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As many as 81 local units across the country have implemented a ‘reintegration program’ aimed at creating an environment for returnee migrant workers to invest capital and skills acquired abroad within the country. Under the program, returnee migrant workers are provided with assistance worth Rs 43,000 to start their ventures. Of this amount, Rs 8,000 is allocated for training purposes, and the remaining Rs 35,000 for their ventures. So far, 3,260 returnee migrant workers have enrolled for the program in 81 local units. According to the Employment Promotion Board (EPB), these individuals are now enterprise-oriented. The local units are required to invest at least 20 percent per person. “The EPB provides Rs 43,000 per person, while the local units have to invest at least 20 percent of that amount,” said Rajan Paudel, the information officer of the EPB. “Although the money is not sufficient to start a large-scale business, it will be enough to start entrepreneurship with coordination from the concerned local unit.” Minister for Labor, Employment, and Social Security Sharat Singh Bhandari said although the ministry was providing different compensations for migrant workers, this is the first program targeted at returnee migrant workers. The objective of this program is to utilize the capital, skills, technology, and experience acquired during employment by people returning from foreign employment for the development and promotion of entrepreneurship in Nepal. The cabinet endorsed the Reintegration Program Guidelines in June last year to facilitate the implementation of the program. Based on this regulation, 81 local units started the program in April this year, according to Dwarika Upreti, the executive director of the EPB. “The program was initiated with the aim of creating an environment for returnee migrant workers to invest the skills and money earned abroad in the country, so that people do not have to migrate abroad again,” Upreti added. According to Upreti, only 81 local units applied to the EPF to implement the program. While Dharan Sub-metropolitan City has enrolled 40 returnee migrant workers in the program, Phidim has 60, and Ilam and Khadananda municipalities have 40 each. Chandra Bahadur Rokaha, the past president of the Returnee Federation Nepal, believes that although this program alone is not sufficient for the reintegration of migrant workers into Nepali society, it seems to be of some help. Likewise, Uttam Adhikari, President of Returnee Migration Nepal, said the reintegration guidelines fall short of meeting the expectations of the migrant workers. “No one from the target group was on the team that drafted these guidelines,” he said. Similarly, Tej Prasad Subedi, the general secretary of All Nepal Migrant Workers Forum, said there should be no further delay in utilizing the skills acquired by Nepalis abroad to build a better nation. “We have repeatedly submitted suggestions to the government regarding the citizens who are employed abroad and those who have returned. Hopefully, the government will take action now,” he added. Returnee migrant workers, who have benefited from the program, have said that the program is very effective. “I have learned a lot about entrepreneurship from the training,” said Lal Bahadur Budha Chhetri of Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan City. Chhetri returned to Nepal after spending 15 years in Qatar. Some local units, however, seem confused as this program is being implemented in Nepal for the first time.

A meeting of the National Assembly has been postponed till Friday. National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina postponed the meeting till 12: 29 pm tomorrow following the obstruction from the main opposition CPN-UML. The UML lawmakers have been obstructing the meeting of the House of Representatives and National Assembly since Wednesday demanding resignation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal over his remarks. Soon after the commencement of the meeting, the UML lawmakers demanded resignation of Prime Minister Dahal for the second day on Thursday also. UML lawmaker Bhairav Sundar Shrestha said that the Prime Minister’s remarks undermined the prestige and dignity of the country. During a function to launch a book on Monday, Prime Minister Dahal had said that Pritam Singh visited New Delhi several times to make him the prime minister. “His statement is condemnable,” Shrestha said. He said that the Prime Minister, who works at the behest of India, is not acceptable.

The main opposition CPN-UML has demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. UML lawmaker Raghuji Pant warned that they would not allow the House to proceed with its business until the prime minister tendered his resignation. While launching a book of sardar Pritam Singh, Prime Minister Dahal had said that Singh visited India time and again while he was the prime minister and also helped him to become the head of the government. The UML said that the prime minister’s statement was against the sovereignty of the country. “Dahal’s statement has hurt the sentiment and self-respect of Nepalis,” lawmaker Pant said. He said that the Prime Minister cannot be greater than the dignity of the nation. Pant said that they would not let the House proceed with its business until Dahal resigned as prime minister. Along with the UML, Rastriya Swatantra Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party lawmakers also gheraoed the rostam when Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire tried to proceed with the House business. Following the obstruction, Speaker Ghimire adjourned the meeting for half-an-hour. Earlier also, the Parliament meeting could not be held after the UML sought answers from the prime minister. The meeting of the National Assembly has also been postponed due to the obstruction of the main opposition party.    

The CPN-UML has called a Parliamentary Party meeting on Wednesday. UML Whip Mahesh Bartaula said that the meeting has been called for 1: 30 pm today. “Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had said that Pritam Singh had visited India time and again to make him the Prime Minister.  This is not a common issue” he said, adding, “We have our serious objection to Prime Minister Dahal’s statement. The meeting was called to discuss this topic and contemporary issues.” He said that the party cannot be ignorant of this matter. “The Prime Minister made by the Parliament said that India plays an instrumental role to make the Prime Minister in the country. His statement is condemnable. We cannot stay mum by ignoring the issue,” Bartaula said. During a program organized to launch the book in Kathmandu on Monday evening, Prime Minister Dahal had said that Pritam Singh visited Delhi many times to make him the Prime Minister. His statement has been roundly criticized on social media.