Economic Development
NGOs Play Vital Role

By Uttam Maharjan

THE world underwent a sea change in the 1980s, when, with the demise of the erstwhile Soviet Union, it went unipolar, with the USA emerging as the sole superpower in the changed global context. The collapse of communist regimes across the world gave rise to open-market economy and liberalisation. Nepal, too, underwent a political transformation with the collapse of the Panchayat dispensation and the reinstatement of a multi-party democracy in 1990.

With the adoption of liberalisation policy by Nepal, a number of NGOs and financial institutions have come into existence. In fact, these institutions are essential for the economic development of the country.

Nepal is a poor country classified by the UNO among the least developed countries (LDCs). The per capital income of the country is around US $ 220. Most of the people in the country earn less than a dollar a day and so find it extremely difficult to have two square meals a day. This would epitomize the socio-economic status of the Nepalese. Therefore, it is the greatest challenge of the country to raise the standard of living of its people so as to enable them to live dignified lives by meeting their basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, transportation and communication.

The government has initiated development planning since 2013 BS by formulating periodic plans. We have completed eight such plans and are at the last leg of the current Ninth Plan. From the next fiscal year, we will be initiating the Tenth Plan. But the irony is that despite having made such initiatives for 45 years, no positive changes have yet taken place on the socio-economic front.

The NGOs scattered across the country are helping the government in one way or the other. Such organisations are concerned with various socio-economic aspects such as poverty alleviation, education, health care, community forestry, tourism, women and children, the disabled, the Dalits, corruption, local development and micro-finance. There are also other NGOs involved in emergency relief, construction works, skill development and savings and credit programmes.

NGOs are important community-based entities that can reach where the government cannot. There are a number of remote and outlying parts in Nepal, where government employees do not like to stay for a long period of time. In such a situation, NGOs can render valuable services to the poor and marginalised people living there.

NGOs have made some commendable impacts on society. The credit for banning highly polluting Vikram tempos from the Kathmandu Valley with effect from Bhadra, 2056 BS goes to some environmental NGOs. It was indeed a major initiative in de-polluting the Valley to some extent. Similarly, the emancipation of the Kamaiyas (bonded labourers) in Sharwan, 2057 BS was also facilitated by the NGO sector to some extent.

In the same vein, some NGOs are working towards uplifting the status of the Dalits, women and children. The Dalit movement is getting fresh impetus through the efforts of such NGOs. The Dalits have, as a result, embarked upon a campaign against untouchability and other social discrimination. Similarly, the women’s properly bill was tabled in the last session of Parliament.

Most of the NGOs running in Nepal rely on donors to meet their financial requirements. This would imply that they are donor-driven. As long as they get support from such donors, they will continue to keep body and soul together. The moment they are balked of donor support, they will go down like a ninepin if they cannot mobilise financial resources either by themselves or from outside.

With some NGOs indulging in self-interest rather than honestly involving themselves in the tasks they are supposed to perform, the general image of NGOs
has been tarnished. They are alleged to be begging bowls for some vested
interests. It is true that not all NGOs are active in their respective fields. This may be due to self-interest, lack of expertise in mobilising and utilising resources for institutional building and development and the like.

It need not be reiterated that local participation is a prerequisite for making any development project a success. This accounts for the emphasis given by Nepal on decentralisation and local self-governance. But the reality may be otherwise. Local people may take development initiatives made by NGOs as not concerned with their benefit simply because such organisations are mostly donor-driven. So it is really a daunting challenge for NGOs to convince the local people along their lines of thinking that NGO activities are designed to uplift their socio-economic status.

It is obvious that NGO activities, if supported by local participation, will show encouraging results in short order. For this, NGOs should show strong commitment and will to work towards making society a better place to live in.

It is not surprising that NGOs have now penetrated society in virtually all manifestations. They have chosen a particular domain of work for concentrated development in that field. These ramifications would influence various strata of society socially, culturally and economically.

