A Comparative Study on Emergence of Nepalese Diaspora in the USA

March 19, 2011

Desh Raj SonyokPh.D. Student

Department of Civil Engineering

New Mexico State University

Email: drsonyok@nmsu.edu

Outline Definition

Global Warriors to Global Workers

Nepalese in the World

Nepalese Diaspora in the USA

Diaspora Capital

Fear of Disconnection

Brain Drain to Brain Gain and Diaspora Engagement

Conclusions

Definition: Nepalese Diaspora

What is Diaspora?

... the movement, migration, or scattering of a people away from an established or ancestral homeland

DIASPORA (Capitalized): the settling of scattered colonies of Jews outside Palestine after the Babylonian exile

Source: Merriam Webster Dictionary

Nepalese Diaspora Type?

Nepali or Nepalese Diaspora?

- Nepali vs English Noun

Diaspora Type:

1. Persons of Nepali Origin (PNO): can trace their roots to Nepal but who have taken citizenship in the other country

2. Non-Resident Nepalis (NRN): are the ones who maintain their Nepali citizenship but live abroad for various lengths of time

Source: Nepal Migration Year Book 2009

Global Warriors to Global Workers

Lahure?

Defeated soldier in 1816 the war with British East India Company joined Punjab Army of Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh in Lahore

First Wave: early 19th Century, settlement eastward across Nepal, then into Sikkim and Bhutan

Second Wave: recruitment in British soldier beginning around 1815 and resettlement after retirement in the British Isles and southeast Asia, e.g Myanmar

Third Wave (Exodus): 1970s, Job-related emigration to India, Middle East, Europe, and North America

Third Wave

Pre-Civil War (1996)

Exodus During Civil War (1996 to 2006)

Post Civil War

Nepalese International Labor Migration

Data Source: Economic Survey 2010ILO, Kathmandu 2004

1993

/94

1994

/95

1995

/96

1996

/97

1997

/98

1998

/99

1999

/01

2001

/02

2002

/03

2003

/04

2004

/05

2005

/06

2006

/07

2007

/08

2008

/09-100

100

300

500

700

900

1100

1300

1500

Years

To

tal

Nu

mb

er

(x1

00

0)

Nepalese in the World

Web source http://www.nrn.org.np/pdf/nrna_intro.pdf

Size of Nepalese DiasporaNepalese Community Population (approx.) Gov. Census

Australia 10,000  Bhutan 110,000  Canada 6,000 3,505*China 21,000  Continental Europe 20,000  Hong Kong 35,000 12,564**India 4,100,000  Japan 100,000  Myanmar 400,000  Malaysia 300,000  Nepal 30,000,000 23,151,423***Qatar 100,000  Saudi Arabia 350,000  UAE 50,000  UK 50,000  

USA 110,616 11,715****

Total (approx.) 35,762,000

Web Source: http://nepalicount.com

Nepalese Diaspora in the USA

In 1960 diplomatic relations with the USA

In 1995: only 55 Nepalese became the US and 312 received permanent-resident residence

181 Nepalese student entered the USA in 1996/97

During Civil War in Nepal: Influx of students, professionals, political asylum, illegal immigrants

Increased number of DV lottery recipients

Bhutanese refugee: US offered 60,000 Bhutanese resettlement; 21,920 arrived by October 2010

Nepalese Resident Diaspora in the USA

Before 1980 1980 to 1989 1990 to 2000

1 000

2 000

3 000

4 000

5 000

6 000

7 000

8 000

9 000

Naturalized U.S. citizen

Non U.S. citizen

Years

Po

pu

lati

on

Data Source: US Census Bureau 2000

Permanent Residence by DV Program

Data Source: http://travel.state.gov

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

Years

To

tal

Nu

mb

er

21,080 Nepalese have received DV lottery from 1998 to 2010

Student Enrollment Trend of Nepalese in the USA

19

95

/96

19

96

/97

19

97

/98

19

98

/99

19

99

/00

20

00

/01

20

01

/02

20

02

/03

20

03

/04

20

04

/05

20

05

/06

20

06

/07

20

07

/08

20

08

/09

20

09

/10

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

NumberPercentage

To

tal

nu

mb

er

fo s

tud

en

ts

%

sh

are

on

to

tal

fore

ign

stu

de

nts

in

th

e

US

• 11th rank in the USA • One Nepalese in every 59 international students• Six fold increase

