==NEPAL==

Poverty has now become so powerful that it has left a melancholic and devastating influence throughout the world, drawing full attention to the impoverishment, depravity and destitution it has caused. It has verily appeared as a complex problem afflicting urban and rural populations alike, indiscriminate of geographical boundaries and sectoral distinctions. To defend against this threat has become a growing concern of individuals in every nook and cranny of the world, whether in alleys, lanes, hills, or plains.
Wide spread poverty has generated some burning problems and issues that have left some landless and others destitute, and above all, entire nations captivated. This enemy has posed no less severe and potent a threat in Nepal. Thousands of billions of rupees have been funnelled every year in the name of poverty alleviation along with the utilization of available resources. Conferences and seminars at different levels have been summoned and ever multiplied, and every fifth year plan follows one after another with the utmost priority on poverty, yet the country, and most probably the entire world, is mutely witnessing the aggravating situation only to be frustrated to acknowledge the annual report of WHO.
There are, at the same time, many factors equally contributing to this exasperating state of poverty. As a matter of fact, complete alleviation of poverty is almost impossible except in a hollow political slogan, yet it can be lowered to the desired level if we are able to unitedly combat against this vicious circle of poverty.
Control over population and eradication of poverty are part and parcel. The present world is jeopardised by the population growth bomb and needs an instant rescue, which is to some extent possible by empowerment and education of woman. Population growth, therefore, is one of the root causes of poverty due to the lack of a successful birth control campaign. The longer the population control measures fail, the more difficult the task of poverty alleviation in the present scenario becomes. Explosion of the population is supposed to be the consequence of inadequate education opportunities, insecure and unreliable health services, economic insecurity and, above all, gender discrimination.
Similarly, the overall economic condition of the country is rather deplorable, and this often leads a majority of the people to the doors of money lenders and landlords and ultimately lands them in a vicious circle. As a result of low and inadequate economic growth compounded by wealth disparities, the major portion of the rural population is below the poverty line. This, consequently, has incapacitated the poor for provision of better health and education of their kids, which only results in malnutrition; and thereby a great number of children become mentally retarded, physically stunted, deaf and so forth.
Incessant growth of landlessness and haphazard urbanization have caused financial woe for the poor people. Landlessness, in a large measure, is the consequence of inadequacy of land for food and shelter which also impedes the maximum operation of resources. This gradually forces people to deplete the forest, which ultimately leads to ecological imbalance and natural calamities like landslides, floods and so forth.
Apart from these, the refugee crisis is another burning problem adversely affecting the poverty situation and population dynamics. Incessant pouring in of refugees and asylum seekers, who are currently in need of protection and assistance, has further worsened the poverty situation. The country, at least owing to human relations, should invest a sum of money for them, which, however, further impoverishes the country's natives.
Though some neighbouring countries and NGOs have been enthusiastically investigating in infrastructural facilities, much is yet to be desired. Weaknesses in implementation and monitoring of such programs along with financial irregularities and misuse have been the obstacles of poverty alleviation in Nepal. Despite the high-sounding phrases and budgets, government steps in this direction seem to be torpid and wishy-washy in bringing their words to deeds; rather the amount allotted for the local sector for the initiatives of poverty alleviation reaches the destination after a number of zigzags and mishaps nine time out of ten, allowing the temporizing politicians and public representatives to milk it to the maximum extent possible. Meanwhile, the politicians tend to blow their own trumpets.
This terrible state of affairs has perplexed and thrown the donor agencies between the devil and the deep sea. The next hindrance in overcoming this widespread problem is the inclination of our plan designers and policy makers to adopt a certain model designed by the foreign experts and international agencies to our own context, universally ignoring the appropriateness of that program in the particular territory, which has certain geographical, social, economic and cultural norms.
People in some communities are forced to spend a tremendous amount of money in sprees and merriment along with petty public and religious affairs under the potent influence of a conservative and wornout tradition, whereas some others fall prey to the torture and tyranny of so-called aristocrats, who lead them to the perpetual pestilence of poverty, generation after generation. However, it is impossible to bring a change in attitude and reform an old and ill tradition overnight; it needs a gradual and steady revolution and combat.
NGOs and foreign agencies approaching this direction should concentrate themselves in the remote and far-flung areas of the country.They should create maximum job opportunities for unemployed educated people and participation of local people, particularly for enhancement of productive roles for women.
After much discussion and academic exercise, it appears to be high time for all of us to approach the problem practically leaving no stone unturned and evoking a deep sense of cooperation while utilizing public power to fight against this public enemy which has created havoc in many parts of the world. This public sin has perpetually stabbed the tender back of the world and generated a multitude of contentious issues.
No topdown approach in single strategy is adequate; rather, it requires a multisectoral, multilevel and flexible approach, from new policy initiatives to more efficient delivery mechanisms. Health and education should be emphasized as key factors. This terrible situation can somehow be mitigated by creating various sectoral programs such as health education and family planning. Various productive and employment generating activities need to be conducted through various governmental and local bodies. Different educative programs like vocational training, development skills for women, health education, etc. should be launched at at the local level. People can employ and support their families if construction of infrastructures like roads, bridges, and small irrigation is begun.
Equal emphasis should be put on economic services and assets. There should be a general consensus and joint efforts among the public and careful collaboration with NGOs and other sectors so as to ease the problem of an inadequate resource base. Economic growth should aim at achieving successful income generation and maximum resource operational freedom.
So as to achieve efficiency and success in manipulation and implementation of programs, analytical surveys of the territory to determine the appropriateness of environment and milieu of the particular program is a must. Maximum participation of local people can play a significant role in executing and making the program a complete success.
Democracy has finally embedded deep roots in the country, but the newly established government still has great challenges in front of it. Time should tell how well they can face the problems of poverty alleviation and population growth which are taking place unbridled and worrying nations worldwide.