MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
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Long Way To Go
South Asian countries including Nepal have a long way to go to achieve the targets set by MDGs
By KESHAB POUDEL
The recently released report on Millennium Development in Asia and Pacific region reveals the dismal picture in some South Asian countries in terms of implementing programs targeting the MDG goals.
Although more than 100 delegates from eight different South Asian countries discussed to develop a road map to eradicate extreme poverty in the region by 2015, it is very difficult to fulfill the target.
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Nepali people: Griped by poverty |
Organized under the tripartite initiative between the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia-Pacific, the United Nations Development Program and the Asian Development Bank, the two day discussion that kicked off in the capital on October 11 is a first of its kind to evaluate the overall situation of the region.
South Asia , which is regarded as one of the world’s most dynamic regions, has made some progress towards achieving the UN Millennium Goals. According to the UN, however, none of the countries in South Asia is on track to meet all the goals by 2015.
“Despite some encouraging trends, other sobering indications of South Asia ’s overall MDG achievement caution against any complacency. This sub region faces some very difficult challenges. After the mid-1990s, both the absolute levels and the rate of change in the reduction of income poverty have slowed down markedly. Over 400 million people still live in poverty. This means that South Asia is making less progress in combating hard core poverty, which in turn holds back progress in other areas,” said Kim Hak Su, under secretary general of the United Nations and executive secretary Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. South Asia needs to devote more financial and human resources to ensure that the benefits of economic growth reach who are most in need.
One of the poorest countries of the world caught in prolonged conflict, Nepal has dim chances of fully attaining the MDGs in stipulated time. “ Nepal has made certain progress but it need to take more concerted actions to achieve the goals,” said Sultan Hafeez Rahman, country representative of Asian Development Bank.
Following the announcement of ceasefire by Maoists and beginning of negotiations, Nepal has seen some positive indication in the areas of program implementation but it still has a long time to go before it can achieve the goals set by MDG.
In certain areas like poverty alleviation, Nepal has made certain progress. According to National Living Standard Survey II, the absolute poverty line has come down from 42 percent in 1995-96 to 31 percent in 2005.
On the issues of universal access to primary education, the net enrolment ratio is on track at 84 percent. The ratio of children completing up to fifth grade has also increased to 60 percent from 38 percent in 1990. The goal of eliminating gender disparity in all levels of education by 2015 is impossible to achieve.
“We are taking efforts to achieve the target set by MDG. As the country’s political situation is once again returning to normalcy, there is every possibility to achieve the target,” said finance minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat.
M aternal mortality ratio continues to be a sore point and the incidence of HIV prevalence has been growing from 0.29 percent of total population in 2000 to 0.5 percent in 2005.
“In some areas, the progress is satisfactory but there is a need to take more actions to meet all the goals,” said Matthew Kahane, UN resident coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to Nepal .
From access to safe drinking water to ending disparities and halting the spread of major diseases, Nepal is still far away from realizing the goals. According to recent studies, Nepal is on track only on 3 of the 11 targets. Of course, the poverty has declined but the disparity is growing.
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