It is fact that the major reasons, which influence Nepalese to
migrate to Delhi, include structural factors, family tradition, youthful
romanticism, deception or luring, social attitudes and security
concerns,socio-economic structural factor is the single major cause.
Redistribution of production and mechanization of agricultural tasks or
crafts are examples that force people to migrate. In addition, partly
this has happened due to the push factors, which include extremely
exploitative socio-economic structure that exists in their respective
rural societies, hostile social circumstances such as untouchability and
absence of any futuristic mechanism that generates hope and motivates
people to stay in their villages. The large majority among migrants has
come to Delhi due to structural causes covered under the phrase –
‘economic reason’.
The people involved in the process of analyzing the
condition interpret the phenomenon as ‘unemployment’ or ’economic
reason’. This is over simplification, which negates the search for
finding out the fundamental factors. The so-called economic reason
encompasses the unemployment myth and brings into picture the structural
issues such as control over means of production and political as well
as cultural power factors. Those who do not have anything other than
labor and that too under exploitation of its extreme nature and debt
burden tend to migrate. Hence, the socio-political dynamics and economic
compulsions together form the major structural reason for migration in
Nepal.
Delhi is a large metropolis, which offers opportunities and as the
migrants’ familiarization with the job market and acquaintance with
several coworkers encourages them to invite family members.
Particularly, wife or children of the male migrants come here to join
him. Thus, the family tradition continues. In some cases, this has been
due to continuation of the practice and tradition of families for
centuries.The fantasy or thrills felt seeing Lahures, who go home back with new
dresses, several aluminum trunks full of dresses and other materials,
and the money they take home etc, attract others. In this way, the
returnees work as magnets.
Youthful romantic feelings and attraction of
Delhi life motivates the teenagers to leave their villages. A few
runaways – children, paramours, undergrounds (criminal elements) are
also get shelter in already overcrowded Delhi.Class contradictions, armed conflicts and deteriorating security
situation at home have further added to the number of migrants. Security
concern has been one among the new causes. In the first place, it
becomes pertinent to understand the security perception. In a society,
which has been in transition, socio-economic contradictions certainly
rise to a higher level. This could go beyond debates and discussions. It
even reaches to a level of violent confrontation between antagonistic
classes. This confrontation breaks the status quo and brings several
forces into play to a different dynamism and power relationship. In the
process, diehard enemies fight against each other and neutral
individuals and sections try to find out shelters inside or outside the
area of fierce confrontation.
In brief, certainly the underdevelopment and socio-economic structures
are the major factors leading to migration for a large majority of
people in Nepal followed by the individual and family desires and
decisions. In addition, security concerns and other social factors also
have played their role.
The Nepalese restaurants function as community clubs – sit, eat, talk and feel at home. The migrants enjoy not necessarily only eating, more importantly they
love the homely environment there. In such restaurants, many people
could be seen hanging around, particularly, on Sundays. Instant noodles
and Nepali dumplings called momos have become some sort of
special Nepalese dishes in these restaurants. Several types of Nepalese
migrants could be seen in such restaurants.
The highest earning groups among the migrants are the auxiliary
professionals such as computer operators, accountants and marketing
assistants. They are followed by the drivers. Their number is quite
significant. Junior technicians and skilled workers like electrician,
plumber and house wall painters are other better earning groups.
Although, the temple priests are a high earning group, their number is
limited and they are reluctant to talk about their earnings. In terms of
cash in hand, the factory workers sound earning not that great, but who
are permanent workers get social security benefits such as provident
fund, gratuity, insurance etc. Therefore, they also are not that bad. In
addition, they get subsidized lunch in most of the factories.
The
guards enjoy some sort of respect when they work as security guard in a
neighborhood. If they work in organized sectors, they also get social
security benefits. Their average earning too is comparatively on better
side. The most oppressed groups, both, in terms of work conditions and
earnings are the domestic help and dishwashers. These two groups work
for long hours (about 16 hours everyday) without any weekend break and
earn on an average not more than Indian Rs 1.70 per hour of work
excluding the food and accommodation. They, more particularly, the
domestic helps also face physical violence and abuse. Therefore, the
migrants who are in these two professions have no pleasure and happiness
in life, no time to develop their human potentialities and no
opportunity to develop their independent human personality. The migrants
in these professions make their survival only to continue further to
work in the same hostile environment. Therefore, nearly all of them
continuously try to find out other employment avenues.
The migrants’ expenditure items include room rent, food, clothing,
medicine, travel and entertainment. They spend about 20% on room rent,
35% on food, 20% on clothing, medicals and other small expenses if they
stay alone. A small room of 10×12 feet costs Rs 600 to 1200 depending on
the area the room is located. One person has to spend about Rs 1000 per
month for food.
n this way, they can just save on average Rs 7500 per annum (25% of the
income). However, most of the time three to four persons stay together
and minimize the cost. In such situation, the saving might go up by more
than double. The average saving has been found Rs 17536 (57% of the
income). Experiences and common sense have taught them to share rooms
and to cook together. Therefore, nearly all migrants have been found
staying together as a group of three or four.
There are demerits too.
These demerits include loss of privacy, peace, silence and good rest.
Moreover, they also fell pray to the temptation to agreeing with one or
the other roommate’s desire and succumb to pressure or persuasion to go
for enjoying liquor (in some cases every evening and in most of the
cases at least once or twice a week), play cards or watch movies for
long hours irrespective of them being tired. There is a big gap between
saving and remittance, and partly that has been spent on such expenses,
which they do not like to talk. Anyway, seeing their large number, of
course, the Nepalese workers remit considerable amount back home .
Delhi is nearby city of dream has been the major destination for employment which is easy to reach from Nepal and the similar culture help to locate here easily with the community members they stay and the tradition of migrating from Nepal continues as Delhi remains city of Dream to them.
No comments:
Post a Comment