HDI Status
THAT Nepal is listed once again in the 144th
position among the 174 countries in the Human Development Report 2000 (HDR 2000) reflects
the fact that as far as human development is concerned the country has to do much before
achieving a respectable level. Though there are other countries behind Nepal is no source
of consolation. The Human Development Index (HDI) is based on people’s access to
health, education and life expectancy so the problems to be tackled by Nepal is enormous
if it is to come up with appreciable results. Though there have been some improvements in
the country’s HDI, this must not be taken as the end itself. In fact, 45 years have
elapsed since the country introduced planned development aiming at raising the life
standard of the people but results as per expectations has not been achieved. In the
country, poverty coupled with high illiteracy rate has remained major hurdles overcoming
which alone can lead to overall national development. It is believed that above 42 per
cent Nepalese are now living below the absolute poverty line and among them 17 per cent
are ultra poor. Similarly, the low literacy rate, equally low life expectancy and low GDP
are the other challenges standing in front. According to HDR 2000, the country’s
achievement in human development is far behind even in comparison to the other South Asian
nations. Life expectancy, GDP per capita income and female literacy are lowest in Nepal.
The Nepalese people’s average life expectancy of 57.8 year at birth is 4.2 years
lower than the average for South Asian countries.
Though Nepal could make progress in the
sector of human development in the last four decades, especially in the sector of
education, health and transportation, the progress is not satisfactory. The glaring
disparities among the haves and have-nots, advantaged and disadvantage groups and between
males and female have surely contributed to the low human development record. In a
surprising revelation, the report states that Nepal is the only country where female life
expectancy is lower than that of males while female literacy rate is the lowest in the
world. Similarly, 50 per cent of the spending in education goes to the richest 20 per cent
while a little more 10 per cent goes to the bottom 20 per cent. Such disparities clearly
depict that the advantaged groups have more access to the available sources but not the
target groups. This must be one reason why we are failing to make progress in the area of
human development. The HDR provides much information the use of which can prove helpful in
identifying strategies for human development.
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