Migration, difficult but unavoidable

16 November 2009

Phuentsholing town might be a commercial hub, but away from the glitz and glamour, by the banks of river Toorsa, are tales, not of business moguls but of ordinary people who have migrated from remote hamlets of the country to live their urban dreams. Pema Tshering and Dechen Dema from Gakiling Gewog in Haa have been staying in a rented bamboo-thatched hut on the bank of the Toorsa river for the last seven months.

Pema Tshering, 47, worked at Drangchu Beverages as a security guard for seven years. Now that he has retired, Pema and his wife have put up a small shop. It is the only source of income for the family.

Pema Tshering said they had come to Phuentsholing for the education of their children. “Back in our village, there are no schools for higher education because of which we thought it would be better for our children here,” he said.

But living in a town, they said, was not easy either. “We earn around Nu 5,000 a month, which is barely enough to cover the schooling expenses for the children and running the shop,” said Dechen, adding that it was difficult to run the shop during the off season. “We receive customers only during the orange season when depots spring up nearby.”During summer, when the river is swollen, Dechen’s hut gets inundated by water, and her family has to move to a higher place.

Despite the hardship of urban life, Pema and his family are not contemplating going back to their village. “We will have to stay here until our children are educated enough to earn their own livelihood,” said Pema.

Although she admits that life in the town is grueling, Dechen considers town life ‘better than the life out there’, in her village. “Just to buy groceries, we had to walk for days and there is just a community school in our village,” she said.

Pema, however, wants to continue his life in Phuentsholing for another reason. “I resigned due to health problems so I need to continue to stay where health facilities are better.”

Shuptong Drukpa, 63, another migrant has been staying with his family of 10 in a small, bamboo-thatched hut for the last three years since his retirement from service. Shuptong, who is originally from Kimlakha under Darla Gewog, joined army at the age of 14 and retired at the age of 40 in 1978. After retiring from the army, Shuptong worked for Drangchu Beverages for 12 years.

“Since I was employed at an early age, I had no experience in farming and manual work because of which I cannot go back to my village though I have land there,” he said. He added that he had handed over his land to his elder brother and eldest son.

Shuptong said even if he settled in his home town, it would be difficult for him to sustain his family as his properties had to be divided among his siblings.

Although it is difficult for a joint family to stay in a hut, Shuptong said it was the only alternative as renting a house in and around the town is beyond their source of income.

Pema, however, wants to continue his life in Phuentsholing for another reason. “I resigned due to health problems so I need to continue to stay where health facilities are better.”

Shuptong said even if he settled in his home town, it would be difficult for him to sustain his family as his properties had to be divided among his siblings.

Although it is difficult for a joint family to stay in a hut, Shuptong said it was the only alternative as renting a house in and around the town is beyond their source of income.

By Pushkar Chhetri

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