MONEY»
MDGs to keep,miles to go before we sleep
KATHMANDU, SEP 05 -
Nepal will achieve most of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets by 2015, except for the more complex ones—such as total employment and climate change —which will require more effort and appropriate environment.
A new MDG progress report 2010, prepared by National Planning Commission and the United Nations Development Programme, to be made public on Sept 7, has revealed the achievements made by Nepal in eight MDG goals so far and also mentioned the challenges in meeting the target to which Nepal is committed. MDGs are the goals to be achieved by 2015 against the achievement of 1990. There are 21 quantifiable targets which are measured on the basis of 60 indicators. The report has categorized the targets in likely, potentially likely and unlikely. The first goal is eradicating extreme poverty and hunger by half, which the report says, is achievable. It has three targets, of which one is unachievable while other two are potentially achievable.
Nepal will have to reduce its proportion of population below the national poverty line to 21 percent by 2015. It has already reduced it to 25.4 percent.
Another target of halving hunger in 2015 from 1990 will potentially be achieved, according to the report.
Nepal has already achieved the target of halving the proportion of people below the minimum level of dietary and energy consumption.
The target was to bring it down to 25 percent but the country has already brought it down to 22.5 percent. However, the report suggests that the target of reducing the number of underweight and stunted children is difficult.
The report has termed the
declining production of staple crops and chronic hunger in some geographical area as challenges in addressing the hunger situation. The target of achieving universal primary education may also be achievable, according to the report. It says net enrolment rate is increasing, and with some additional efforts, the target can be met. The country’s net enrolment in primary education stands at 93.7 percent. Another goal of promoting gender equality and empowerment of women is also potentially achievable. Gender equality in education has improved substantially over the last five years and the 2015 target regarding equal access of girls and boys to primary education has already been achieved. “It is likely to be achieved at the secondary level too,” the report states. The MDG seeks to eliminate gender disparity at all levels of education before 2015.
Nepal will meet another goal of reducing child mortality before 2015. The target of reducing under-five mortality rate by two-thirds has already been met, with the proportion reduced to 50 percent against a target of 54 percent. The MDG seeks to improve material health under which there are two targets: reducing the maternal mortality rate to 213 per 100,000 live births and increasing the birth rate attended by skilled birth attendants to 60 percent.
The maternal mortality rate decreased to 229 and the proportion of births assisted by skilled birth attendants reached 28.8 percent in rural areas which is higher than the national average of 19 percent in 2005.
The country can also meet the net goal of combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. One target is to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS which is already happening. The report says the HIV infection rate has gone down to 0.39 percent in 2009 from 0.49 percent in 2007. The prevalence of malaria and tuberculosis has also come down over the period until 2010. The target of halving the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water has already been met with the country’s 80 percent population having access to improved water sources. The target was to increase this proportion to 73 percent. But, the report says the nation will be not meeting the sanitation target at the time a third of districts of the country have less than 20 percent sanitation coverage.
Nepal is, however, unlikely to meet the target of achieving full and productive employment and decent work for all. The report says the unemployment has gone up while underemployment has dropped. The proportion of employed people living blow US$ 1 per day is still 22 percent, which should come down to 17 percent by 2015.
People having access to improved sanitation facility should reach 53 percent by 2015 to meet the target but the country has so far provided such access to only 43 percent population.
The area covered by forests has increased to 39.6 percent in 2010 against the target of 40 percent. With the country dependent on firewood for energy, the report says it is impossible to achieve sustainable engergy supplies.
Though it says most of the targets are likely to be achieved or potentially be achieved, economists and development experts are skeptic. “I think 50 percent targets are likely to be met,” said Biswombhar Pyakurel, an economist. “The availability of the resources is key to meet the targets.”
Nepal has also failed to meet another goal of developing global partnership for development with the country lagging behind in having market access in developed and developing countries.
In order to overcome challenges to meet the above goals, the report has suggested that the government keep the social agenda high. It should pay special attention to creating physical infrastructure with social capital building while formulating policies.
Progress Target
Poverty reduction 25.40pc 21pc
Underweight children 38.60pc 29pc
Children with minimum diet level 22.5pc 25pc
Stunned children 49pc 30pc
Employed people with income below US$1 22pc 17pc
Enrollment in primary school 93.70pc 100pc
Ratio of girls to boys in primary school 1:00 1:00
Child mortality rate (under five years) 85.60pc 90pc
Materal mortaity (per 100,000 birth) 229 213
Forest coverage 39.60pc 40pc
Aceess to Safe drinking water 80pc 73pc
Acces to improved sanitation 43pc 53pc
Posted on: 2010-09-06 07:54
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