Tuesday, October 01, 2024

 Over 170 people killed in rain-triggered floods, landslides in Nepal

https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/over-125-people-killed-in-rain-triggered-floods-landslides-in-nepal-124092900381_1.html



According to Home Ministry officials, 42 people are missing in floods, landslides and inundation

The death toll from rain-triggered floods and landslides across Nepal climbed to 170 with 42 people missing on Sunday, officials said.

Large swathes of eastern and central Nepal have been inundated since Friday, with flash floods reported in parts of the country.

According to police, 170 people have been killed so far due to floods and landslides across Nepal.

According to Home Ministry officials, 42 people are missing in floods, landslides and inundation.

As many as 111 people have sustained injuries in flood-related incidents, Ministry of Home Affairs spokesperson Rishiram Pokharel said.

Search and rescue operations are underway with the mobilisation of all the security agencies, he said, adding that the Nepal Army has airlifted 162 people from across the country.

As many as 4,000 people affected by flood and inundation have been rescued by the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel, Pokharel said.

All necessary relief materials, including food grains, have been distributed to those rescued, he said.

In the Balkhu area in the outskirts of Kathmandu, meals were distributed to 400 people with the help of social workers, the spokesperson said.

National highways have been blocked since Saturday, with hundreds of people stranded on various highways due to landslides.

Efforts are underway to clear national highways where roads are obstructed due to flood, landslide and inundation. Transport has resumed at the Tribhuvan Highway, the main land route connecting Kathmandu to other districts, Pokharel said.

The flood damaged at least 322 houses and 16 bridges across Nepal.

Eyewitnesses said they have never seen such a devastating flood and inundation in the Kathmandu Valley in 40-45 years.

I've never before seen flooding on this scale in Kathmandu, said Arun Bhakta Shrestha, Climate and Environmental expert at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

Kathmandu's main river, the Bagmati, was flowing above danger levels after incessant rain lashed much of eastern and central Nepal on Friday and Saturday, a report published by ICIMOD said.

A low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal and the more northerly than usual position of the monsoon trough was the reason behind Saturday's exceptionally intense rain, it said.

Scientists say that while climate change is changing the amount and timing of rainfall across Asia, a key reason for the rise in the impact of floods is the built environment, including unplanned construction, especially on floodplains, which leaves insufficient areas for water retention and drainage.

The floods and landslides have thrown life out of gear in many parts of the country, with many highways and road stretches disrupted, hundreds of houses and bridges buried or swept away, and hundreds of families displaced.

Thousands of passengers have been stranded in various places due to road disruption.

At least 19 people were killed on Saturday when a bus was buried in a landslide in Dhading district bordering Kathmandu. Five people died when a house collapsed under a landslide in the city of Bhaktapur.

Six football players were also killed in a landslide at a training centre operated by the All Nepal Football Association in Makwanpur. Others have been swept up in the floodwaters.

Meanwhile, despite the forecast for rain to continue until Tuesday, there were signs of some easing on Sunday.

 

Thursday, September 05, 2024

Understanding Human Trafficking

 Understanding Human Trafficking


“Trafficking in persons” and “human trafficking” are umbrella terms—often used interchangeably—to refer to a crime whereby traffickers exploit and profit at the expense of adults or children by compelling them to perform labor or engage in commercial sex.  When a person younger than 18 is used to perform a commercial sex act, it is a crime regardless of whether there is any force, fraud, or coercion involved.

The United States recognizes two primary forms of trafficking in persons:  forced labor and sex trafficking.  The basic meaning of these forms of human trafficking and some unique characteristics of each are set forth below, followed by several key principles and concepts that relate to all forms of human trafficking.

More than 180 nations have ratified or acceded to the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (the UN TIP Protocol), which defines trafficking in persons and contains obligations to prevent and combat the crime.

The United States’ TVPA and the UN TIP Protocol contain similar definitions of human trafficking.  The elements of both definitions can be described using a three-element framework focused on the trafficker’s 1) acts; 2) means; and 3) purpose.  All three elements are essential to form a human trafficking violation.

Forced Labor

Forced Labor, sometimes also referred to as labor trafficking, encompasses the range of activities involved when a person uses force, fraud, or coercion to exploit the labor or services of another person.

