By Shiv Raj Bhatt
In rich countries, parents and their children live and work separately. The children are not able to devote the needed service, time and attention to their aged parents. Despite of very strong social security measures, isolated and elderly people are disparately searching for the support and care of able hands. However, due to very materialistic thinking among the people, it is very hard for them to find hearty caretakers over there. Therefore, the aged people have to spend their lives in the old age homes with very limited opportunities to talk, interact and enjoy with young and active population. The life outside is busy and fast, so no one has even a few minutes to share with them. Moreover, services of personal care and building rentals are comparatively more expensive in developed nations.
As a result, many old people from the north (developed world) are now moving towards the south (less developed world) to spend rest of their life with joy and proper care at lower costs. For example, many American settlers move to Mexico, not so much in pursuit of the sun, but in search for a cheaper way of life, along with the sense of community that they generate. The situation is not very different in other advanced countries.
All of this poses a lucrative opportunity for the south. Therefore, many developing countries, particularly in the Latin America, offer tax breaks to foreigners seeking to retire there, believing that even an influx of a few tens of thousands of American ‘senior citizens’ can have a big impact on the small economies.
In this context, it may be right time for Nepal to think towards opportunities created by these developments and trends around the world. Dr. Roop Jyoti, as a member of the National Assembly, had also indicated the importance of old age homes in his proposal entitled ‘desired course of action for the present economy to enhance employment for poverty alleviation and reforms needed in the economic policies’ submitted to the National Assembly on April 3, 2003.
In his proposal, Dr. Jyoti rightly pointed out that foreign travelers to Nepal have praised the smiling faces, sweet talk and civic behaviour of Nepalese. Similarly, the proper belief of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ (Guest is the God) and godly respect for elders may also help Nepal to attract senior citizens from the north. Moreover, a large workforce available to care and entertain may further help to realize the benefits. Most importantly, climatic and natural advantages coupled with low cost of living can be strong case for Nepal in this regard.
Unfortunately, Nepal cannot benefit at present situation of weak health services that elders need very frequently, absence of proper old age homes, lack of entertainment facilities for elders, weak and inconvenient air connectivity with the rest of the world, lack of proper in-country transportation facilities and lack of proper laws and regulations to systematize the issue.
Therefore, development of proper and reliable health services, establishment of proper old age homes, development of needed entertainment facilities for the elders are required. In these areas, participation of private sector is most crucial. Similarly, introduction of appropriate laws and rules/regulations, reliable air connectivity and infrastructure development is also important. These facilities, once developed, would also benefit the local population.
If these issues can be addressed properly, Nepal can be an attractive destination for elders from the north to spend rest of their lives. The spill-over effects for our own elders will also be remarkable. Let’s hope, Dr. Jyoti– who is now the State Minister of Finance– will move forward and initiate a dialogue/debate immediately and turn his proposal into action when he is in a position to influence the policies, budget and actions of the government.
(Bhatt is a development economist based in Kathmandu. Please send your comments/suggestions to [email protected] or [email protected])
(Follows response from a Nepalnews reader-Ed.)
Are we really welcome ?
After spending nearly five years during an assignment from 1959-1964 in a development project, I and my wife wished to spend our retirement again in Nepal , together with our old Nepali friends. Encouraged by the concerned embassy, piles of documents and bank-guarantees forwarded and with a free entry visa we arrived again in Kathmandu in 1996. For seven years, we had to face a continuous, laborious, yearly procedure to have our Non-Tourist visa extended. Beside the exorbitant visa-fee of 2400 US$ , a bank transfer of 40.000 US$ per year had to be verified and even more than 2 lakhs NRs income-tax for a fictitious income was levied. Altogether we spent and promoted a total sum of approx. 8 million Rupees into welfare projects for disableds , old-age facilities and a village-development project. Nevertheless, during a time of 2-3 months every year, we were left uncertain, if our stay would be permitted any further. Getting finally tired of this practice, we shifted down to Thailand. For a ridiculous modest fee, non-immigrant visa was issued to us within not even an hour’s time and we felt treated as welcome guests in this also beautiful country. Our love for Nepal –with its wonderful, friendly people– is now reduced to frequent visit with a normal tourist visa. It is a thousand pities!
Karl Müller , (Switzerland)
(Editor’s Note: Nepalis, wherever they live, as well as friends of Nepal around the globe are requested to contribute their views/opinions/recollections etc. on issues concerning present day Nepal to the Guest Column of Nepalnews. Length of the article should not be more than 1,000 words and may be edited for the purpose of clarity and space. Relevant photos as well as photo of the author may also be sent along with the article. Please send your write-ups to [email protected])