Money
Udayapur youth turn to self-employment
“Why should I go to a foreign land if I can earn a decent amount of money in the homeland,” says Gyan Bahadur BK, 17, who works for Sunaulo Bihani Furniture Micro Industry at Bokse, UdayapurSanjeev Giri
And BK has every reason to say so as his monthly income stands at Rs 20,800 per month. “Only those having nothing to do here are migrating,” BK says on a lighter note. BK’s four colleagues—Bhupendra BK, Santosh BK, Girman BK and Bhuvan Nepali—are also of the same view.
The furniture business operated by these entrepreneurs under the leadership of Tul Bahadur BK, president of Sunaulo Bihani, has done wonders when it comes to employment generation. Apart from these six entrepreneurs, there are 13 other carpenters who are receiving equally good pay.
“There were some difficulties when we started up initially. But the situation now is very good,” said Tul Bahadur, adding they are getting impressive orders to keep them busy round the year. “Since we are providing all kinds of furniture with trendy and innovative designs, there is no dearth of buyers. In fact, we are finding it difficult to match supply with the demand,” said BK.
Starting from scratch, these entrepreneurs, who received initial financing of Rs 90,000 and technical assistance from Micro Enterprise Developm-ent Project (Medep), a joint initiation of the Government of Nepal and United Nations Development Project (UNDP), now have rented four spaces each for workshop, showroom, machine storage area and residence for the workers. They have also purchased machinery worth Rs 600,000.
At a time when the country is witnessing mass exodus of youth for foreign employment, what these entrepreneurs have succeeded in doing is they have influenced their contemporaries to do something within the country. “Some of our friends have started similar other businesses seeing us do well,” said BK. “These are the same guys who were all prepared to leave for foreign jobs.”
Naina Chaudhary of Sivalaya Tole in Udayapur is also considering calling back her elder son is in the Gulf for the past few years. “My son has said he will visit Nepal within the next three-four months. I am thinking of convincing him not to go back,” Chaudhary said.
What gives this single mother of two boys and three girls the confidence is Jyoti Dalmot, an entrepreneurial venture she is engaged in. Chaudhary prepares items like dalmot, bhujiya and chips. She supplies the products to Beltar market, some 32km away from her home, at Rs 200 per kg. She makes a profit of Rs 50 per kg.
“In the last 10 years, I have bought 7 katthas land in Had-iya and around 3 tolas gold,” says Chaudhary, expecting the business to flourish after her son returns. Chaud-hary too received Medep support.