The “acts” element of forced labor is met when the trafficker recruits, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains a person for labor or services.

The “means” element of forced labor includes a trafficker’s use of force, fraud, or coercion.  The coercive scheme can include threats of force, debt manipulation, withholding of pay, confiscation of identity documents, psychological coercion, reputational harm, manipulation of the use of addictive substances, threats to other people, or other forms of coercion.

The “purpose” element focuses on the perpetrator’s goal to exploit a person’s labor or services.  There is no limit on the location or type of industry.  Traffickers can commit this crime in any sector or setting, whether legal or illicit, including but not limited to agricultural fields, factories, restaurants, hotels, massage parlors, retail stores, fishing vessels, mines, private homes, or drug trafficking operations.

All three elements are essential to constitute the crime of forced labor.

There are certain types of forced labor that are frequently distinguished for emphasis or because they are widespread:

Domestic Servitude

“Domestic servitude” is a form of forced labor in which the trafficker requires a victim to perform work in a private residence.  Such circumstances create unique vulnerabilities.  Domestic workers are often isolated and may work alone in a house.  Their employer often controls their access to food, transportation, and housing.  What happens in a private residence is hidden from the world – including from law enforcement and labor inspectors – resulting in barriers to victim identification.  Foreign domestic workers are particularly vulnerable to abuse due to language and cultural barriers, as well as a lack of community ties.  Some perpetrators use these types of conditions as part of their coercive schemes to compel the labor of domestic workers with little risk of detection.

Forced Child Labor

The term “forced child labor” describes forced labor schemes in which traffickers compel children to work.  Traffickers often target children because they are more vulnerable.  Although some children may legally engage in certain forms of work, forcing or coercing children to work remains illegal.  Forms of slavery or slavery-like practices – including the sale of children, forced or compulsory child labor, and debt bondage and serfdom of children – continue to exist, despite legal prohibitions and widespread condemnation.  Some indicators of forced labor of a child include situations in which the child appears to be in the custody of a non-family member and the child’s work financially benefits someone outside the child’s family; or the denial of food, rest, or schooling to a child who is working.

Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking encompasses the range of activities involved when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to compel another person to engage in a commercial sex act or causes a child to engage in a commercial sex act.

The crime of sex trafficking is also understood through the “acts,” “means,” and “purpose” framework.  All three elements are required to establish a sex trafficking crime (except in the case of child sex trafficking where the means are irrelevant).

The “acts” element of sex trafficking is met when a trafficker recruits, harbors, transports, provides, obtains, patronizes, or solicits another person to engage in commercial sex.

The “means” element of sex trafficking occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion.  Coercion in the case of sex trafficking includes the broad array of means included in the forced labor definition.  These can include threats of serious harm, psychological harm, reputational harm, threats to others, and debt manipulation.

The “purpose” element is a commercial sex act.  Sex trafficking can take place in private homes, massage parlors, hotels, or brothels, among other locations, as well as on the internet.


Child Sex Trafficking

In cases where an individual engages in any of the specified “acts” with a child (under the age of 18), the means element is irrelevant regardless of whether evidence of force, fraud, or coercion exists.  The use of children in commercial sex is prohibited by law in the United States and most countries around the world.

Key Principles and Concepts

These key principles and concepts relate to all forms of trafficking in persons, including forced labor and sex trafficking.

Consent

Human trafficking can take place even if the victim initially consented to providing labor, services, or commercial sex acts.  The analysis is primarily focused on the trafficker’s conduct and not that of the victim.  A trafficker can target a victim after a victim applies for a job or migrates to earn a living.  The trafficker’s exploitative scheme is what matters, not a victim’s prior consent or ability to meaningfully consent thereafter.  Likewise, in a sex trafficking case, an adult victim’s initial willingness to engage in commercial sex acts is not relevant where a perpetrator subsequently uses force, fraud, or coercion to exploit the victim and cause them to continue engaging in the same acts.  In the case of child sex trafficking, the consent of the victim is never relevant as a child cannot legally consent to commercial sex.

Movement

Neither U.S. law nor international law requires that a trafficker or victim move across a border for a human trafficking offense to take place.  Trafficking in persons is a crime of exploitation and coercion, and not movement.  Traffickers can use schemes that take victims hundreds of miles away from their homes or exploit them in the same neighborhoods where they were born.

