a one-year vocational training on agriculture.

Rai Biren Bangdel, Maharajgunj

Rubbish

This is with reference to the news story “Double amputees to be barred from climbing mountains” (THT, December 6, Page 1). I think Nepal is the only one country which makes rubbish rules! And yes, Nepal is my country. I am very much looking forward to how the Cabinet is going to pass this? There is no country which bans disabled people from climbing. Old people have died on mountains but there are no disabled people who have died on the mountains. So what’s the point banning the disabled? Nepal should be proud of me not banning me, who agrees? I will be climbing Mt. Everest whatever the cabinet decides. “Nothing is impossible”. If the cabinet passes the bill this is

discrimination against disabled people and violation of their rights. I would appreciate your support.

Hari Budha Magar, Orlando