The third country resettlement has been raising the economic status of the remaining exiled Bhutanese in the camps, thanks to the resettling countries for accepting thousands of people.
Local markets around the camp vicinity were seen crowded during Dashara. Businessmen and shopkeepers claimed their business went up not only because there was Bijaya Dashami ahead but also people received more money from abroad from their friends and relatives.
Money transfers and telephone booths remained packed almost whole day throughout the festival, according to one Kumar Mishra, who owns a money transfer in Beldangi-II camp.
“On average, people receive 10-15 payments from Western Union and Money Transfer. This amounts to three to four hundred thousand rupees,” commented Mishra. There are more than two-dozen of such money transfers in three Beldangi camps.
Not only relatives, even resettled friends wire money to camps during various occasions, and that went up during Dashain, several told this writer.
Interesting one fellow from the U.S. wired some money to purchase a pig and distribute to everyone from his previous sub-sector in Beldangi-I camp.
Several have pre-medical test today as they are departing for various western country on Saturday. For them, this year’s Dashain was the last celebration in the camp where they have spent their 20 years.
“We are moving to the Netherlands on October 21, separating from the family. The Dashain was bitter for us to bear though we celebrated it together,” informed an exiled Bhutanese of Beldangi-II, sector C.
Shekhar Sharma, who said his process has been still pending at the UNHCR since three years, wished to get resettled at the earliest but doubted if his family would be celebrating the next Dashain in camp itself.
“Previous Dashain were more joyful. Friends and relatives have already gone. We are just a few to celebrate the festivals,” explained Sharma.
The camp remained peace throughout the festival.
The camp-based Armed Police Force (APF) Inspector Baburam Poudel informed the Bhutan News Service that separate mobile teams were deployed 24 hours to maintain peace and order in the camps.
However, a gang attacked a youth of Beldangi-I camp on Thursday evening. Critically injured Dilli Ghimirey has been treated in B.P. Koirala Memorial Hospital, Dharan.
The assailants are being hunted by the APF, according to Inspector Poudel.