Debt Bondage

“Debt bondage” is focused on human trafficking crimes in which the trafficker’s primary means of coercion is debt manipulation.  U.S. law prohibits perpetrators from using debts as part of their scheme, plan, or pattern to compel a person to work or engage in commercial sex.  Traffickers target some individuals with an initial debt assumed willingly as a condition of future employment, while in certain countries traffickers tell individuals they “inherited” the debt from relatives.  Traffickers can also manipulate debts after the economic relationship begins by withholding earnings or forcing the victim to assume debts for expenses like food, housing, or transportation.  They can also manipulate debts a victim owes to other people.  When traffickers use debts as a means to compel labor or commercial sex, they have committed a crime.

The Non-Punishment Principle 

A victim-centered and trauma-informed approach is key to successful anti-trafficking efforts.  A central tenet of such an approach is that victims of trafficking should not be inappropriately penalized solely for unlawful acts they committed as a direct result of being trafficked.  Effective implementation of the “non-punishment principle,” as it is increasingly referred to, not only requires recognizing and embracing the principle in regional and national laws, but also increasing proactive victim identification.

State-Sponsored Human Trafficking

While the TVPA and UN TIP Protocol call on governments to proactively address trafficking crimes, some governments are part of the problem, directly compelling their citizens into sexual slavery or forced labor schemes.  From forced labor in local or national public work projects, military operations, and economically important sectors, or as part of government-funded projects or missions abroad, officials use their power to exploit their nationals.  To extract this work, governments coerce by threatening the withdrawal of public benefits, withholding salaries, failing to adhere to limits on national service, manipulating the lack of legal status of stateless individuals and members of minority groups, threatening to punish family members, or conditioning services or freedom of movement on labor or sex.  In 2019, Congress amended the TVPA to acknowledge that governments can also act as traffickers, referring specifically to a “government policy or pattern” of human trafficking, trafficking in government-funded programs, forced labor in government-affiliated medical services or other sectors, sexual slavery in government camps, or the employment or recruitment of child soldiers.

Unlawful Recruitment or Use of Child Soldiers

Another manifestation of human trafficking occurs when government forces or any non-state armed group unlawfully recruits or uses children – through force, fraud, or coercion – as soldiers or for labor or services in conflict situations.  Children are also used as sex slaves.  Sexual slavery, as referred to here, occurs when armed groups force or coerce children to “marry” or be raped by commanders or combatants.  Both male and female children are often sexually abused or exploited by members of armed groups and suffer the same types of devastating physical and psychological consequences associated with sex trafficking.

Accountability in Supply Chains

Forced labor is well documented in the private economy, particularly in agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, construction, and domestic work; but no sector is immune.  Sex trafficking occurs in several industries as well.  Most well-known is the hospitality industry, but the crime also occurs in connection with extractive industries where activities are often remote and lack meaningful government presence.  Governments should hold all entities, including businesses, accountable for human trafficking.  In some countries, the law provides for corporate accountability in both the civil and criminal justice systems.  U.S. law provides such liability for any legal person, including a business that benefits financially from its involvement in a human trafficking scheme, provided that the business knew or should have known of the scheme.

Source: https://www.state.gov/reports/2024-trafficking-in-persons-reports#section-6

Human trafficking remains a significant global issue, affecting millions of people.

Here are some key points about the current situation:

1.      Prevalence: Human trafficking affects every region of the world. The most common forms are sexual exploitation and forced labor. Women and girls are the primary victims of sexual exploitation, while men and boys are often subjected to forced labor1.

2.      Statistics: The number of identified victims has increased significantly over the years. Between 2008 and 2019, the number of identified victims worldwide more than quadrupled from around 30,000 to nearly 120,0002. However, the true scale of human trafficking is difficult to measure due to its clandestine nature.

3.      Regional Variations: Different regions experience different forms of trafficking. For example, in parts of Africa and the Mekong region, children make up the majority of trafficking victims1Intra-regional and domestic trafficking are more common than transcontinental trafficking1.

4.      Legal and Governmental Response: While many countries have made significant strides in implementing legal frameworks to combat trafficking, enforcement remains inconsistent. Some countries still lack the necessary legal instruments or political will to effectively address the issue1.

