UN ESCAP/CDPF Field Study cum Regional Workshop
on Poverty Alleviation among Persons with Disabilities
Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China, 25-29 October 2004

Country Paper : Nepal

Prepared by:

Seeta Ram Chowdhari
Under Secretary
His Majesty's Government
Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare
Kathmandu, Nepal

Introduction:

Nepal often called the Himalayan kingdom, which is situated on the southern slope of the central Himalayas. It is located in between the latitude 26⁰ 22’ N to 30⁰ 27’ north and longitude 80⁰ 4’E to 88⁰ 12’ east and elevation ranges from 90 to 8848 meters. The average length of the kingdom being 995km east to west and average breadth is about 123km north to south. The country is bordered between the two most populous countries of the world, India in the east, south, west and Tibet region of People’s Republic of China in the north. Nepal is a landlocked country with 147181sq km area. The northern range (Himalayas) is covered with snow over the year where the highest peak of the world, the Mount Everest (8848 meters height) stands. The middle range (hill) is captured by gorgeous mountains, high peaks, hills, valleys and lakes. The southern range (Terai) is the plain of alluvial soil and consists of dense forest area, national parks, wildlife reserves and conservation areas. The temperature and rainfall differ from place to place. In the geographic diversity and varied climatic conditions 23.1 million people of more than 60 caste/ethnic groups are accommodated in the country. Nepal presents an example of being united in diversity over the history to be an independent sovereign state.

There is constitutional monarchy where people exercise rights of adult franchise. The executive, legislative and judiciary bodies functions and exercise their rights independently. There are two tier system legislation, the upper house called the Rastriya Sabha, consists of 60 members and lower House called the Pratinidhi Sabha is the House of Representative for which members are elected from 205 electoral constituency distributed in 75 districts of the country. The government is headed by the elected Prime Minister. The official language is Nepali. Geographically, the country is divided into three regions, Mountain, Hill and Terai accommodating 7.3, 44.3 and 48.4 percent of the population respectively. Based on area of these regions they constitute 35, 42 and 23 percent of the total land area.

There are 5 development regions and 75 administrative districts. Districts are further divided into smaller units called village development committee (VDC) and Municipality. Currently there are 3915 VDCs and 58 municipalities in the kingdom. Each VDC is composed of 9 wards and municipality-ward ranges from 9 to 35 wards. Kathmandu is the capital city. The population of Kathmandu Metropolitan is 671846.

RELIGION:

Nepal is Hindu kingdom.80.6% populations are Hindu. The second largest group is Buddha consisting of 10.7% of the total population.

POPULATION TRENDS AND PATTERNS:

The population of Nepal increased from 15 million in 1981 to 18.5 million in 1991 with an annual growth rate of 2.08 percent. The population of the country increased to 23.1 million in 2001 with an annual growth rate of 2.24 percent in 1991-2001 decade.

The following table shows the growth of population of Nepal 1911-2001.

Growth of population (1911_2001):

*Projected population:- source Central Bureau of Statistics

The facts and figures have been cited for the kingdom of Nepal. The population of Nepal has been on the increasing trend.9.2 percent of population were living in urban areas in 1991 whereas in the year 2001 some 14.2 percent of the population is living in the urban areas. Population density for the year 2001 is found to be 157 persons per sq. km. The literacy rate is 53.7 percent in the kingdom.(male-65.08% & female-42.4%).

Population of Nepal:

The above figures are based on the decennial population census conducted by Central Bureau of Statistics. The population has been increasing overtime. Similarly the density of population was 78.5 in 1971 and 157.3 in 2001.

Implementation of Biwako  Millenium Framework forAction in Nepalwork the total population

The government has given the mandate to the ministry to work on disability related activities. In this regard the scope of the ministry has been as follows:

• To work at policy level in the disability sector.
• Planning and implementation.
• Coordination with other agencies working in this field.
• Monitor the activities and evaluation.

Disable services National working policy:

• To work/manage in a way to bring about change on psychological, mental, physical situation.
• Special arrangement for education, training, social security, medical treatment.
• Create situation for vocational training and opportunity for employment.
• Help them to lead a dignified life.
• Expansion of CBR programme.
• Coordination, strengthening of disability related organizations.

