September 12, 2025

In the bustling city of Lucknow, something unusual is happening: many Nepali workers who had come to India for jobs are now hurrying back to Nepal. Why? Nepal is going through its worst unrest in decades! Earlier this week, Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned after violent clashes left 30 people dead. The trouble started over a social media ban, which caused youth-led protests across the country. The ban was reversed, but anger remains. Cities are under curfew, soldiers patrol streets, and parliament buildings and politicians’ homes have been set on fire. Right now, Nepal has no government. This crisis forces migrants like Saroj Nevarbani to make tough choices. "There's trouble back home, so I must return. My parents are there - the situation is grave," he told BBC Hindi. Others like Pesal and Lakshman Bhatt are also confused: "We know nothing," they say, "but people at home have asked us to come back." Nepal and India share an open 1,750 km border, enabling many Nepalese to cross easily. There are broadly three groups of Nepali in India: migrant workers doing low-paid jobs like cooks, security guards, or domestic helpers; families who have settled in India but keep Nepali citizenship; and Indian citizens of Nepali descent from older migration waves. Over 13,000 Nepalese students study in India too! Plus, many cross the border for medicine, supplies, or family visits, helped by a 1950 treaty. According to experts, the growing number of Nepali migrants is mostly young, aged 15 to 20, traveling to work in construction, farms, factories, hotels, and more across Indian states like Uttarakhand, Punjab, Gujarat, and Delhi. Around 1 to 1.5 million Nepali citizens live and work in India, though exact numbers are hard to know because of the open border. For Nepal’s economy, migrants are like a lifeline. Remittances sent home make up about 27-30% of Nepal’s GDP, with over 70% of families receiving money from abroad. India contributes around a fifth of these funds, especially to the poorest households. Without these remittances, Nepal’s economy would struggle badly. But life in India is not easy for Nepali migrants. Studies show poor living conditions, lack of sanitation, discrimination, and low health awareness. Jobs often only cover survival, not growth. Take Mumbai’s Dhanraj Kathayat — he has guarded buildings for 16 years, earning just enough to send money to his family in Nepal. Politically, migrants once played strong roles in Nepal’s past struggles but today their influence is small. Many still vote, but their voices don't shape policies much. However, Nepali students in India are more hopeful and active. Delhi student Anant Mahto said he would join protests in Nepal and believes in rebuilding. Others hope for better leaders soon. The unrest pushes more youth back to India, swelling the informal workforce, which is risky and poorly paid. As political crisis deepens in Kathmandu, experts warn that more Nepalis will migrate to India for work, even though finding good jobs is tough. For most Nepalis, the India-Nepal border is more than a line—it’s a lifeline offering work and survival while keeping their hearts connected to home and its turbulent politics.

Read More at News →

Tags: Nepali migrants, Nepal unrest, Kp sharma oli resignation, India-nepal border, Remittances, Migration issues,