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As an outcome of following
headlines of Aljazeera `Failed Nepal’s Development’, I am opening up the bitter
reality of development practices of Nepal and its POVERTY. The poverty
alleviation is a key concern of government and all kinds of non-governmental organizations
including INGOs, NGOs, UNs, multinational companies through contributing
government policies and procedures from grassroots level of international level.
In some extent, the contribution includes income, education; health, women,
youth empowerment etc are highly appreciated. However, these changes are not
really significantly contributed in poverty alleviation at large. The national
planning commission claimed that the poverty is downsizing by 23% but
the scenario says that it is not true at all e.g. the life expectancy of
Kathmandu people is 86 years old whereas 36 years old of people from Jumla.
Since 2009, a part of reconstruction and rehabilitation, the government and
NGO’s attention is shifting towards the far, mid west region and central Terai but
the dynamic of poverty is not changing at all by two reasons. First, the foreign
aid lead by elite leaders and mostly focused on input rather results. The results
are not important either for donors as well as recipient because mostly fund
are diverting on the basis of connection. There is no value of passion, commitment
and working modalities in front of the power and connection. Lastly, the
duration of engagement is very serious issues in regards to far, mid west
region and few districts from southern Terai. These places are in marginalization
and exclusion since long so people are living with so many deprivations,
isolation, depression and it takes more time and cost for getting same level of
results. The rhetoric social inclusion is not really matters in holistic
transformation. Thus, such sympathetic input never ends the poverty in Nepal. This
kind of poverty has already exit in Nepal before endorsement of the development
in Nepal or about 6 decades before.
The NGO Communities are Promoting
Class Discrimination in Nepal: Despite having above mentioned tragedies,
the class discrimination won’t minimize in Nepal in current development
structure and practices because the NGO communities are themselves are
contributing in increasing poverty gaps or class discrimination. The other type
poverty or class discrimination is evolved when the development agencies
emerged rapidly specially after restoration of democracy 1991. At the name of
alleviation of primary poverty, various types of projects and organizations are
coming front. If anyone analyze the level and pattern of poverty between target
group and staff who are supposed to deliver services for last 20 years, can
find huge gap. The level of remuneration
has vast difference among government, local NGO, INGO, UN. The culture of
working in NGO is been taught in wrong way since beginning of the development
practice in Nepal. Indeed, everyone should work very hard in all sectors, no
matter where they do work. In practice, it says that the NGOs people work
harder than the government. Choosing the working areas or entities is a matter
of their choice but working hard is matter of discipline but no need to pay
high salary. What is the basis of paying high salary? For instance, the four
students graduate from the university at the same month and they get the job
based on their access (mostly) and interest. The same capacitated person join
in UN and getting triple digit salary where as double digit salary in
international NGO and single digit or
low rank double digit salary by NGO and government. Because of such practice,
the class discrimination is gradually developed and it has high impact on their
children’s education, living status and everything. Like, money attracts money;
an opportunity attracts opportunity one by one.
Finally, the number of houses, cars and national /international links
gradually seen in practice that has makes matters in class discrimination
largely. Is there any rational to pay high salary? Why should they need additional
salary and benefits if they chose their work by their choice? At the mean time
many of their friends who were graduate in same time, might more laborious or
genius but they are not getting working class job and might join private
teaching or flying aboard as migrant workers. In this situation, is it possible
to alleviate the poverty in Nepal? Who would hold accountability in such unfair
practice? It shows very clear devastating picture of Nepal’s economy.
