All it takes to comprehend the frustrations of the citizens is to walk through TIA to see the thousands of men and women who have lost faith in the future of their country
Throughout the years we have seen but little development in our country. Nepal contemporarily possesses issues such as economic hardship, political instability, human rights violations, gender inequality, a perpetuating migration crisis and the consistent fear of natural disasters. Corruption has been rampant in the country throughout the decades, which has impeded the country's ability to develop.
Corruption has infiltrated all levels of the government, businesses and societies, sparking rage in innocent citizens. Political connections and bribes are deemed necessary when attempting to secure a job, access public services, or to obtain basic permits. There have been several scandals that have exposed misconduct of power; however, since these powerful figures often possess political protectionism, there are no repercussions.
Economically, Nepal is in a detrimental state. Of its population, 20.1 per cent is multidimensionally poor, according to the Multidimensional Poverty Index 2024, meaning that they are deprived of the key aspects of life, including health, education and standard of living. As political leaders squabble over power, Nepalese citizens are forced to seek employment abroad due to the lack of opportunities in the country, resulting in 5.6 million Nepalis with work permits abroad and contributing about 25 per cent of the nation's GDP through remittance.
Followingly, even when these migrant workers go abroad, especially in the Gulf countries, they suffer furthermore with low wages, physical and mental abuse, perpetuating exploitation. Despite the tragic deaths of thousands of migrant workers, there hasn't been improved protection of labour rights to protect the individuals who contribute to one-fourth of the nation's GDP. In fact, the emotional toll for the families left behind is substantial, particularly in rural areas where remittance is essential for survival. Migrant labour has become both the lifeline and the greatest tragedy of our economy.
Even in 2025, gender inequality remains a significant issue in Nepal, particularly deriving from traditional and societal expectations that present absurd ideas for women. Gender-based violence persists substantially, with the Ministry of Health reporting in 2017 that 23 per cent of all women have experienced physical violence. The future of young girls in the country is stolen and buried in a wedding dress, as 35 per cent of Nepalese girls marry before the age of 18, robbing them of an education and their independence.
Female migrant workers have been reported to face higher risks of physical, sexual and verbal violence with little to no protection. Compounded discrimination is faced by women who are Dalits, resulting in their opportunities to be restricted by gender and caste. Nepal is the land that boasts of being the birthplace of Goddess Sita, however it continues to deny its daughters the very rights and opportunities they deserve.
Chronic instability has plagued the political landscape of Nepal coupled with corruption and inefficiency. The country has had 14 different prime ministers in the past 16 years, which has only stalled policy reforms and progress. Political parties are prioritising acquiring power instead of the goodwill of the country, which has caused pressing issues such as unemployment and infrastructure development to perpetuate. The public disillusionment of Nepal's democratic institution stems from these political events.
In rural areas of Nepal, pregnant women have suffered through uterine rupture because they had to travel three hours to fetch water due to lack of resources in their villages. The access to clean drinking water is limited for many communities in Nepal, exposing them to waterborne diseases. Only 27 per cent of the population have access to basic sanitation, leaving the rest vulnerable.
Air pollution is the worst it has ever been in Kathmandu due to local sources such as vehicle emissions, construction and the burning of agricultural waste. Some 50,000 people pass away each year in Nepal due to major health risks such as chronic lung diseases, heart disease, strokes and respiratory infections.
Studies have shown that the life expectancy is decreasing in Nepal by approximately five years due to air pollution. The current situation is detrimental to the point that Kathmandu's air quality has been rated as being among the worst in the world. People do not wear masks to avoid the dust in Kathmandu, they do to survive.
Flooding has been a recurrent issue in Nepal as well, with the most recent case from September 2024 causing one of the most devastating floods and landslides ever. Over 246 people died, and more than 10,000 households were left displaced. Floods caused damage to roads, bridges and schools. The rivers, such as the Bagmati and Saptakoshi, were overflowing, with a staggering 240mm of rain recorded in a span of 24 hours.
Rapid urbanisation through poor planning and careless deforestation exacerbated the issues. The destruction of natural water management systems also catalyzed the effects. Informal settlements near the river were hit the harshest due to lack of necessary infrastructure and protections to cope.
The tip of the iceberg has only been discussed in this article regarding the frustrations of Nepalese people. However, the current economic and political landscape leaves little optimism for the future. When we have continually faced these problems with little to no change each year, why would we not grow frustrated as political parties play puppetry with the country?
All it takes to comprehend the frustrations of the citizens is to walk through Tribhuvan International Airport to see the thousands of faces of men and women who have lost faith in the future of their country, as they seek a future that their homeland failed to offer.
Kunwar is an advisor to All Nepalese Tea & Coffee Centre Pvt. Ltd.,
