Job creation in Nepal has long been a vexing challenge. Each year, nearly 500,000 young people enter the labour market, yet only around 20 percent secure employment. With limited opportunities at home, many are compelled to seek work abroad. Persistently high youth unemployment poses a serious threat to long-term national development. Reversing this trend will require creating meaningful employment and self-employment opportunities within villages themselves. Across rural Nepal, farmlands lie fallow. Villages are increasingly inhabited by the elderly and children, while the nation’s most productive age group queues at airport departure gates. Amid ongoing discourse about building a “new” and “transformed” Nepal, it is time to move beyond rhetoric and seriously explore practical, creative alternatives. In this context, the story of Gyanendra Bishwakarma of Bokhim, Bhojpur Municipality–5, stands out. A university graduate who could easily have pursued opportunities abroad, his decision to remain in his village and continue his ancestral blacksmith profession is far from ordinary. It reflects not only personal conviction but also a broader lesson for society. By embracing khukuri-making with pride, he challenges the entrenched belief that prosperity lies only overseas. The issue is not merely about opportunity; it is also about mindset. The fact that many see foreign employment as the default option does not mean alternatives at home do not exist.
Reimagining social work
The khukuri is more than a weapon; it is a powerful symbol of Nepali identity and heritage. The Bhojpure khukuri, in particular, represents an exceptional blend of craftsmanship, patience and aesthetic refinement. Yet such traditional skills are gradually fading. Younger generations gravitate toward modern education and white-collar professions, often viewing ancestral crafts as outdated, less prestigious or less profitable. Reality, however, is more nuanced. With appropriate policies, technological integration and effective market strategies, traditional occupations can thrive within a modern economy. Handicrafts, metalwork, woodwork, Dhaka textiles, and Tharu and Newar artisanal skills are not merely cultural treasures—they are viable sources of employment. Global demand for handmade and indigenous products continues to grow. For a country like Nepal, where craftsmanship runs deep, failing to harness this opportunity would represent a policy shortcoming. Products rooted in cultural narratives hold distinctive appeal in international markets. While emotional appeals urging youth to stay may resonate, sentiment alone cannot drive change. Young people will remain in their villages only if they see the prospect of dignified income, stability and a secure future. The challenges faced by Gyanendra Bishwakarma—shortages of raw materials, rising production costs and limited market access—are not isolated concerns but structural barriers. Here, the state’s role is pivotal. Access to raw materials and tools must be simplified through supportive import policies, tax incentives and concessional financing for small and cottage industries. Skill development and technology transfer are equally essential, enabling traditional crafts to incorporate modern design and production techniques. Above all, market access must be strengthened. Through digital platforms, e-commerce, branding and export promotion, rural products can connect directly to national and global consumers. The state must act as an enabler and facilitator in this ecosystem.
Nepal has long equated employment with government service or foreign labour. Yet small and medium enterprises hold the potential to become the backbone of the national economy. If villages foster organised, skill-based enterprises, they can generate local jobs, stimulate domestic economic cycles and strengthen social cohesion. Money will circulate locally, services will expand and communities will regain vitality. Remittances currently sustain Nepal’s economy, but they cannot anchor sustainable development. Consumption without production weakens economic foundations. Self-reliance and long-term growth depend on nurturing local production and entrepreneurship. Young individuals like Gyanendra Bishwakarma are not anomalies; they are catalysts for change. Their stories should inform policy direction, not merely inspire admiration. Preserving traditional occupations must be recognised not only as a cultural responsibility but as a strategic economic priority. As the nation approaches a general election, the choice becomes urgent: will tradition be confined to museums, or transformed into a dynamic engine of economic progress? The decision we make today will shape generations to come.
