Pasangchomten Lama of Namkha Rural Municipality-4 in Humla has been going to Taklakot, the commercial center of China across the border for employment for almost 11 years. Due to the corona epidemic, the border was not opened for four years and he had a problem with his family's livelihood.

"Heavy carrying, loading-unloading goods in vehicles, repairing roads etc. will be done by Nepalis there," he said.

Lokjang Budha of Simkot Rural Municipality-7, who has been a laborer of Taklakot for almost a decade, has bought a house in the headquarters, and is planning to go to Taklakot after a week. "There is no employment at the local level, even if you work there (Taklakot) for 6 months, you will have to pay for the whole year," he said.

The number of young people going to Taklakot is increasing after the opening of the Hilsa border crossing which was closed by the Chinese government for almost four years due to the Corona epidemic. Chief District Officer of Humla Narayan Pandey said that 10,955 people have taken border passes for this year. Out of which 8 thousand 237 people have new and 2 thousand 718 people have renewed their border passes. He informed that now 15 to 50 people take border pass daily.

According to him, the period of the pass which is distributed free of charge to the residents of Humla is for one year and should be renewed every year in July. "Through that pass, you can go 30 kilometers to Taklakot towards China. Taklakot is a city that developed later, so the construction of new infrastructure can be easily done there," he said, "but there is no labor agreement between Nepal and China, due to which they are deprived of the wages set by the local government, and they do not get other facilities such as insurance."

Taklakot is the headquarters of Pulan County (District) under the Chinese Autonomous Region of Sizang (Tibet). Pemba Tamang of Namkha Rural Municipality-5 said that he earns up to one and a half lakh rupees per month by working as a laborer in Taklakot. According to him, daily wage earners earn an average of 300 Chinese yuan (pig) per day. The Nepali exchange rate of the said currency is 19 rupees 45 paise. "Ration and room rent are also cheap, food and accommodation costs 15 to 25 thousand rupees," he said, "so even if you work for 3/4 months a year, you can cover the expenses of the year." 

According to him, most of the Humli people carry heavy loads, build houses, and work in hotels. As it is very cold in winter, the summer season is considered suitable for the employment of Taklakot. "When we come back from work, we bring home goods from China that will last us the whole year, and when we come back, we also get 3/4 lakh savings," he said, "Taklakot is the basis of livelihood for us because it is easy to go and earn good." At present, 312 people in Taklakot have taken passes to do various businesses, the office said. "We have been issuing border passes with a person's photo and other details for a period of one year," Chief District Officer Pandey said, "on that basis, they enter China."

Most people from Namkha and Simkot go to Taklakot. Namgyal Tamang, the former president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that almost 70 percent of the youth of these two municipalities went to Taklakot. According to him, some people even take children with them. Trade in Nepali herbs is also good in Taklakot. Due to this, some traders from Humla go there every year to sell herbs such as Yarchagumba, Furu, Gucci mushroom, Thakna etc., he informed. He said, "When transporting herbs from here to Kathmandu, we have to face unnecessary hassles and heavy taxes," he said.

Karna Bahadur Rawal, a businessman from Simkot, said that it is rare for residents of Humla to go to other countries for foreign employment. "For us, like the Gulf countries and European countries, China is the only destination for employment. Moreover, it is easy to go to Taklakot for labor," he said. According to him, the locals who went to Taklakot return home around November before the heavy snowfall. He said that in winter, the road is closed due to thick snow in Nyalu, Nara and other lakes of Humla, so those who went to Taklakot return before that. February to November is considered the best time to go to Taklakot. "Even if a person works there for 3 months, a person earns at least 4 lakh rupees, so it is easy to manage household expenses," he said.

Namkha Rural Municipality President Prem Bahadur Lama said that Taklakot is the main employment destination for the residents of Namkha, Simkot, Kharpunath and Sarkegad Rural Municipality due to lack of employment and production. According to him, in Namkha, there is a very cold place and due to lack of irrigation facilities, only one crop of lice is produced in the village throughout the year. "Here, the families who can eat for 3 months are counted among the rich, the main means of income of most of the locals is animal husbandry and herb collection," he said, "even then, due to problems in earning a living, many have made the labor of Taklakot the basis of their livelihood."