Remittances Fuel Digital Access but Leave Nepali Children Without Parental Presence, Survey Finds

Kathmandu. While it is often discussed that Nepal's economy is sustained by remittances from foreign employment, the social and familial cost appears to be very high. This was revealed by the Nepal Multidimensional Survey published by the Central Bureau of Statistics.

According to the statistics, approximately one-third (33.2 percent) of children under 17 in Nepal have one or both parents working abroad for foreign employment. This statistic shows that a large segment of Nepali children are far removed from parental proximity and care, which the survey indicates increases the risk of long-term negative impacts on their mental and social development.

Digital Medium: A Support to Connect Separated Families

The direct impact of parents being abroad is visible in the use of communication technology. According to the survey, digital devices with internet facilities have reached 82 percent of households in Nepal. 90.4 percent of men and 81.6 percent of women aged 15–49 own a mobile phone.

It is analyzed that the necessity to communicate with parents abroad and the ease of remittances have led to a rapid expansion of smartphone and internet access in Nepal. The large role of foreign employment is evident in 92.4 percent of Kathmandu Valley residents using smartphones and the overall increase in digital access across the country.

Improved Living Standards But Questions on Quality

Foreign employment has increased household purchasing power, leading to infrastructure improvements. The positive aspects include 96.7 percent of homes having electricity access and 92.4 percent using improved sanitation facilities. However, despite the rise in economic status, a serious crisis in health and quality has emerged.

Although 98 percent use improved water sources, harmful E. coli bacteria, typically found in feces, were detected in the water of 60.4 percent during testing.

Indicators from the survey also suggest that the absence of parents, especially mothers, may have affected child nutrition and health. According to the survey, 31.5 percent of children in Nepal still suffer from stunting.

Furthermore, the child mortality rate for children under five is 31 per thousand. The fact that stunting reaches 33.2 percent in Madhesh Province and child mortality reaches 48 in Sudurpashchim Province shows that the income from foreign employment is not being utilized properly for health and nutrition, according to the survey.

The survey portrays foreign employment as an unavoidable necessity for Nepal. On one hand, it has brought modern facilities like television, mobile phones, internet, and electricity to homes, while on the other hand, it has deprived one-third of children of their parents' care.

While money has bought facilities, a large gap remains in basic necessities such as children's health, clean drinking water, and familial proximity.