Experts today suggested to bring structural changes, harmonise
statistics in the region, and include fiscal discipline in the development
agenda post-2015.
"The current institutional structure will not be able to sustain the threats to the economy," said former chief secretary Dr Bimal Koirala, adding that the United Nations must help build the capacity of institutions taking economic and non-economic factors into stock beyond 2015.
Promotion of regional platforms like South Asian Free Trade Area, and South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation will help absorb global economic crisis shocks, he said, addressing the two-day consultation meeting, which started in Kathmandu yesterday, of the South Asian experts on human development. "South Asia, that houses one-third of the global poor, needs to join hands with broad-based and inclusive growth agenda," he added.
The UN is preparing a report for post-2015 development agenda, informed head of Human Development Report Office at the United Nations Development Programme Khalid Mallik. "The preparation of the draft paper is going on, taking stock of the pre-2015 development outcome," he said, adding that the draft paper has stressed on equity and justice.
However, participants of the 'Regional Consultation on Human Development in South Asia' from the South Asian region suggested to make communicable and focused agendas with prioritisation.
In the last two decades, Sri Lanka and Maldives led in human development progress in South Asia, staying far ahead of the others in the region. Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan have maintained steady growth over the period, but are still substantially behind Maldives and Sri Lanka, said Mallik, adding that both Maldives and Sri Lanka's development has been truly balanced with steady gains in health, education and income.
South Asia has the second lowest regional Human Development Index (HDI) in the world. It is ranked fifth out of the six regions in terms of overall loss to HDI due to inequality in distribution. The loss, due to inequality, is highest in education, followed by health.
Similarly, Bangladesh has the highest multidimensional poverty headcount in South Asia followed by India. "A worrying dimension of poverty in the region is the highest maternal mortality ratio per 100,000 live births," he said, adding that for Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, the ratio is at 200 or above, while Nepal fares slightly better with 170 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
Similarly, economic growth — a key aspect of human development — has also stood at an average of four per cent in the last two decades in South Asia. Despite an annual average growth rate, the GDP per capita is also too low in the region. Nepal's per capita GDP — at $1,102 — and Bangladesh's per capita GDP — at $1,568 — are close to the $ 2-a-day poverty line that amounts to $ 730-a-year.
"The current institutional structure will not be able to sustain the threats to the economy," said former chief secretary Dr Bimal Koirala, adding that the United Nations must help build the capacity of institutions taking economic and non-economic factors into stock beyond 2015.
Promotion of regional platforms like South Asian Free Trade Area, and South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation will help absorb global economic crisis shocks, he said, addressing the two-day consultation meeting, which started in Kathmandu yesterday, of the South Asian experts on human development. "South Asia, that houses one-third of the global poor, needs to join hands with broad-based and inclusive growth agenda," he added.
The UN is preparing a report for post-2015 development agenda, informed head of Human Development Report Office at the United Nations Development Programme Khalid Mallik. "The preparation of the draft paper is going on, taking stock of the pre-2015 development outcome," he said, adding that the draft paper has stressed on equity and justice.
However, participants of the 'Regional Consultation on Human Development in South Asia' from the South Asian region suggested to make communicable and focused agendas with prioritisation.
In the last two decades, Sri Lanka and Maldives led in human development progress in South Asia, staying far ahead of the others in the region. Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan have maintained steady growth over the period, but are still substantially behind Maldives and Sri Lanka, said Mallik, adding that both Maldives and Sri Lanka's development has been truly balanced with steady gains in health, education and income.
South Asia has the second lowest regional Human Development Index (HDI) in the world. It is ranked fifth out of the six regions in terms of overall loss to HDI due to inequality in distribution. The loss, due to inequality, is highest in education, followed by health.
Similarly, Bangladesh has the highest multidimensional poverty headcount in South Asia followed by India. "A worrying dimension of poverty in the region is the highest maternal mortality ratio per 100,000 live births," he said, adding that for Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, the ratio is at 200 or above, while Nepal fares slightly better with 170 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
Similarly, economic growth — a key aspect of human development — has also stood at an average of four per cent in the last two decades in South Asia. Despite an annual average growth rate, the GDP per capita is also too low in the region. Nepal's per capita GDP — at $1,102 — and Bangladesh's per capita GDP — at $1,568 — are close to the $ 2-a-day poverty line that amounts to $ 730-a-year.
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