Nepal - A Crisis of Governance

Imagine Nepal in peace, and free of poverty. Nepal, where quality of life guarantees human dignity for every citizen. Nepal, where every woman, and every man, exercises basic human rights. Nepal, where all children live to play today and learn tomorrow.

That is a dream we share—you and I. It is a dream we share with the sovereign people of Nepal. And that dream is why we are here today.

If we could shrink the earth's population to a village of exactly 100 people, there would be: 80 people living in substandard housing; 70 people who cannot read or write; 50 villagers, mostly women and children, suffering from malnutrition; only six individuals who possess 60% of the entire wealth of the village; one person—yes, only one—with university education; and barely one, who owns a computer.

Development of Nepal has brought many benefits to her people. Over 30 years ago, only 2 percent of the people had access to safe water; today, nearly half do. A Nepali child born 30 years ago could expect to live only about 40 years; today, the child can expect to live about 60 years. More than two-thirds of children under five were malnourished 30 years ago; today, more than half of them are well nourished for learning. Only 5 out of 100 girls attended primary school 30 years ago; 90 out of 100 girls do today.

But, underneath such national accomplishments, Nepal too harbours a divide like that global village. Within her borders, the most advanced and the most primitive of man's technologies coexist. It is home to brilliant minds and great wealth, and to illiterate people and abject poverty. Here we are in Kathmandu with all its glitter and accomplishments. In less than 15km out in any direction, the stark divide confronts us. Farther away, Kathmandu seems as if it belongs to another planet.

The digital divide, the development divide, call it what you will. This city, where we have gathered today in great comfort, is an island of prosperity amidst a vast ocean of poverty that is Nepal.