Corrupted Culture Mostly Contributed
by NGO Communities: In practice,
as like poverty alleviation, many
NGOs and others are working directly and indirectly in eliminating the
corruption. Nepal is second country in Asia in corruption survey. The powerless
people are becoming stateless due to having corruption in each steps and
seconds. No one has right for questioning. If anyone dares to question, that
person deliberatively abandoned or isolated wherever s/he stands, no one is
ready to support in action form. At the
name of ownership and institutionalize the project activities, endorsement of
certain activities, power or connection with government people or visibility of
government people, NGO are paying so much money (as fellowship, resource
person, incentive, communication, transportation etc) for government people. In
many cases, the regular financial norms are violated at the name of senior,
expert/expat etc. Principally, the NGOs are working for assisting the
government and why should NGOs pay them. NGOs get more physical, moral and
institutional support if they get benefit from NGOs otherwise NGOs are put in
street or more than that. Further, many government people are taking their
personal leave and joining NGO’s activities at national and international level
activities. NGO workers are not exceptional in taking leave and doing consulting
work in other I/NGOs. It is all happen once there is connection. These examples
are only representative examples, there are many substantial evidences and
everyone aware on it but no one likes to speak up like Open Secrete’. Likewise,
mostly NGOs buy the media as fellowship, incentives and bring the issue in to
the limelight and later journalist awarded by NGOs. Issues and concerns are not
necessarily to understand if they have connections and power with NGOs. The
level of appreciation and criticism is mostly determined on the basis of
incentives and facilities enjoyed by them directly and indirectly. If it is not
true, why doesn’t an issue remain at same level even after decade to decade? Who is monitoring the NGO’s activities and
fund? Does the Social Welfare Council really stand for real monitoring? Has it
have clear road map and enough expertise to assess and take corrective actions
on time. Further, mostly, NGOs are not standing as civil society organizations,
they are advocating a particular group or party or connection. If the person or
the organization doesn’t have any connection, it is very tough to get space
either in accessing fund or anything else. There is very tough, unfair
competition and nepotism among NGO communities. How can such NGOs combat
poverty or class discrimination and build equal, peace and prosperous country.
Everyone aware about the fact but doesn’t like to speak because they also a
part of it and enjoying of it in a way and the other.
Remittance is Only Temporary
Means for Combating Poverty: Flying to aboard is becoming a fashion in
Nepali community. More importantly, it is an option for survival. Due to
globalization and trade politics, the value of Nepali currency is depreciated
badly where as youths are in deep pressure to earn more to cope the changing
Nepali life style and market. In this connection, they are flying aboard even
those who unable to fill up their forms at immigrant office. The national
statistics has already revealed that the remittance is a key contributing source
of national economy. However, it is not a permanent solution at all which is
already proven by Philippines. In Nepali context, migrant workers are facing
various forms of violence while working aboard as well as experience negative
effects as origin country or family as well. In future, Nepal couldn’t transfer
the skills due to very poor academic background and working in very
exploitative context. The remittance money is used for maintaining basic needs largely
and misuse in some extent. The purchasing capacity and practice is changing among
rural communities which will create pressure in future as well. In other hand,
there is very marginal possibility to replicate the skills back to home country
because mostly occupied in such difficult, danger and dirt work. Professional
don’t like to back their country usually. In conclusion, the level poverty will
be continued associated with negative symptoms. In connection with remittance,
the villages from east to west, north to south are sounds empty. Only the elders,
disables, and women are living in villages. Using readymade foods and clothes
is a matter of status because at least a family member of them is working
outside of the homeland or nearby city as migrant/worker. Most of the young women whose husbands are
working outside are living in Kathmandu or nearby cities in rental house for
better education of their children. If someone likes to continue their
traditional occupation is matter of stigma so the land and sheds are empty. If
anyone likes to continue their traditional occupation, it is very hard to get
assistance and the rent against their support is very high. There are other
forms of local and traditional trades such a herbs, husbandry which is also
heavily ignored by the government and as well as by new generation. Even the
deliberate programs are at risk to continue their performance e.g. continue of
home stay in Ghalegaun by next generation. Thus, the local resources are getting
under or misused and contributing poverty and class decimation again.
Emerging Entrepreneurship: Like as silver
lining, few youths are really trying to work hard for initiating the
entrepreneurship or combating poverty. Few youths even returned to country to
do something after their higher education. They come up with fascinating plans
and deep passion but they failed largely. Sadly, they are restless due to lack
of enabling environment such as funding, marketing, skills, policies and stable
politics. As a popular strategy, often the government brings the programs for
youths, unemployed and marginalized group per say unfortunately it is heavily
used for party cadres as guided by party of government head and almost misused.
The real passionate and marginalized communities don’t enjoy at all. Such type
of scenario is creating frustration and bringing new dimension of poverty and
class discrimination again in Nepali community.
In this given scenario, poverty
has seen in two ways; primary or traditional poverty and modern poverty. There
are other confounding factors associated with. The modern poverty is getting
more attention than the traditional poverty. However, both forms of poverty are
really very dangerous for national economy and urgent to address strategically
that demands sets of actions for holistic implementation to end its gaps.