5.      Impact of COVID-19: The COVID-19 pandemic initially led to a decrease in trafficking due to travel restrictions. However, the numbers have since returned to pre-pandemic levels2.

6.      Challenges: One of the biggest challenges in combating human trafficking is the lack of comprehensive data. Many governments are still in denial or neglectful when it comes to reporting and prosecuting cases1.

Efforts to combat human trafficking continue to evolve, but much work remains to be done to protect vulnerable populations and bring traffickers to justice.

If you have any specific questions or need more detailed information, feel free to ask!

 Source: human trafficking report 2024 - Search (bing.com)

Sunday, July 14, 2024

Rhetoric and Reality of Nepal’s Disaster Risk Management

 Rhetoric and Reality of Nepal’s Disaster Risk Management

Damodar Kanel

July 1, 2024

Sustainable funding to implement anticipatory action should come from local and provincial governments.

Summer has had its time, and monsoon mayhem will make headlines for the next few months. This has continued for ages, and with a changing climate, it is likely to increase. We can’t stop monsoons from entering our territory, nor do we want to; they are the lifeline of Nepal’s agriculture, food security, biodiversity, water recharge and many more. We can’t modify its onset, spread and intensity. However, we would be keenly interested in knowing about its arrival, its impacts, its impact area, and its victims.

The progress in hydromet science allows us to forecast rainy days, hot days, cold days and many other hydromet phenomena with reasonable spatial and temporal accuracy. When combined or overlaid with exposure and vulnerabilities (poverty, house structures, settlement locations, etc.), forecasts can tell us who will be affected the most, where and when. This is possible through “impact-based forecast” (IBF).

So, why not use this knowledge and gear ourselves up to act whenever we have such information? Well, things have already begun, and it’s time to mainstream this approach to managing disaster risks. The “anticipation or anticipatory action” approach entails acting ahead of predicted hazards to prevent or reduce acute humanitarian impacts before they fully unfold. Anticipatory action, as such, is an integral part of disaster risk management, and it systematically links forecast information to actions that can help reduce disaster impacts and protect lives and livelihoods. When you have credible information about a hazard with its occurrence (time and location) reasonably known, there cannot be any excuse for inaction.

Since there are now reasonably accurate forecasts of many natural hazards, it is a matter of using forecast science and information in decision-making. Anticipatory action (AA) is yet to be fully integrated into risk management policies and practices in many countries. However, the intention is to make it an integral part of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) thinking and practice. Some operational challenges and “perceived” difficulties are associated with its integration. Here, I discuss some of those challenges in Nepal’s context.

First and foremost is the complexity of the narrative itself. Therefore, the first step is to simply demystify the narrative of anticipation—what it means and doesn’t. In Nepal, anticipatory action was first introduced as “forecast-based financing” (in 2015-16), where rainfall forecasts from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology were used to inform and prepare organisations to respond better and quicker to looming floods. Somewhere during 2016-17, some of the Disaster Preparedness and Response Plans (DPRPs) and the national DRR Strategic Plan of Action also tried to incorporate anticipation.

Nevertheless, those initiatives remained ephemeral as they were marred with classical problems of being supply-driven and top-down and needing more compelling evidence. Furthermore, there was little investment in clarifying the approach, follow-up and communication, as well as strengthening capacities and building systems.

Second, to a larger extent, AA has been siloed within non-state actors (mainly with the I/NGOs, UN and donors) and has been limited to small-scale “pilots”. Though the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) is now taking it up, it has not yet been systematically integrated into the government's disaster risk management thinking and practice. Nepal needs a government-led process that brings actors together to agree on an operational framework, harmonise the approach, charter a pathway and milestones, and reinforce mutual accountability. NDRRMA should encourage actors to get out of their “minuscule pilots” and facilitate bigger and scalable impacts. In the meantime, the actors/stakeholders should join hands to support the government in developing and implementing plans for anticipation at scale for different hazards.

The obsession with quick wins and tangible results is another classical problem facing many donor-funded initiatives; AA is no exception. While such pursuits are soothing and pleasing, they do not always produce durable and sustainable solutions. Therefore, the donors must emphasise “building/strengthening systems” for anticipatory action through what they call the “build money”. The government needs to strengthen the systems, capacity and infrastructure for the governments to use weather forecasts as decision-support information. Meanwhile, the donor priority for anticipatory action mustn't crowd out funding for long-term preparedness, risk reduction and resilience building. Anticipatory action can be implemented at scale only through a robust disaster risk management system.

