English - Support to Participatory Constitution Building in Nepal ...

The forgotten forcesMigration of people outside Nepal is likely to continue. While migrationmay bring development of the people who are mobile, it cannot be saidthat migration of its people brings development of the home country.This depends on how the socio-economic and political environment ofthe country approach migration management strategy. Managementof migration cannot be taken differently from the various developmentfocuses of the individual country. Inclusion of this into the overalldevelopment policy is crucial. The best strategy of the government fornow when it cannot stop migration could be to harness the potentialsof the diaspora in different activities by making policies and suitableenvironment to promote their interest in home country.The state needs to give investment environment in the form of effectivepolicy. This can be brought about by an effective migration managementpolicy, for example, creating disincentives for skilled migration, addressingthe cause of migration and making return incentives for retirees andstudents who are willing to return. The next step would be to developstrategies to outreach the diaspora. This could be done by monitoringmigration and migrants, strengthening database on whereabouts ofmigrants both in the home and the host country. The government couldfacilitate interactions between the diaspora and the home communitylike the user groups and other associations in the local level and makeprovisions for mobilisation of remittances for development. Therebythe remitters and their family share the benefits in the way they want.This mobilisation can be done in line with the national developmentstrategies.Besides, the state should aim for diaspora engagement strategies. Thismotivates the diaspora to act. There should be an encouragement ininvestment and micro-enterprise which goes beyond service sectorsto more agricultural productive sectors. Similarly, there should beencouragement of remittance transfer through formal channels wherebythe government could reduce the cost of remittance transfer. Thus, it canbank upon the majority of un-banked flow, for example, that coming fromIndia. With a good development of the telecommunication system andfamiliarity of mobiles even in the rural areas in Nepal, this is one of theeasiest and the most cost-effective ways of remittance transfer. It couldvery quickly be applied in the Nepali context. Other aspects of diasporaengagement schemes could be their involvement in the nostalgic tradeand its use in the promotion of tourism.188