Nepal Now: On the Move

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It’s been more than a dozen years since Maya Sherpa returned from working in Kuwait. Today she devotes herself to helping other returned female migrant workers readjust to life in Nepal.

One reason why she's so committed to that work is because of the violent reaction she faced, not as a migrant in Kuwait but after she returned to her community in Nepal.

My three takeaways from today's conversation are:

• Women continue to be stigmatized as 'fallen' or immoral, and accused of sexual misconduct when they migrate to work;
• Surprisingly, there is a class aspect to this – those women who can afford to migrate to Europe and America are seen to have fallen less morally than women like Maya who go to traditional labour destinations like Malaysia and Persian Gulf countries;
• Governments in Nepal prepare great policies and plans, but deliver few of them.

This is episode 99! We want your ideas about how we should mark #100. Text us at the link in the show notes or message us on social. We're (at)nepalnowpod.

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These episodes are linked to Maya's story—check them out:

• Women migrant workers: Lift the ban and get positive
• Nepal unprepared to reintegrate women migrant workers

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Music by audionautix.com.

Thank you to Himal Media in Patan Dhoka for the use of their studio.

Nepal Now is produced and hosted by Marty Logan.