Sustainable funding for implementing anticipatory action should ideally come from the local and provincial governments. While the federal government, donors and non-state actors can support strengthening systems and capacities, the “fuel money” should come from the local governments, allowing for the implementation of anticipatory actions for imminent threats. The policy and legislative interventions/reforms should empower governments to earmark a portion of their coffer to act ex-ante and release funds for anticipatory actions based on the imminent threat of a hazard. This is not technical and administrative but rather political; it requires bold decisions, innovation and accountability. 


managementhttps://kathmandupost.com/columns/2024/07/01/rhetoric-and-reality-of-nepal-s-disaster-risk-management

 

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

नेपाललाई ‘गरिब देशबाट’ माथि उकाल्न सरकारले बनाइरहेको ‘सङ्क्रमणकालीन रणनीति’मा के छ?

 नेपाललाई ‘गरिब देशबाट’ माथि उकाल्न सरकारले बनाइरहेको ‘सङ्क्रमणकालीन रणनीति’मा के छ?

·         विष्णु पोखरेल

·         बीबीसी न्यूज नेपाली

·         २४ सेप्टेम्बर २०२३

नेपाललाई अतिकम विकसित मुलुक (एलडीसी) बाट विकासशील मुलुकमा रूपान्तरण गर्नका निम्ति ‘स्तरोन्नती रणनीति’को मस्यौदा तयार भएको अधिकारीहरूले बताएका छन्।

उनीहरूका भनाइमा उक्त रणनीतिलाई चाँडै मन्त्रिपरिषद्‌को बैठकबाट पारित गरेर कार्यान्वयनमा लगिनेछ।

संयुक्त राष्ट्रसङ्घको महासभाले दुई वर्षअघि बाङ्ग्लादेश र लाओससँगै नेपाललाई एलडीसीबाट स्तरोन्नति गर्ने प्रस्तावलाई अनुमोदन गरेको थियो।

त्योसँगै नेपालले अति कम विकसित मुलुकबाट विकासशील राष्ट्रमा उक्लनका लागि पाँच वर्षको सङ्क्रमणकालीन समय पाएको छ। त्यस्तो समय सन् २०२६ मा सकिँदैछ।


सङ्क्रमणकालमा संयुक्त राष्ट्रसङ्घले नेपालका विभिन्न सूचकाङ्कहरू अनुगमन गरिरहनेछ।

सङ्क्रमणकालीन अवधि सकिनुअघि गर्नुपर्ने तयारी र कामलाई मध्यनजर गरेर रणनीति बनाइएको राष्ट्रिय योजना आयोगका अधिकारीहरूले बताएका छन्।

राष्ट्रिय योजना आयोगका प्रवक्ता यमलाल भूसालले उक्त रणनीतिको मस्यौदा तयार भइसकेको र चाँडै मन्त्रिपरिषद्‌बाट पारित हुने बताए।

उनले भने, “हाम्रो मस्यौदा तयार छ। अब यो चाँडै आउँछ। हाम्रा विज्ञहरूले त्यसलाई अन्तिम रूप दिदैँ हुनुहुन्छ।

उनले कहिलेसम्ममा मन्त्रिपरिषद्बाट पारित भएर उक्त रणनीति कार्यान्वयनमा आउँछ भन्ने ठ्याक्कै मिति भने भन्न नसकिने बताए।

अधिकारीहरूका अनुसार रणनीतिमा नेपाललाई हालको अवस्थाबाट विकासशील राष्ट्रमा उक्ल्याउने चरणमा गर्नुपर्ने कामहरू तथा त्यसबाट हुने फाइदा र घाटाबारे पनि विश्लेषण गरिएको छ।

त्यसका लागि विभिन्न अध्ययनहरू पनि भएको र सरोकारवाला पक्षहरूसँग छलफल समेत गरिएको आयोगका अधिकारीहरूले जानकारी दिए।

आयोगको दिगो विकास तथा अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय सम्बन्ध शाखाका प्रमुख रहेका र हालै बागमती प्रदेशको आर्थिक मामिला तथा योजना मन्त्रालयको सचिवका रूपमा सरुवा भएका प्रकाश दाहाल पनि उक्त रणनीतिको मस्यौदा बनाउने क्रममा सहभागी थिए।