Data Source: Institute of International Education

Nepalese Student by Academic Label

64%

26%

1% 9%

Under-graduate

Graduate

Non-Degree

OPT

Data Source: Institute of International Education

Ranking of Nepalese Student

Ch

ina

Ind

ia

So

uth

Ko

rea

Ca

na

da

Ta

iwa

n

Ja

pa

n

Sa

ud

i A

rab

ia

Me

xic

o

Vie

tna

m

Tu

rke

y

Ne

pa

l

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

02468

101214161820

Rank by Country

Pe

rce

nta

ge

Sh

are

Data Source: Institute of International Education

International Student in Term of Total Population of Their Country in the USA

So

uth

Ko

rea

Ta

iwa

n

Ca

na

da

Sa

ud

i A

rab

ia

Ne

pa

l

Ja

pa

n

Tu

rke

y

Vie

tna

m

Un

ite

d K

ing

do

m

Th

ail

an

d

Me

xic

o

Ge

rma

ny

Ch

ina

Ind

ia

Bra

zil

0.00

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.10

0.12

0.14

0.16

Data Source: Institute of International Education

Percentage of Literate Population of Their Country in the USA

So

uth

Ko

rea

Ta

iwa

n

Ne

pa

l

Ca

na

da

Sa

ud

i A

rab

ia

Ja

pa

n

Tu

rke

y

Vie

tna

m

Ind

ia

Un

ite

d K

ing

do

m

Th

ail

an

d

Me

xic

o

Ge

rma

ny

Ch

ina

Bra

zil

0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

0.14

0.16

Data Source: Institute of International Education

Percentage Returning Nepalese Students

200

9/10

200

8/09

200

7/08

200

6/07

200

5/06

200

4/05

200

3/04

200

2/03

200

1/02

200

0/01

199

9/00

199

8/99

199

7/98

199

6/97

199

5/96

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Pe

rce

nta

ge

of

retu

rnin

g s

tud

en

ts

Data Source: Institute of International Education

Diaspora Capital Capitals:

Social, Financial, and Intellectual

Intellectual: skilled diaspora are potential asset

Financial Strength: 110,616 x $49,777 = $ 5.5 billion

Total annual income is more than total annual expenditure of Nepal ($4.6 billion, FY 2010/11)

Social: Network between social/professional organization

Work ethics, social and cultural transformations – NRNA, NAC, ANA, other professional organizations

Fear of Disconnection

Lack of communication for long term, e.g. Nepalese Diaspora in Myanmar

Lack of recognition/opportunity in homeland

Stronger links between diasporas themselves may gradually detach from homeland

Motivation to succeed in the hostland than to maintain contacts with their country of origin

Brain Drain to Brain Gain Brain Drain: migration of technically skilled human

resource from one country to another

Brain Gain: Host country where skilled workers are migrated is

called brain gaining country

Homeland having access to knowledge and expertise of diaspora

Brain Circulation: Temporary visits

Example: Taiwan, Greater China and India, countries have profited enormously from brain circulation

Diaspora Engagement in the Development Process of Nepal

Sense of belonging, desire of connection and help

“Green pasture” paradigm

Building Diaspora Knowledge Network (DKN)

Digital Diaspora Network (DDN): Promoting “brain gain” through the use of new ICT

Brain Circulation Network through volunteer services, exchange programs, research grants, and collaboration

Confidence building and mobilization of capital: business venture and investment opportunities in hydropower, IT, transportation, tourism, education, health etc

Conclusions Strong Nepalese Diaspora emerged in the USA during

the past decade

Unprecedented increase in the Diaspora size is found during the civil war and the increasing trend is still continue

Diaspora capitals have huge potential for contributing to the development of Nepal

Nepal can benefit from brain gain and brain circulation through Diaspora Knowledge Network

Environment for business venture and capital investment can be created by building confidence among diasporas

Thank You

Bibliography Bhattarai, P. (2005). “Migration of Nepalese Youth for Foreign Employment: Problems and

Prospects.” Youth Action Nepal (YOAC)

Bohara, A. (2011). “Harness Diaspora Knowledge.” http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=19429

Central Bureau of Statistics, Government of Nepal. www.cbs.gov.np

Diaspora. Web Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaspora#Asian_diaspora

Turner, W.A. (2006). “Diaspora Knowledge Network. “ A Report Published by ICSSD

Economic Survey 2010, Government of Nepal

Gueron, J. and Spevacek,, A. (2008). “Diaspora Development Nexus: The Role of ICT.” USAID Knowledge Services Center

Gurung, G. (2004). An Overiew Paper on Overseas Employment in Nepal Series. International Labor Organization, Kathmandu

International Nepal Fellowship. Web Source: http://www.inf.org/map/diaspora

Teferra, D. (2004). Brain Circulation: Unparalleled Opportunities, Underlying Challenges, and Outmoded Presumptions. Symposium on International Labor and Academic Mobility: Emerging Trends and Implications for Public Policy

Yamanaka, K (2000). “Nepalese Labor Migration to Japan: From Global Warriors to Global Workers,” Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol. 23 (1), 62-93