Abstract ID: 3.11859 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Chiranjivi Baral (1); Ganesh Gurung (1); Amina Maharjan (2); Binaya Pasakhala (2)

(1) Nepal Institute of Development Studies, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, 44600; (2) International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal, 44700

Abstract:

Migration has become a common phenomenon in Nepal. With the new Constitution establishing three tiers of the governance system – federal, provincial and local governance, the Local Government Operation Act 2017 has given the local government a mandate to manage migration. However, there is limited research on the local governments’ perceptions on migration and their initiatives on integrating migration into local policies and plans. This paper explores how local governments understand, address and incorporate migration into their governance system, uncovers the challenges faced by the local governments in addressing migration and strategies they have employed to manage migration. Using a qualitative approach, the paper employs instrumental case study of Indrawati Rural Municipality, a municipality in the mountainous region of Nepal that has experienced high internal migration in the past one decade. The information is generated through semi-structure interviews with the local government officials of the municipality, combined with the analysis of the documents related to policies and plans. The research contributes to the local government’s efforts to better implement the Local Government Operation Act 2017 and other municipalities in the similar context, particularly when it comes to integration of migration into local policies and plans. It also supports the local governments to maximize the benefits of migration for the development in their municipalities. Preliminary findings indicate that migration is a debatable issue in the municipality. Limitation of knowledge and resources, weak political will, insufficient data, physical infrastructure as a key priority are among the challenges that have hindered the integration of migration into local policies and plans, thereby limiting the capacity of local levels to take benefits of migration. In addition, the municipality is focusing on livelihood support to prevent youth from migrating.