उनले दिएको जानकारी अनुसार रणनीतिमा अहिलेको सङ्क्रणमकालीन अवस्थालाई व्यवस्थापन गर्न पुन: एलडीसीमा फर्कनुपर्ने अवस्था नबनोस् भन्ने कुरालाई ध्यानमा राखेर बुँदाहरू तय गरिएको छ।

उक्त रणनीतिमा कुन मन्त्रालयले कति समयमा के गर्नुपर्छ भन्ने कार्ययोजना पनि समावेश भएको उनले बताए।

उक्त रणनीतिपछि आउने १६औँ योजनामा पनि त्यसका कुराहरूलाई समेट्ने गरी काम भइरहेको योजना आयोगका अधिकारीहरूको भनाइ छ।

पूर्व पदाधिकारीको सुझाव

एलडीसीबाट उक्लने क्रममा बनाइने रणनीतिले नेपालको भविष्यको खाका कोर्न सक्नुपर्ने र देशको दिगो विकासका लागि भूमिका खेल्ने खालको हुनुपर्ने सुझाव आयोगका एकजना पूर्व उपाध्यक्षले दिएका छन्।

पूर्व उपाध्यक्ष गोविन्दराज पोखरेलले भने, “एलडीसीबाट माथि उक्लनु भनेको हामी गरिब छौँ भन्ने भावनाको अन्त्य हुनु पनि हो त्यसैले अब वैदेशिक लगानी आकर्षित गर्ने खालका नीतिगत र संरचनागत सुधार गर्नुपर्ने हुन्छ।

त्यसलाई समेट्ने खालको रणनीति हामीले लिनुपर्छ र काम अघि बढाउनु पर्छ।

उनका भनाइमा नेपाल विकासशील देश बन्नु भनेको मगन्ते प्रवृत्तिको अन्त्य पनि भएको अवस्था हो।

उनले भने, “कतिपयले एलडीसीबाट माथि उक्लँदा अनुदान आउँदैन वा अन्य कुरा गर्ने गरेका छन्। त्यसले देशलाई खासै घाटा गर्दैन। अहिले पनि हामीले वर्षको ५ अर्बभन्दा कम मात्र अनुदान पाइरहेका छौँ।

त्यस्तै उनले विश्व ब्याङ्क र एशियाली ब्याङ्कजस्ता निकायले संयुक्त राष्ट्र सङ्घको एलडीसीसम्बन्धी निर्देशनलाई पछ्याएर अनुदान वा ऋण दिने नगरेकाले पनि खासै ठूलो असर नपर्ने उनको भनाइ छ।

कुनै पनि देशलाई एलडीसीबाट माथि उकाल्नका लागि राष्ट्रसङ्घले केही मापदण्ड तोकेको छ।

त्यस्ता मापदण्डमा राष्ट्रिय प्रतिव्यक्ति आय १,२२२ अमेरिकी डलरभन्दा माथि हुनुपर्ने, मानव सम्पत्ति सूचकाङ्क ६६ वा माथि हुनुपर्ने र आर्थिक जोखिम सूचकाङ्क ३२ वा कम हुनुपर्नेलगायत छन्।

नेपाल सन् २०१८ मा पनि राष्ट्रसङ्घको एलडीसीबाट माथि उक्लने सूचीमा परेको थियो। तर त्यसबेला नेपालले सन् २०१५ को भूकम्पलाई कारण देखाउँदै नउकाल्न आग्रह गरेको थियो।

एलडीसीबाट माथि उक्लन नेपालले सन् २०१५ र सन् २०१८ मा नै लगातार दुईपटक मानव सम्पत्ति सूचकाङ्क र आर्थिक जोखिम सूचकाङ्कको मापदण्ड पूरा गरेको थियो।

तर प्रतिव्यक्ति आयको मापदण्ड भने अहिले पनि पूरा हुन सकेको छैन।

राष्ट्रसङ्घले तीनमध्ये दुई सूचकाङ्क पूरा गर्नेलाई माथि उक्लन सिफारिस गरी गर्ने गरेको छ।

