In a latest news, a modern ICU facility was set-up in Kanti Bal Hospital. Thanks to Dr. Sangita Basnet and other Nepali living in the US, a 6 bed new natal ICU and a 6 bed pediatric ICU were being constructed since 2006 and are finished recently. It is a good example on what Nepali living abroad can do to help Nepal and its prosperity.

The issue of brain drain and loss of labor force to foreign countries have been talked a lot within Nepal and out of Nepal. The US, India,China,Bangladesh, Singapore, Russia, Australia, Canada, Germany, UK have been some of many places Nepali go for further studies. Nepali going to the labor market of Middle East, Eastern Asia and other countries are told to be underpaid and usually return back after a certain period. But the question on weather they are impacting the Nepalese development and well-being is still questioned in spite of the country’s economy driven by their revenue. Nepali students and workers in developed countries generally try to settle in the host country. They tend to turn deaf ears to some well wishers’ plea to return the cream of the country back to Nepal.

It is one’s right to choose where he/she lives. And the government and politicians have failed to create an environment to lure foreign bound citizens back to the country. The issue of dual citizenship is highly debated – will the ones who left the country benefit from it or the country will benefit from it. The NRNs will get mental benefit of not loosing their original citizenship and the country will get the material benefit from their financial capabilities. We can’t really put them in a scale and measure/compare the benefits. But I think whoever benefits, it is a win-win situation although not many people agree with me.

I have met many Nepali living abroad having a strong desire to help the country in one way or the other. Many Nepali living in Nepal have desire to help themselves rather than the country. It is not that they don’t want the country to progress but their basic needs – water, electricity, transportation needs lot more attention than the country. Does that mean the NRNs can build the country? No! I don’t think so. Nepali in Nepal have to build the country themselves. It is Nepali living in Nepal who have to take the burden of the country. It is a collective effort and no single person has the magic wand to solve the problem. Nepali living abroad can provide moral support in the process.

I think, mentioning about an article in recent issue of a Nepali weekly, Nepal, about the distribution of rice by World Food Program, is relevant in this context. Thanks to the free rice, the people in the area felt it unnecessary to cultivate it in the area. The fields are empty and the people are feeding on the aid rice. I don’t want to think about the situation of the people when WFP stops sending rice to the people. There is always a possibility of creating similar situation when a Nepali living abroad helps the country by monetary means.

For any country when its trained and educated citizen leave the country, so called brain-drain, is a problem and Nepal is no exception. The country can try bringing them back by creating appropriate environment and infrastructure.

Disclaimer: I am a Nepali living in the US for the last 5 years. My views might be a bit biased towards Nepali living in foreign countries but I have tried to be as neutral as possible.(Anand Sharma)