Narendra Singh Bhandari from Patan Municipality-5, Baitadi in Sudurpaschim Province was among the huge volume of Nepali youth who migrate to India every year in search of employment opportunities. However, he died in an accident while working there. With the only earning member of the family dead, his family could survive all thanks to the insurance amount they received.

Narendra had been enrolled in the Accidental Insurance Scheme by Rural Development and Environment Management Society (RUDES), a non-governmental organization based in Baitadi district.

Seasonal labor migration to India has been a part of livelihood for rural poor communities in Nepal. However, there is no mechanism to support them in case of injury or even death in the course of their work.

Therefore, Oxfam in Nepal is supporting RUDES in the advocacy and promotion of the Accidental Insurance Scheme among the migrant workers and partly supporting the payment of the insurance premium.  

Patan Municipality has started enrolling migrant workers into the insurance scheme. The Municipality has set the target to enrol approximately 1500 migrant workers this fiscal year.  

Rajendra Prasad Bhatta, Chief Administrative Officer of Patan Municipality informed, “We are very serious about following through with the municipality approved course of action. We have already mobilized a team in each ward to enrol the migrant workers in the insurance scheme. In ward number 6, we have already enrolled 250 people. We are hopeful that we will reach the target of 1500 people this year.”

“In Patan Municipality ward number 8, 181 migrant workers have already enrolled in the scheme,” shared Harish Bist, Ward Chairperson.

As per the insurance policy, if there are workplace injuries, the workers receive cash for treatment and if they get killed or die, their family receive the sum insured.

Gauri Singh Rawal, Mayor of Patan Municipality says, “It is very important to have accidental insurance for migrant workers. This will help minimize the risk factor and if any accident occurs, the victim's family will receive some funds from the insurance company.”

“The workers who go to India for work cannot afford to pay for insurance. So, we are supporting them by paying their premium with the financial support of Oxfam in Nepal,” shared Gopal Singh Bhat, Program Officer at RUDES.

“RUDES has been supporting the people from Patan Municipality in this scheme. From this year onwards, we will be supporting people from Dashrathchand Municipality as well,” added Bhat.