The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990, article11of the constitution states that the special laws should be made for the protection and promotion of women, children, older people and those who are physically and mentally disabled. Article 26(9) also states to form the policy in the area of health, education, and social security for the protection and welfare of persons with disabilities. The protection and welfare of Disable Persons Act 1982 forced on to protecting and developing the rights of disabled persons. The main theme of this act is that if the PWDs are given right education, proper health care and equal employment opportunities, they can be capable member of the society and can also be dynamic productive citizens. Disable Persons Act 1982 states on to the protecting and developing the rights of disabled persons.

 Community Based Rehabilitation Programme (CBR):

• CBR Programmes are being run in 35 districts through government, local agencies and INGOs and the ministry coordinates and works in partnership.
• PWDs have been getting the basic services like education, treatment, vocational training, leadership development training, awareness raising and income generation activities at their own local community.
• PWDs are on mainstreaming for development.
• NGOs/INGOs working in this sector are enjoying facilities, tax exemption as per rule.

“The Biwako Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based society for Persons with Disabilities in Asian and pacific" is the regional policy guide line for the new decade 2003-2012.To achieve the goal, the framework identifies seven priority areas for action.

1. Self-help organizations of persons with disabilities and related family and parent associations.
2. Woman with disabilities.
3. Early detection, early intervention and education.
4. Training and employment, including self-employment.
5. Access to build environments and public transport.
6. Access to information and communications, including information, communications and assistive technologies.
7. Poverty alleviation through capacity building, social security and sustainable livelihood programs.

His Majesty’s Government of Nepal has been trying its best to implement programmes for the People with Disabilities (PWDS) by which they are benefited. Ministry of women, children and social welfare (MWCSW) has been the Focal ministry in Disability issues. Thus the ministry has been conducting different activities, which best suit for the PWDS. Non-government Organizations NGOs) are also working for the betterment of the PWDs. Ministry of  women ,children and social welfare has also been giving financial grants to NGOs to work in the field of disability. 

So far the implementation of Biwako millennium framework for Action is concerned, HMG’S Nepal has been taking initiative. In this concern the Framework  for Action has already been translated into Nepali language and are being distributed .Some major programmes and Achievements in the perspective of Biwako millennium Framework for Action are as follows:-

Programs and Achievements :

Ministry of women, children and social welfare(MWCSW) has been working extensively within the kingdom so that the PWDs can get benefits from the program. However National plan of Action on Disability has been prepared in the collective efforts of GOs, NGOs and SHOs. The national plan of Action on Disability covers the following areas for action.

The national plan of action on Disabilities covers the following 17 policy areas for action.

(1)         National Co-ordination

(2)         Legislation

(3)         Information, Database and Research

(4)         Awareness

(5)         Training & Employment

(6)         Accessibility

(7)         Communication

(8)         Transportation

(9)         Education

(10)     Sports, Culture & Entertainment

(11)     Prevention of Cause of Disability

(12)     Health Services

(13)     Rehabilitation, Empowerment & Poverty Alleviation

(14)     Assistive Devices/Support Services

(15)     Self-Help Organization of Disabled people

(16)     Gender

(17)     International & Regional Co-operation

The self-help organizations of persons with disabilities and related family and parent associations:

MWCSW has supported to some 24 such organizations during the last fiscal year. The ministry has been supporting such organization so that their capacity can be strengthened. Within the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, there is a national coordination committee on disability, which comprises of 24 members including disabled persons. The committee provides advice, coordinates and monitor, evaluate the activities related to disability. 

Women with Disabilities:

According to population census 2001,the Disabled females were counted to be 56633 in numbers whereas the number of Disabled male was found to be 47162. There are Self-Help Organizations who are working to help the Women with Disabilities. Some of the organizations get grants say matching fund from the ministry as support to their activities. The organizations are encouraged to work towards Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) activities and also activities on gender equality and empowerment of these groups.

Early detection, early intervention and education:

His Majesty’s Government has been trying its best to provide basic education for the disable. Council for Special Education under Ministry of Education and Sports run special education programme in 56 districts. About 13,000 disable children of school going age attend school for education. Government has the plan –“Education for All by the year 2015”.

• Integrated/inclusive education activities are also conducted.
• Early detection and intervention centers are established and working in 35 districts.
• Integrated/inclusive education programs are also going on.
• About 2000 teachers are trained for special education.
• Scholarships are also awarded to disabled children.
• Curative services are provided by ministry of health.
• Preventive services: Vitamin A, DPT, Polio, Measles vaccines are given to the children.  

