National 6 (Spotlight Weekly)

Mixed Results

After continuous progress in the areas of human development, Nepal's pace of progress slows down

By A CORRESSPONDENT

As internal difficulties caused by violent Maoist insurgency rise, Nepal's pace of progress in the areas of Human Development has suddenly slowed down. Fortunately, the previous achievements in the sector have rescued the country from going to worse.

Released by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Nepal ranks in the 143rd position in the Human Development Report 2003 (HDR) among 175 countries of the world. In South Asia, Maldives secures the best position figuring in the 86th position. Pakistan has performed worst in the region securing 144th position.

Nepal' Human Development Index (HDI) has been steadily increasing since 1975 but it is still too low to compete with other countries of the world. Nepal's HDI was 0.287 in 1975. It is 0.499 in 2001.

"Despite unfavorable situation caused by the violent insurgency, we have made some tremendous progress in reducing infant mortality rate, increasing the enrolment of girl children in education and drinking water supply," said Dr. Shankar Sharma, vice chairman of National Planning Commission (NPC). "If the ceasefire continues and peace prevails, we will certainly make more progress in the HDI."

In a bleak scenario of prolonging political instability and deadlock in the proposed peace talks, facts indicate that the situation could become more difficult in the coming days. Even if Nepal maintains the present pace of progress, it will be more than satisfactory.

"I was delighted that the report was able to confirm the progress Nepal is making towards the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals), for example in relation to the education, gender equality, under five mortality, access to water and sanitation targets. But an enormous amount of hard work still needs to be done," said David Wood, head of DFID Nepal, a British Aid Agency. "The number of people below poverty may have risen in the last few years, and the incidence of hunger and maternal mortality remains extremely high, but Nepal remains stubbornly at the 143rd in the world in terms of the HDI."

In 1990s Nepal had made remarkable progress in expanding the rural infrastructures in health, education and social sectors. After the inception of insurgency, the trend of progress started to reverse.

"This year's report is particularly important and relevant for Nepal since it is focused on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS). We in the United Nations System are convinced that the MDGS as we call them in short have the potential to transform the world. We believe they are an idea whose time has come and have no doubt that they can also in a very direct way change the social, economic and political face of Nepal," said Dr. Henning Karcher, UNDP Resident Representative. "Little progress can be achieved in the development of Nepal unless and until conflict is resolved. Restoring peace becomes, therefore, also one key element of Nepal's MDG strategy."

Released by vice chairman Dr. Sharma, The Human Development Report 2003 argues that to reverse declines, development strategies must focus not only on economic growth, but also on more equitable distribution of wealth and services.

Although Nepal is passing through a very difficult situation, implementing the speedy development work is not easier. "Nepal is currently one of the most difficult environments for development in the world. The prospect of a renewal of the Maoist insurgency is extremely worrying, There is no doubt in my mind that the first prerequisite for progress with poverty reduction in Nepal, and also that of development is the need for peace to be both sustainable and democratic," said Wood.

New Hall For Media

The Department of Information has operated a new hall for holding media conferences and other programs. Situated at the ground floor of its office complex in Media Village in Tilganga, the new hall can host 120 persons. Already the department has hosted a number of programs in the hall. Last week, it hosted a major media conference on post budget evaluation. Senior officials including Finance Minsiter Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani was also present at the conference. "We hope that we will be able to organize many press conferences at this hall in coming days," said Dharanidhar Khatiwada, director general of the department. †The department is planning to hold regular conferences at the venue.