नेपाल सन् १९७१ देखि यही सूचीमा रहिरहेको छ।

हाल नेपाल लगायत विश्वभरिका ४६ मुलुक एलडीसीको सूचीमा रहेका छन्।

दक्षिण एशियामा नेपालबाहेक बाङ्ग्लादेश, भुटान र अफगानिस्तान पनि एलडीसी मुलुकको सूचीमा छन्।

विश्व ब्याङ्कले सन् २०२० मै नेपाललाई न्यून आय भएको मुलुकबाट न्यून मध्यम आय भएको मुलुकमा उकालिसकेको छ।

पाँच वर्षे सङ्क्रणकालमा कुनै कारणवश नेपालका सूचकाङ्क खस्किए भने राष्ट्र सङ्घले आफ्नो नीति परिवर्तन गर्न सक्छ।

एलडीसीबाट हटेपछि नेपाललाई कस्ता प्रभाव पर्नसक्छ?

सङ्क्रमणकालीन रणनीति बनाउने काममा संलग्न भएका दाहालका भनाइमा एलडीसीको हैसियत अन्त्य हुँदा मुख्यत नेपालको व्यापारमा केही प्रभाव पर्ने देखिएको छ।

त्यस्तै नेपालले पाउने अनुदान र आर्थिक एवं प्राविधिक सहयोग तथा क्षमता अभिवृद्धिमा विभिन्न निकायले गर्ने सहयोगमा पनि असर पर्ने देखिन्छ।

यद्यपि त्यो खासै ठूलो नहुने जस्तो देखिएको उनको भनाइ छ।

उनी त्यस्ता प्रभावलाई कम गर्न अवसरका नयाँ ढोकाहरू पनि खुल्ने ठान्छन्।

एलडीसीबाट बाहिरिँदा नेपालले हाल अमेरिका, युरोप र अन्य मुलुकहरूमा पाइरहेको भन्साररहित र कोटासहितको निर्यातको अवसर गुमाउनेछ।

त्यसको प्रभाव नेपालका केही वस्तुमा पर्ने देखिएको योजना आयोगका अधिकारीहरू बताउँछन्।

त्यसको उदाहरण दिँदै दाहालले भने, “जस्तो दक्षिण एशियाली खुला व्यापार क्षेत्र ‘साफ्टा’को नियम अनुसार कुनै पनि सदस्य मुलुकहरूले ३० प्रतिशत स्वदेशी वस्तु वा सेवाको ‘भ्यालू एड’ गरेर भन्साररहित सुविधामा निर्यात गर्न पाउँछन्।

अब त्यो कम्तीमा ४० प्रतिशत हुनुपर्नेछ। त्यसो हुँदा हाम्रोबाट निर्यात हुने मुख्य वस्तु पाम आयल र भटमासको तेल निर्यात हुन नसक्ने अवस्था आउन सक्छ।

यद्यपि नेपाल र भारतबीच द्विपक्षीय व्यापारिक सम्बन्धका आधारमा आयात निर्यात हुने गरेकाले एलडीसीमा हुनु वा नहुनुले कुनै फरक नपार्ने दाहाल बताउँछन्।
रणनीति बनाउने क्रममा गरिएका अध्ययनहरूले नेपाल एलडीसीबाट बाहिरिँदा नेपालले निर्यात व्यापारमा २.८ देखि ४ प्रतिशतसम्म हिस्सा गुमाउने देखाएको उनले जानकारी दिए। तर त्यसरी व्यापारमा गुमाउने हिस्साभन्दा बढी नेपालले फाइदा लिनसक्ने जानकारहरूको भनाइ छ।
नेपालमा लगानीको वातावरण छ र त्यसको प्रतिफल लान सकिन्छ भन्ने सन्देश जाँदा वैदेशिक लगानी बढ्ने सम्भावना रहेको उनीहरूको भनाइ छ। त्यसले नेपालमा लगानी भित्रिनुको साथै रोजगारी पनि उत्पन्न हुने विज्ञहरू बताउँछन्। त्यसले विश्वमञ्चमा नेपालको हैसियत 'देखिने र सुनिने' बन्न मद्दत पुग्ने र धेरैलाई लगानीका निम्ती नयाँ गन्तव्य बन्ने पूर्व उपाध्यक्ष पोखरेल बताउँछन्।

 

 

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