The life journey of Yuvraj Pun, a returnee migrant, who came back from foreign employment is an inspiring example of hope pain and self reliance. Due to his family's poor financial condition Yuvraj left school after grade ten and started working as a welder in a thread factory in Butwal. Two years later the lure of going abroad took hold. He recalls seeing returnees carrying gold and dollars and feeling that a job in Nepal was worthless. This belief led him to nearly thirty years of foreign employment.
A Hard Journey from Saudi to Dubai
His foreign journey started in Saudi Arabia around 1993 and extended to Qatar and Dubai. Over three decades he did not change his profession always working in body repairing and garage tasks for accident vehicles. Life abroad was difficult. He shared his experience I had to work ten to twelve hours daily. Despite the heat and suffocation you could not even complain about the heat in someone else's country. The greatest pain was not getting holidays during festivals due to cultural and religious differences or having salary deductions when he did.
Philanthropic Work Abroad
Despite his personal hardships abroad Yuvraj was active in social work. He served two terms as President of the Nepal Magar Association in Saudi Arabia. Because organizational work was hidden due to Saudi law he ran critical rescue campaigns to save the lives of many Nepalis. I recall instances where lives were saved by paying up to one hundred fifty million rupees in blood money Yuvraj said.
He is deeply concerned about the condition of women who go abroad for employment mainly as housemaids. While having a good employer means no problems a bad one can lead to severe suffering. He was active in rescuing victimized women.
A Terrifying Pandemic Experience
The COVID-19 pandemic began while he was working in Dubai. The lockdown brought immense stress. He remembers the terrifying fear We could not leave our rooms. We feared catching the virus from food given by others or from touching someone. Seeing each other felt like seeing death. Breathing was difficult. He was forced to tape wash and use a single mask for months when its string broke.
Pain of Family Breakdown
His attraction to working abroad faded when he saw that the money earned through hard work did not bring happiness to his family. He witnessed family breakdowns and children becoming addicts. The misuse of his hard-earned money by his family caused him more pain. Eventually after completing training he left Dubai and returned to Nepal.
Gold Grows in Nepal's Soil
Yuvraj believes gold grows in Nepal's soil and that one can be self-employed right here. He started raising chickens and goats at home. But when he called a vet for sick animals and heard I cannot come now he was stunned. Seeing animals die without treatment he decided to learn animal treatment himself. Coincidentally he found an announcement for a free training program called Community Livestock Development Assistant. He was selected after tough competition. Now after training he provides services like treating sick goats and timely vaccination in his neighborhood. Recently he vaccinated ninety-three dogs against rabies under a trainer's supervision. He is now associated with the Migrant Family Welfare Forum Sunwal advocating for safe and legal migration.
A New Path for the New Generation
Fifty-year-old Yuvraj's final goal is clear to stop his children from chasing dollars. He says I will call my son back slowly. I will run an Agroveterinary shop and manage a proper goat farm. I will teach this livelihood to my sons. Yuvraj who spent two hundred million rupees without keeping track of income and expenses has also established the Returnee Mutual Support Cooperative with twenty partners. Transforming his harsh foreign experience into strength Yuvraj is now living a life of self respect in his homeland.
This story is based on a book titled "Baideshik Rojgaribata Farkiyeka Nepaliharuka Kathaharu"