NGOs can act as socio-economic traiblazers, guiding the government in its development activities and even correcting them should they go amiss. The government should, therefore, show a positive attitude towards them. After all, the government and NGOs could be good partners and synergistically work towards uplifting the standard of living of the common people. This is what the changing times demand.

Good Governance & Poverty Reduction

By Mohan K.C.

THE Nepal Human Development Report (NHDR)-2001 released recently had its eyes focused on the fact that poverty reduction efforts have not resulted on the overall scenario. This is an unfortunate fact since all development plans, including the current Ninth Plan has given top priority to the reduction of poverty levels in the country.

Though Nepal had an annual growth rate of five per cent, according to the report, it is estimated that 40 per cent of the people live below the poverty line. The poverty line is based on certain parameters including access to health, education and fulfillment of the basic daily intake of nutrition. The country as such has witnessed a rapid population growth with the latest tally crossing the 23 million mark. But the economy has not been able to grow in keeping with this population growth.

Despite the projection of over six per cent economic growth rate to be achieved during the Ninth Plan, the target has not been met as we approach the last few months of the current development plan. The development efforts have suffered due to many reasons. One among them is the Maoist problem. It has led to discouraging many industries. The performance of many industries within the country is below the necessary level. The problem is more acute in other parts of the country rather than within the Kathmandu Valley.

The reason the industrialists point out for the slow down in economic activities is the state of law and order in the country. For over fiver years, before the state of emergency was declared, the Maoists had targeted many industries which led to insecurity. Though as far as law and order is concerned it has improved in the last two months. But for an overall improvement in the economic sphere, it may take some more time.

NHDR-2001 also points to the fact that good governance is the key to poverty reduction. As for good governance adequate priority has been accorded but there are many things to be done before it actually materializes. The government at the moment is giving its attention to root out terrorism which has made lives difficult for the people.

Violence of any sort must be condemned in the harshest of terms. To bring an end to the Maoist violence, efforts are being made. A sense of security has developed in the people which is a good sign.

It is the economic performance that counts for the well-being of the people. The economic recession that has been witnessed in the country needs urgent remedial measures. Whether it be manufacturing or service sector problems are manifest everywhere. With the glut, unemployment will also rise. The problem is all the more marked in the rural areas where alternative employment besides farming is difficult to come by. Though agriculture remains the main preoccupation of the people, NHDR says that most of the country’s growth in the past 15 years took place outside the agricultural sector. This is an important observation because agriculture
too should be developed as the other sectors.

A disturbing thing is that the productivity of the land is falling in many areas, according to related experts. What has to be envisaged for a country like Nepal is that industrialisation must go hand in hand with agricultural development. If adequate development in agriculture is not done, the necessity to import food becomes a reality as it is happening to some extent today.

For achieving the objectives, it is not only plans and policies that count but their implementation in the proper way. Efficiency must also fit into the scheme of things which of late has increased. This must be taken as positive.

The NHDR must be viewed in its creative suggestion based on the studies carried out. It is an important document that records the development made by Nepal. What it means is that the underprivileged people must come into the mainstream of development so that an overall progress can be seen. The government on its part has a number of programmes targeting those below the poverty line but progress has not been recorded as expected. Besides maintaining law and order and making efforts for the return of normalcy, the development activities must move ahead at a faster pace.

The Maoist terror must be checked first of all if the country is to engage in development activities. If this is done then the disparity among the development regions can be significantly reduced.

Clean Drinking Water Through Solar Disinfection

By Peter Moulton

THE sun has long been associated with energy and health. Now a centuries old process of using the sun to produce clean drinking water is being revived in Nepal and around the world to provide better health to those who do not have access to safe drinking water—over one billion people in the world.