Training and employment including self-employment:

It is found that some 200 PWDs are given vocational training on various types of skill development, entrepreneurship training by which it has become easier for them to earn their livelihood. Moreover the ministry has been thinking to provide small fund to the disabled people who are given training through the ministry so that they can run their own independent small business. In this pursuit Social Welfare Council has launched micro credit for PWDs so that they can promote income generation by utilizing their skill.

Access to build environments and public transport:

The ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare has provided fund to such an organization to construct ramp in a government building so that it will be easier for PWDs to move along with their wheelchair and also there is a plan to construct a ramp in the ministry building for easy access to these people. It can be considered Disabled Friendly physical environment for them. Few school buildings are there which is accessible to the disable children.

Access to information and communications, including information, communications and assistive technologies:

Sign language training activities are run by several civil societies and Disable People’s Organization  (DPOs).PWDs are benefited with this programme. Nepal Television has been broadcasting news in Sign language for the last few years. The ministry has provided fund to such an organization to purchase computers by which PWDs are benefited. The ministry has also been providing fund to manufacture assistive devices for PWDs for example wheel chair, tricycle, crutches, white sticks, orthopaedic shoes, walker which are distributed free of charge. More than  2500 PWDs are benefited annually. Assistive devices are distributed free of charge on regional basis. Assistive devices are also distributed by other 12 organizations. 

Tenth Plan (2003-2007) of His Majesty’s Government:

In the Tenth Plan document, the main objective concerning disability is to create the environment such that the disable persons can also lead dignified life like other citizens of the country and to mainstream them in development activities and also to safeguard their rights in all spheres of life. Disabled persons can also be given education, training, health care, equal employment opportunity and so forth. As has been envisaged in the Tenth Plan document, the ministry has been working in coordinated way together with civil societies, community with various activities like skill development training, entrepreneurship development, income generation activities towards the upliftment of the PWDs. Poverty alleviation has been the objective of Tenth Plan. It is presumed that 5 %( about 1.2million) people are disabled in the country. Different type of activities are run for these people like CBR, distribution of assistive devices, skill development training, strengthening of self help organizations, distribution of ID cards to PWDs, awareness raising, special education and allowance to PWDs and so forth.

Poverty alleviation through capacity-building, social security and sustainable livelihood programmes:

Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare is the lead ministry responsible to look into the issues on disability and ameliorate the situation there of. Thus the government has been launching various activities to improve the economic aspect of PWDs. During the current fiscal year (2004-2005) the ministry has CBR activities for PWDs in six districts covering rural as well as municipal area. Similarly various types of skill development training will be conducted during the current fiscal year. The types of training categories are like housekeeping, bakery, cooking, radio and television repair, floriculture, bicycle repair, chair, tea table making out of cane and bamboo. The ministry has been talking with the employer to give employment to the PWDs who are trained in the respective area and the ministry has been successful in this regard to some extent. As has been mentioned earlier that the ministry has also been providing funds to stakeholders to conduct skill development training for PWDs which can enhance the capacity of these people so that they can get employment or can have their own independent business. This will help them to lead to have a dignified and easier life, which can help towards poverty alleviation within the country. The main objective of HMG’s Tenth Plan is Poverty Alleviation and strategies are there to meet the objective as mentioned in the plan. In pursuance to fulfill the objective that is, poverty alleviation among PWDs,the ministry has been supporting long term technical training to some 125 PWDs through vocational training centers. These people are also getting vocational training through community-based approach. About 700 PWDs are being trained on various types of skill development, entrepreneurship, and income generation activities. The ministry has been providing matching fund to NGOs/SHOs who run the skill development training for PWDs at the field level. Every year the person or organization is awarded who has worked excellent in the field of social services. It can be noted that independent and dignified living and self-reliance can be considered as an important phenomenon towards the improvement of the PWDs. It can also be advocated as has been mentioned earlier that vocational training is very useful for the PWDs to transform them to earn their livelihood through employment and income generation activities. Supportive program like micro credit financing to PWDs after vocational training, assist them to have security towards getting meaningful employment and dignified independent living. This way their inherent and potential capacity can be transformed into a reality by which their life can be meaningful and easier. The Tenth Plan has also emphasized on technical education and vocational training to be the strategy for human resource development,hence poverty alleviation.

