The government-generated euphoria over remittances gives little scope for jubilation as the transactions have been possible not because of the so-called far-sighted policies of the government but because of individual initiatives. Mainly semi-skilled and unskilled Nepali migrant workers are sweating it out in the Gulf and other countries, and their remittances have helped the domestic economy through imports and collection of customs revenue. Nepal’s economy, according to expert estimates, may collapse any time. But even under such precarious circumstances, remittance inflow as a percentage of GDP is estimated at about 12 per cent. The very fact that the seven-party alliance has also urged the Nepali migrant workers to stop sending money is proof enough of the significant part their contributions play in Nepal’s rapidly weakening economy.

Foreign employment can indeed be positive. But for any government to play up the mass exodus of youths abroad in search of work as an achievement gives cause for concern, because this means the government has been unable to create opportunities at home. And if such a trend is allowed to continue, it would have a depressing impact on the GDP as a large number of youth will have been gone. Faced as Nepal is with this problem, it is a matter of shame for any government that if on the one hand remittances from abroad are increasing, on the other important sectors of the national economy are constantly on the downslide. It will be all right if the growth in both the fronts is not lopsided. Enough attention has not been paid to these aspects. Besides the lack of concrete official initiatives in this regard, disturbed social peace and political instability have compounded the issues of unemployment and underdevelopment.