If water containing bacteria and viruses is exposed to daylight, the bacteria, and viruses will be killed after four to five hours of direct sunlight or a full day in cloudy weather. The now commonly discarded one or one and a half liter plastic mineral water bottles are ideal for this purpose. Clear glass water bottles work as well and are more durable. This extremely simple and virtually free process, called solar disinfection, makes use of the ultraviolet. A rays in the daylight to inactivate the bacteria and is effective against cholera, typhoid, and many of the diarrheal diseases which kill over 2 million people a year, mostly children.

In 1999 Global Resources Institute, which introduced the Safa Tempo to Kathmandu collaborated with the International Buddhist Society, founded by Bhikkhu Maitri, to introduce solar disinfection of water to 18 villages served by IBS in the Lumbini area. A report by Dr. Narendra Kumar Mallick of IBS indicated that 5,000 villagers used the process, which they named "Gham Paani," for nine months with an 80 per cent reduction in diarrhea. This report and other reports related to clean water can be found on GRI’s website <www. grilink, org>.

Solar disinfection was known in South Asia centuries ago when water was placed in large shallow bowls for exposure to the sun. In the 1970s the process was reinvestigated in Lebanon. More recently the Swiss Organisation SANDEC has extensively researched solar disinfection, both in laboratory studies and field studies in developing countries around the world. Its reports and newsletters can be found on <www.sodis.com.>. In March 2001, the World Health Organiastion endorsed solar disinfection as one of two "Immediate Solutions for Persistent" problems of water quality and urged its promotion.

There are certain details to the use of solar disinfection which must be communicated and observed. The basic key introductions, which must be elaborated and adapted to local conditions, are:

Place water in clean plastic (PTE or PETE plastic) or glass bottles with labels removed. Bottles should have a top and be clear but may have a slight bluish cast. Mineral water bottles are commonly used.

Do not use water which is too turbid or cloudly. Large dark print, such as the title of this article, placed next to or under the bottle should be legible when viewed through the bottle of water.

If excessive turbidity is present, allow it to settle in a separate container and then pour the clear water off the top into a bottle. If this does not remove excessive turbidity, prefilter the water through sand or cloth.

Aerate the water to enhance disinfection by leaving about two inches of air at the top of the bottle, securing the cap, and then shaking the bottle for about 15 seconds.

If possible, place the bottles on a blackened surface, on a corrugated roof or a piece of corrugated roofting material away from animals. Although solar disinfection does not rely on heating of the water, heat does speed the process. The blackened surface will facilitate heating.

Expose the bottle for four to six hours in sunlight or for a full day in cloudy weather.

Replace scratched, damaged, or cloudy, bottles with new bottles. A programme for the distribution of new bottles and recycling of old bottles must be developed, especially if plastic bottles are used.

Do not burn damaged, scratched, clouded or otherwise unusable plastic bottles. Burning plastic is highly toxic.

Clean drinking water is a very important element in maintaining good health. However, bacteria and viruses reside in many places and any programme to provide clean drinking water must be accompanied by good hygiene such as washing hands before eating and after cleaning babies and after handling animals. Also food must be protected from insects, not allowed to spoil, and properly cooked. It is also important to keep in mind that clean drinking water is not medicine. Clean drinking water consumed during one part of the day will not protect one from unsafe drinking water consumed during other parts of the day.

Solar disinfection provides a simple low cost method for disinfecting small quantities of drinking water. It is an excellent alternative when water cannot be boiled. It does not require any chemicals and does not change the colour or taste of water. Since it reduces the need for fuel and firewood, it has beneficial environmental effects.

Although some research has investigated the effectiveness of solar disinfection against cysts such as giardia and cryptosporidium, there are still questions to be answered. When water from rivers or ponds is being consumed, some filtration to remove cysts and worms may be required. Solar disinfection will not remove chemical contaminants from industrial or agricultural sources.

Global Resources Institute is continuing to work to develop training and promotional materials on solar disinfection for dissemination throughout the world. It will be working with several local organisations in Nepal to support their efforts to establish solar disinfection at village levels.

(The author is associated with Global Research Institute).