Nepalese In Delhi

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.