Police recently caught Nirmala Lama (name changed) and Nima Gurung (name changed) at the Tribhuvan International airport with fake air tickets that their manpower agent had given, promising them jobs in Kyrgyzstan. For Nirmala (32) of Sindhupalchowk, it was to be the third flight abroad in search of jobs. Nima (29) of Rukum was to fly abroad for the first time.

Nirmala had worked as a housemaid for two years each in Bahrain and Kyrgyzstan, and earned well. She had saved a certain amount to clear her debt. “In our country, an illiterate like me won’t be able to earn more than five thousand rupees per month. I went abroad for employment so that I could take care of my family.”

On April 19, their agent, Manoj Lama of Nima Chhering Travel and Tours Pvt Ltd, met them outside the airport and handed them their passports and tickets at 9 am. Then he left, assuring them that they will fly to Kyrgyzstan via Dubai, where someone will meet them and hand over tickets.

Lama had taken Rs 70,000 from Nirmala and Rs 60,000 from Nima. Later, at 9:30am, a man came, took their passports and tickets and gave them another pair of tickets. Apparently, this man told them they will fly via Delhi. He instructed them to tell they were travelling to Delhi to meet their husbands, who were working there.

Police held the two women as their tickets were ‘fake’. They handed over the two to Maiti Nepal. This bitter experience has shocked Nima. She said, “I am scared now. I will not go abroad in search of job. Rather, I will open a shop or a small restaurant here.”

Published on: 22 April 2014 | The Himalayan Times