Nepal’s sustainable development agenda (National Planning Commission 2003) has its commitment to provide vocational training opportunity for all so that every citizen and household has income which can be enough for the livelihood and also it is envisaged that out of total income some part of it could be kept as saving thus it can also be conceived that the PWDs definitely could get vocational training which help them to get the chance of getting employment or can have their own small enterprise by which they can lead a better life and this sort of opportunity could be of sustainable in nature. Similarly CBR program run by SHOs is also vital by which various activities like education, health, income generation, treatment, skill development training are conducted at community level. To provide the services to PWDs at community level where sustainability can be thought of. Vocational training is another way where PWDs are provided skill development training thus capacity can be built up. They can get employment, run small enterprise by which economically they will be better of. It is also recommended that the providers of vocational training, should think some way or the other to help PWDs to enter into related job/employment. They can negotiate with the employers to provide employment to PWDs and also certain amount to be given to PWDs to start with small business, which will be a meaningful start and sustainability, can be achieved. Although, difficulties are there to get employment or to start small business but still there should be continuous effort for their final destination that is to get employment or run a small business. For sustainability development, follow up is necessary to trained /skilled PWDs as to whether they are getting employment or not and further how can we help PWDs in this regard. It can also be noted that Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training,(CTEVT) has reserved 5% seats for PWDs for such training programmes which are run by CTEVT itself.

Disable services National plan of action 2003:

Disable services National plan of action 2003 has been approved by His Majesty’s Government and has already came into force. This plan of action covers prevention of disability, treatment, education, health, employment, training CBR home for disables awareness raising, strengthening of organization etc. Envisaged in this plan of action has to be completed within the next six years. For the development PWDs (Disable Welfare Trust) to be established as has been mention in Tenth Plan document and in this regard working document has already been prepared by the ministry.

Some of the examples and types of training skill provided:-

It is expected that these training activities will help them to build their capacity and contribute towards poverty alleviation among the PWDs. Residential training activities are also conducted at regional basis.

Technical Vocational Training Conducted on  Financial Support by Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare for the Persons with Disabilities.

Fiscal Year 2057/058 BS (2000/2001)

Fiscal Year 2059/060 BS (2002/2003)

Fiscal Year 2060/061 BS (2003/2004)

However, the ministry has also the plan during the current fiscal year 2004/2005 to provide skill development training through CTEVT and also to provide matching fund to NGOs to conduct this type of training for PWDs.

The ministry has been providing Identity Card (ID) to PWDs in all 75 districts through District Administration Offices and so far more than 15000 PWDs have received their ID card. It has been the regular process of ID card distribution. It helps them to enjoy facilities and opportunities given by the government even in the future. PWDs are provided allowance of Rs100/month, which has been increased, to Rs175/month from the current fiscal year 2004-2005 and about 4000 PWDs are benefited from this scheme. This has been a sort of social security for these people. The ID card can also be utilized during travel; rebate on travel ticket is also being given to these people.

Causes by which PWDs not getting jobs or own enterprise:

As I have mentioned before that PWDs are being trained but only few of them are able to get employment or have their own independent enterprise. The main reasons are as follows:

• Since they do not have enough funds for investment or they do not have access to have loan from the financial institution.
• There is no certainty that the finished products made by the trained PWDs can be sold out.
• Products may not be of better quality thus being able to not compete in an open market.
• They do not get ample opportunity from the employer.
• These persons could have gotten employment in institutions, had there been rebate on tax exemption to the employer.
• On the top of that there is lack of positive outlook towards PWDs at both communities as well as at employers’ level.

Challenges:

• No effort for “Inclusion” of PWDs in other activities.
• There are no counseling services for PWDs relating to employment or independent business enterprises.
• No access to micro credit after the completion of skill training.
• No guarantee for employment or enterprise after the skilled development training/ vocational training.

Recommendations:

PWDs be trained on skill development aspect as per need and interest and also refresher training should be arranged.

• Capacity building training for PWDs be considered as strategy to poverty alleviation through employment, entrepreneurship, business enterprise along with financing micro credit, soft loan for them. It leads them to have dignified life in the society.
• There should be continuous and close follow up mechanism to skilled PWDs such that their skill and capacity can be utilized to its optimum level.
• There should be market for the finished product.
• There should be government policy that the employer who gives employment to PWDs can have easy access to get loan from the financial institutions and also such employers should have tax exemption. These facilities can be a motivation for employers and the PWDs can get employment on sustainable way.
• Government can be a model institution by providing employment to WDs.
• To utilize the technical aspect and financial assistance to NGOs, private sector and other development partners who can work in partnership towards the capacity building of PWDs.

This way the dependency of PWDs in the family can be minimized and they can also be brought into mainstream where they contribute to national development by which poverty alleviation can be achieved.

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