By Narayan Prasad Mishra
Development is the main word used in any country by any level of people – educated or uneducated. It is the most important word for a country or its people because it is linked with their prosperity and progress. We know that only through development can human needs be fulfilled.
Development, in its broadest sense, encompasses progress and improvement across various facets of society, including economic, social, scientific, technological, and environmental dimensions. So, the word “development” is talked about and discussed a lot lot in any part of the world.
We have also been talking about it for many decades. We have introduced many kinds of development plans and have achieved a lot in various fields, such as education, health, water, energy, roads, agriculture, etc. Until 1959, we did not have a university, but now we have more than a dozen universities. We had very few hospitals, and now we have hundreds and thousands of hospitals and nursing homes. We did not have a motorable connecting road to other districts, even from the capital, Kathmandu Valley, until we completed the Tribhuvan Rajpath in 1956. We did not have a bridge connecting Bhaktapur and Patan on the river in Kathmandu Valley. I remember vividly crossing the Monohara River in deep water after Gathaghar- Sanothimi to go to Patan from Bhaktapur without a bridge there around the year 1956, as we see the recent condition in Kailali in the following picture.
Now, we are all aware that we have many highways and roads connected to most of our districts. We also boast of our beautiful suspension bridge in the Kali Gandaki River in Baglung, which has an adjective to it – one of the world’s highest suspension bridges. We see these beautiful faces of development in all aspects when you go back to your history to see it with an open heart and pure mind.
No doubt we have developed a lot. No doubt we need to do a lot to meet the needs of our country and people. However, alongside the strides toward advancement, there exist profound challenges that disproportionately affect the poor and marginalized populations in our country. In this context, this article explores these issues of development and the problems faced by impoverished communities.
One of the central issues confronting the development agenda is the persistence of economic disparities. While economic growth is often celebrated as a hallmark of progress, its benefits are not always distributed equitably. Poor communities frequently lack access to essential resources such as quality education, healthcare, clean water, and adequate housing. The lack of economic opportunities further perpetuates cycles of poverty, hindering individuals and communities from breaking free from deprivation. We all know our poor people cannot have good health services available in many of our well-equipped, advanced private hospitals and even in government hospitals. Similarly, they cannot have access to most of our well-equipped, good-standard schools, colleges, and universities. That development seems only for the rich.
The health disparities between rich and poor communities underscore significant development challenges. Poor people often bear the brunt of inadequate healthcare systems, leading to higher rates of preventable diseases, malnutrition, and child mortality. Limited access to sanitation and hygiene facilities further compounds health risks. Similarly, the education disparities between rich and poor communities always make the poor poorer, without them having good jobs and opportunities. Prioritizing access to quality healthcare services, nutrition programs, and sanitation facilities can improve public health outcomes and enhance productivity. Similarly, ensuring inclusive and equitable education for all children, including girls and marginalized groups, can break the cycle of poverty and empower future generations with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a globalized economy. The government, with effective governance and with good plans and programs, must address these challenges of development and alleviating poverty.
When I see our people in remote areas crossing rivers with wooden log bridges, fragile, non-standard traditional suspension bridges, or twin bridges hanging with wire and moving through it with big risk factors, I sincerely feel our planners have no eyes. When I see people crossing the river in deep water without a bridge, I honestly feel that our planners have no human hearts. We must have priorities in making our development plans. We must prioritize making standard suspension bridges to replace life-threatening twin bridges or wooden log bridges instead of expanding highways or broad roads in other places. The development plan must pay attention to problems like this, where there is a big risk to life. I cannot think why our planners could not give due attention to it. Just a few days ago, on August 20, 2024, I read a news about three people falling into the river while crossing it with a very narrow wooden log bridge with the following picture. That was so sad and heart-touching.
Similarly, I read a news article on Kantipur.com a week ago with the following picture: people are climbing a hill with the help of a rope to go to the market center or city center ( Sadar Mukam ) for shopping in the absence of a walking path. That was so terrifying. I think any responsible government for the country and its people cannot have the right not to open their eyes to see this kind of problem and not to solve it. This cannot happen in a civilized country.
Though infrastructure development is a cornerstone of economic growth and social development, a poor country like ours may not be able to build infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water supply, and sanitation systems according to our needs at once because of the lack of money or some other reasons. That is understandable. However, the responsible government can easily prioritize investments in infrastructure projects, particularly in rural and underserved areas where the problems mentioned earlier exist, for the sake of lives and to provide the most necessary facilities to the people. Investing in these priorities not only improves the well-being of individuals and communities but also contributes to achieving and fostering a more equitable society.
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