Not so glamorous studios Nepali youth wasting prime years in Doha photo studios
SANGEETA RIJAL
DOHA (QATAR), Sept 5: As he enters the sales section of the studio that he has been working in for past ten years, his cheerful looks hide the difficulties that have plagued his youth spent selling electronic gadgets in this far away land. He is not as happy as he pretends to be.
Like most of the youth who flew to the country in search of jobs, Belal Ali, 27, from Putalibazar- 9 of Syangja has many frustrations to share.
"Neither does my own country offer me a job opportunity nor do I have enough money to start my own business back home," Ali shared his frustration.
He was just 17 when he made his passport mentioning his age as 18 because he had to get some work abroad by any means to look after his family.
"I was a student and had a dream of completing education. But then, I had to shoulder family responsibility," said Ali, adding, "My dreams were shattered as I had to leave everything behind."
His aging father and the responsibility of looking after a younger brother and sister made him leave the village.
Ali is one of many Nepalis working in photo studios across Qatar. Except for the monthly salary of Qatari Riyal 1,200, which is about Rs 24,000, he gets no extra bonus or allowances.
With the monthly salary, he has to arrange his two daily meals and snacks besides paying for other regular and essential expenses. He is one of the highest earning Nepali workers working in the studio.
With not even a single day off, workers in the studios work for about 11 hours a day.
"I have to be conscious even while eating so that I don´t get late," said Shukra Lamsal, 39. He gets a half-an-hour break for lunch. Father of two children, Lamsal earns QR 1,050, which includes his allowances for lunch and dinner. On an average, QR 300 is spent for lunch and dinner. "I hardly save Rs 12,000," Lamsal who worked as photo printer in Pokhara before joining the job in Qatar shared.
Lamsal said the person who arranged job for him had assured him of at least Rs 25,000 savings a month. But now he feels that the studio job in Pokhara that he did for 19 years was far better than working in the studio in Doha.
"But I cannot go back to the country unless I honor two years´ job contract," Lamsal who has already worked for a year here said.
He said he has not even been able to pay back Rs 30,000 loan that he had taken to come to Doha. "All my salary is spent on paying school fees of my children, house rent and household expenses."
No different is the story of Abhishek Shrestha, 29, from Biratnagar-2. He never had any plan to seek job abroad as he owned his own photo studio in his home town.
"I used to make a profit of Rs 10,000 a month. But the unstable political situation and increasing load-shedding made me move abroad," Shrestha said.
He said though he did not find the job as assured by the agent, he will continue for 16 more months as he has debts to clear. He spent Rs 65, 000 to get the job. Having done special photo designing course, he works basically as a photographer here. He earns QR 1,050 that includes QR 250 for food.
Dipendra BC from Binamare-5 of Baglung paid Rs 70,000 to get a job in a studio here. He earns QR 1,200.
"I feel bad that I left studies to come here and could not earn as expected," BC who was intermediate level student before coming to Doha said. "Yet I have no choice because I have to support my family."
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Not So Glamorous Studios Nepali Youth Wasting Prime Years In Doha Photo Studios
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