AMBIKA P ADHIKARI

The Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs) are enjoying a phenomenal growth in numbers. It is an indicator of push factors in Nepal, and the pull factors of many parts of the world. The demography of NRNs covers a wide spectrum, from the individuals who perform menial labor in the hot deserts of the Middle East to the professionals and academicians who work in premier global institutions in the most developed countries of the world. Wherever they work, they all do an important job for the economy of Nepal, for their community, and for their employers.

According to Kantipur news of June 19, 2011, more than 1,300 Nepalis now leave Nepal for foreign lands daily. This amounts to half a million annual departures of workers to the overseas destinations. This is a huge exodus for Nepal. This outflow will perhaps remain unabated, until the economic and employment situation in Nepal begins to improve drastically. In the meantime, the repatriation from the NRNs will continue to solidly buttress Nepal’s economy.

Who are NRNs?
While the vast majority of the NRNs are Nepali citizens living abroad, an increasing number of NRNs are citizens of other countries, notably in the Western World. Technically, the persons who are Nepali citizens but live outside Nepal are Non-Resident Nepalis (NRN). The latter groups of Nepalis who have taken foreign citizenship are often called Persons of Nepali Origin (PNO), but can be more accurately called Foreign Citizens of Nepali Origin (FCNO). However, it has become common practice to term both these groups as NRNs. The Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), includes both the PNO (FCNO) and NRNs, and caters to the interests of both groups.

Although there are some similarities between NRN and FCNOs, such as in the field of culture, language, attachment to Nepal and family ties back home, the day-to-day problems and opportunities being faced by these two groups are quite different. For NRN’s, who are Nepali citizens, repatriation of money, investing in Nepal, tax implications of living outside and earning money in Nepal, and custom facilities in Nepal are the topics of interest. More importantly, to the vast majority of the NRNs who are working in the lower rung of employment in the Middle East, and African and Asian countries, their rights, their security, and well-being are of paramount importance. When one has to work outdoors in 115 degree heat, leave family behind in Nepal and constantly worry about the harassment of employers, and face unpredictable legal regime in the host country, many abstract ideas that might be of interest to certain FCNO groups may not carry much meaning to them.

For FCNOs too, employment, financial security and upward mobility remain important, but they have better choices and control in carving out their future.  They are more mobile, typically more educated, earn more money and have more social protection by virtue of being citizens or legal resident of countries that are rich and developed, and in which FCNOs are counted as equal citizens or residents in the society.

In the emotional and sentimental front, the needs and aspiration of all NRN’s converge. They want to be close to their families in Nepal, and wish to create supportive community organizations in the countries where they live and globally too. They are all keen in helping in a long-term economic development of Nepal, as a way of attaining a sense of personal accomplishment, and to satisfy the altruistic sentiments.

Lately, much has been done in creating a foundation for a worldwide network of the Nepali Diaspora. The most notable achievement in this regard has been the formation in 2003 of the NRNA. The NRNA, although still in its infancy, has provided an extraordinary platform for the global Nepali to coalesce and contemplate on the issues of their own welfare, the well-being of their fellow Nepalis, and supporting development in Nepal.

Compared to the well-established Diaspora communities, such as the Jewish, Polish, Irish, Indian, Korean and Chinese groups, Nepalis are just beginning to scratch the surface of the global market and opportunities. It will be a long way before NRNs can firmly establish themselves as players in big leagues helping themselves and also their native and adopted lands more effectively. However, some approaches have been proven successful and the NRNs can benefit from emulating them.

Networking & Education
In today’s world, a successful networking is the key to success. Whether it is finding a good job, getting into a good university, or running a successful business, networking is the name of the game in most societies. Groups who have the most tightly-knit and coherent networks have succeeded the most. Through global organizations and the plethora of national Nepali associations, the opportunity for NRNs to network has multiplied several-fold. The trick will be to expand the networking prowess from the current Nepalis-only cluster to the external groups, who muster the mainstream power in the host countries and internationally. This will help enhance the capacity of NRN’s and will assist in their pursuits of career, business and commerce.

Education has been the key for success of immigrants everywhere. The Jews, Indians and Chinese, for instance, have succeeded in the new world by investing in education. For example, the Indians in North America are routinely considered super humans in math, science, engineering and medicine. More recently, the Nepali people also have taken education very seriously and the effects of the educational advancement are now being seen in the better livelihoods of the Diaspora living in more developed countries. In Nepal also, education has become dramatically widespread and, in general, the quality also has improved significantly. The new Nepali immigrants with good education back home have enormously benefitted in the new worlds. Even for the people who work in menial jobs overseas, education can quickly raise their earning potential.

NRNA, in collaboration with the Nepali Government and others has embarked on Open University of Nepal Initiative (OUNI) to assist the disadvantaged Nepalis in Nepal and also overseas to enhance their individual capacity and help increase incomes. Dr Pramod Dhakal, the leader of OUNI was once told by a NRN in the Middle East that if only he could write better and do some math, he may be able to double his salary in his current job.

Entrepreneurship & Business
Only trade and business can truly create wealth. While the natural entrepreneurship and business talent has been recognized as an important asset of Chinese, Koreans and Indians globally, the Nepali Diaspora is also only beginning its tryst with business ventures. In the market economies, NRNs with strong business acumen will fare better. In fact, in earnings, successful business people in these countries often handily beat people with just good education. NRNA can play a vital role in supporting the entrepreneurs and helping people start businesses wherever they live. Workshops to help people start small businesses, teaching organizational and basic accounting required for running a business and creating community banking system to help the newcomer’s access to capital can be greatly helpful.

Knowledge & Technology
The key to all the future power and wealth in the world will rely on knowledge and technology. The high technology field, for example, has been a strong competence of the Indian Diaspora. People sometimes joke that in the American IT sector, just a South Indian surname will suffice to land a job. More and more NRNs have also rapidly attained significant expertise in high technology, science and knowledge-based areas. In fact, a large number of NRNs in North America and Oceania have already established themselves as experts in the fields of high technology and knowledge. There are hundreds of NRNs working in world renowned companies like, Intel, IBM, Motorola, Cisco, Boeing, Honeywell and the likes. This is an encouraging trend and it beckons a tremendous future opportunities for the Diaspora.

The Nepali Diaspora, although relatively new in the world arena, and although still an insignificant force globally, is rapidly gaining ground. Many challenges remain for the NRNs. However, because of the strong networking instincts, coupled with personal and social capital that has remained the power of the Nepalis, new opportunities are emerging. The organizational skills, leadership and social skills that NRNs are learning by running the global and national organizations are helping them succeed in the global arena. Their inherent dedication to education, together with the increasing attraction to business and entrepreneurship, is sure to propel the once sleepy Nepalis Diaspora into the mainstream of the global players. This newly empowered Nepali Diaspora will also be a positive influence in helping Nepal catapult into prosperity.

The writer, an urban planner, is the Regional Coordinator for Americas for NRNA-ICC, and a member of Steering Committee for OUNI. The first version of this article was published in the souvenir of NRN Australia in July 2011

source: Adhikari, Ambika(2011),"New opportunities for NRNs ", republica, 8 August 2011