Election Season Sees Exodus of Workers from Nepal’s Western Border
As Nepal gears up for the House of Representatives elections, scheduled for March 5, the usual buzz of political campaigning in villages and towns across the nation is starkly contrasted by a different reality unfolding at the border crossings of Sudurpaschim province. Instead of election fervor, a steady stream of men and women are crossing the Nepal-India border, their primary focus not on casting ballots but on securing work, with an uncertain return date that might fall well after election day.
At the Gaddachauki border point in Kanchanpur district, groups of young men, their meager belongings slung over their shoulders, are seen waiting to cross. Their conversations and concerns are dominated by the immediate need for survival, placing the choice between earning a livelihood and remaining unemployed at home far above the selection of political candidates.
“I wish I could vote before leaving,” shares Sushil Chaudhary from ward 4 of Geruwa Rural Municipality in Bardiya. He is traveling with five other youths to Mandi in India’s Himachal Pradesh state. “But everyone from the village is going now. If we don’t reach on time, we may lose the work.”
The urgency stems from the economic realities back home. “Farming work remains unfinished at home,” Sushil explains. “Mustard plants are yet to be harvested and corn are yet to be sowed. But missing the construction season in India means losing crucial income for the whole year.” Sushil and his companions had recently returned to Nepal for Maghi, the most significant festival for the Tharu community, celebrated on January 15. However, their stay was brief, as they now head back to India for daily wage labor on bridge construction sites. Subas Chaudhary, a friend of Sushil’s, notes that over 150 individuals from just the Dhukaniya and Shantipur settlements of their ward are employed in Mandi. “We earn between IRs 500 and 700 a day,” he states, indicating the vital financial support this migration provides. Their current plan is to return home only in June-July, coinciding with the paddy transplanting season.
For a multitude of migrant workers, the election timing has exacerbated a long-standing dilemma. “We want to stay and vote in our own village,” laments Sohanlal Chaudhary, also from ward 4 of Geruwa. “But leaders have not created jobs here. If we could earn in Nepal, we wouldn’t have to go to India or countries in the Gulf.” He highlights the stark reality that despite facing arduous working conditions and verbal abuse abroad, labor migration remains the sole viable option for sustaining household expenses.
Rising Numbers and Shifting Demographics at the Border
In recent months, the Armed Police Force (APF) has been diligently maintaining records of individuals crossing the border into India, particularly focusing on workers heading to distant employment hubs. APF officials report a noticeable increase in the flow of labor migrants in the weeks leading up to the election, even as national political fervor intensifies.
Data from the Gaddachauki check post reveals that between 130 and 160 Nepalis are crossing the border daily this week. Their destinations are primarily Indian cities such as Delhi, Punjab, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, where they seek short-term labor opportunities. The situation is even more pronounced at the Trinagar-Gauriphanta border in Kailali. Here, officials estimate that approximately 300 to 400 Nepalis cross each day in pursuit of employment. When factoring in all cross-border movements, including those for shopping and medical appointments, the overall daily traffic exceeds 2,000 individuals.
Deepa Bista, a counselor at the Shanti Rehabilitation Home situated near the Gauriphanta crossing, observes a significant shift in the profile of migrants. “Earlier, it was mostly men traveling alone,” she notes. “Now, women and relatives are going together. When asked, they say they have been called by family members or are going for work in big Indian cities.”
Himal BK, a permanent resident of ward 8 in Gauriganga Municipality, Kailali, was among those heading to Bengaluru on a recent Thursday. He was accompanied by a teenage relative and, like many others at the border, appeared more preoccupied with securing employment than with the upcoming elections. “Work comes first,” he stated concisely before boarding a vehicle.
Deep-Rooted Migration Patterns
The migration of workers from western Nepal to India is not a recent phenomenon, nor is it a temporary trend. This labor migration has a history spanning over two centuries. It is estimated that between one and three million Nepalis are currently employed across various Indian cities, predominantly in the informal sectors. These include construction, agriculture, security services, and the hospitality industry. A significant concern for these workers is their vulnerability, as they often lack formal contracts or access to social protection, leaving them susceptible to exploitation.
Extensive research and field reports consistently indicate that poverty and a scarcity of local employment opportunities are the primary drivers of migration from Sudurpaschim, Karnali, and Lumbini provinces. In many communities within Sudurpaschim, the majority of households have at least one member who has previously worked in India. This underscores how deeply ingrained labor migration has become as a survival strategy for local populations, rather than being viewed as a pathway to upward economic mobility. The approaching elections, therefore, coincide with a critical period for these communities, where the immediate need for income often overrides civic participation.
