Women Want A Long-term Anti-poverty Program

Creating development means creating goods and services of greater value. So now we want to talk not about wealth creation, but about human rights and freedom.

I agree that all countries, including the US, deal with other countries in ways that promote the economic interests of groups of people in their own country. If that means promoting democratic regimes, or promoting values, or promoting freedom, then that is what is done.

If we study the history of development and poverty, we will find that western farm surpluses are caused mostly by productivity improvements caused by advances in farm machinery and crop chemistry (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.). "In the US that translates to 3% of the population feeding the other 97% and having lots more food left over to feed millions around the world.

However, longer and healthier lives, when coupled with improved education and foreign investment in local industries can contribute to greater productivity in the countries and thereby improve their development standards. India and Indonesia are good examples of how it can work," N. Penasack recently said to me. For an example of how leaders can make all the difference in people's living conditions, there is no better example than Japan.

Indeed we are doing enough in talking about poverty but not in combating poverty in action. There is some poverty alleviation program developed and implicated in the country too.

Dr Surendra Pradhanang of Nepal is an award winning personality whose work has helped create a new face for tourism and economic development, and the best thinker of village development and nation's development, offered, "We are on the effort of combating poverty. Theoretically, political leaders, ministers, NGOS, INGOS and concerned authorities talked much more about our poverty and its combat and held several seminars and conferences on it. Consequently, poverty could not have reduced in real terms.

Each year we prioritized it in budget speech. We see the major focal point –poverty alleviation focused even in the preamble of those of national plans. But the implication of poverty alleviation programs is being experienced is very weak and ineffective to cope with the absolute poverty.

A Nepali Dr Pradhanang further said " Poverty alleviation fund has been established. Some poverty alleviation programs alleviation' were started . Due to poor implementation and absence of honesty in program ,the output of the programs could not have resulted in significance. Analitically, despite of the programs undertaken no progress was made in combating poverty.

He further added "Peace and security, we want, is the common factor of development which affects the whole system of the country. 'No peace, no agreement and no security, no developments ' are the major causes of poverty, violence and unemployment. In Nepal there is still no peaceful environment and secured life of the people. The national politics led by the slogan of People's democracy is attractive in hearing. It should be normalized and functioned to all Nepalese in the country. One should not go against other when we compromise and understand one to other. Security of the people is the buzzword along with peace and development. Now there must not be any conflict in this respect.

Dr Pradhanang said, "First and foremost, the loss of peace and security should bring back to the Nepalese people and community. Then the door for combating poverty and unemployment opens. Secondly, the massive programs on rehabilitation and economic development strategy have to be introduced and applied.

The youths, intellectuals, experts, technocrats and above all brain power ought to be utilized for national development. In fact, national development in various fields should be handed over at the hands of experts and specialists with due consideration.

Besides, the bad influence of political leaders who are in government administration must be dismissed from the post and power. Those who abused the power holding government post and portfolio should be punished as per the regulations set. The corrupted administrators must be eliminated from the government administration.

"Poverty, violence and unemployment are reactions to the Nepalese cold war, unstable political climate and economic crisis. On the other side, National productivity as well as GDP growth rate are very low. Unlikely, the current budget has estimated 5 percent growth rate on GDP which does not match the reality of the nation's economy.

Inflation on daily consumption goods is very high and unstable. The supply system, which is not good, mostly blocked and black-marketed in the country. The inflationary rate, it is experienced, is in between 20-30 percent, he continued.

Unlikely, the general expenditure of the government is being increased day by day as burden to the Nepalese women. The tax paid by the general public could not have been utilized in productive sectors. Mainly, the economic parameters of the country are not in a favorable position which determines the national economy and its status.

To measure the present economic crisis of the nation, the government's attitude and that of people should be immediately changed from too much of a politics-mind to a development-mind. Not surprisingly, in wake of growing poverty, violence and unemployment, educators, planners and developers have to make planning for economic crisis of the country.

Dr Pradhanang also said on the Nepali situation, " Nepal has the provision of general standard education, but it would not have taken any special step on appropriate education and employment for the children and women so far. Nepal is a gender disparity suffered country where women have less access to educational and health facilities and social services. Women estimated to constitute 62.50 percent of the illiterate population of Nepal are - a serious concern.

Indeed, Nepal is not in front line on special steps to children and women for education and employment opportunities at all. However, it has started in order to uplift rural poor women, and illustrates an awareness for women's education and income generation programs that launched in some districts.

Accordingly, Nepal has also followed UN Millennium Goal as common programs and obligations to educate and protect children and women and it also stressed to reduce poverty and provide job opportunities to women. Nepal has permitted to open nursery and child care centers and women's colleges for a nice education, health and potential of employment opportunities to private sector.

Thus, we need the economic revolution through the village tourism industry in close relation to agro-tourism basement. The growth of village tourism and agricultural sector generate a substantial surplus. This can help invest for accelerating development of other sectors of the economy.

Journalist and Story Writer Kamala Sarup associates and writes for http://www.mediaforfreedom.com/. She is a regular contributor to United Press International - Asia News. She is specializes in in-depth reporting and writing on peace, anti-war, women, terrorism, democracy, and development. Some of her publications are: Women;s Empowerment in South Asia, Nepal (booklets); Prevention of Trafficking in Women Through Media, (book); Efforts to Prevent Trafficking in for Media Activism (media research). She has also written two collections of stories.

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