Nepal-India Cross Border Migration: Political and Economic Dimensions, Problems, and Implications

Abstract

A policy framework is needed to respond to problems and challenges affecting Nepali migrant workers in India and Indian migrant workers in Nepal. People on both sides of the Nepal-India open border have been crossing in either direction for jobs or income. As there is no documentation/identification to cross the border, credible or official figure on the Nepali migrant workers in India and Indian migrant workers in Nepal are not available. Nor is there data on remittance inflows. On top of that, the coronavirus outbreak in December 2019 exposed the vulnerability of migrant workers. The paper looks at the political, economic, and demographic implications and prospects of Nepal-India migration.