Una forma judía de interpretación y un modo original de romper con la autoridad del Canon

Nepal should have direct correspondence with the differing resource endowments of different geographic regions. Especially, more attention should be focused on the necessity of increasing the density of population in the Western Terai and particularly in the Far Western Terai; 5. From the regional development considerations, it is desirable to develop small urban centers in hitherto unurbanized regions. Necessary civic facilities should be provided in the centers selected for such planned urbanization.

[2] An English version is cited from G. P. Lohani (1976), 'Search For a Population Policy', A proceeding of Conference on the Implementation of Population Policies, jointly sponsored by Population Policies Coordination Board, Nepal, Ministry of Health, Nepal and the University of California, Berkeley, FP/MCH Project in Nepal, p p . 18-23.

The Sixth Development Plan (1980-1985) discussed the impact of population growth on different sectors, particularly on agriculture, forestry, labour force, education, health and urbanization. Ihe plan stated as its two population objectives: 1. Ihe annual population growth rate of 2.3 percent will be regulated and pre-requisites to bring down the population growth will be created in the Sixth Plan, and 2. Problems of population distribution and migration will be tackled (HMG of Nepal, 1980:715). Ihe plan adopted the following policies: (1) to introduce a family planning programme with particular emphasis on permanent methods in rural areas where fertility was high, (2) to intensify economic activities in the Hill areas in an effort to regulate the movement of population, and (3) to popularize the family planning programme among the people at large by adequate provision for publicity and extension of services.

The Family Planning and Maternal Child Health Project (FP/MCH Project), which is under the Ministry of Health, was in charge of coordinating and implementing population policy and providing family planning information and services until 1975. Ihe Fifth Plan (1975-1980) called for the development of a Population Policy Coordination Board (POPCOB) under the National Planning Commission (N P C ) in 1975. Ihe POPCOB was responsible for coordinating the work of the various ministries with matters pertaining to population changes. The POPCOB was chaired by a member of the NPC and its members were representatives from various ministries, such as Health, Law, Home Affairs, Panchayat and Agriculture and representatives from the Tribhuvan University, Women's organization, the Family Planning and Maternal Child Health Project. By the end of 1977, however, it had become apparent that the POPCOB had been unable to meet its

objectives (UNFPA,1979:48).

The Government of Nepal instituted the National Commission on Population (NCP) chaired by the Prime Minsiter in 1978. Under this commission, four committees[3] were formed. After a few months, the position of chairman of the NCP was given to the Minister for Home and Panchayat by the government. The functions of the commission were as follows[4]:

a. Issuance of policy directives from different activities that influence birth rate, death rate, migration, immigration, employment, size of population and population behaviours;

b. To study or to cause to study the problems specified under (a) and thereafter bring into publication such reports of studies;

c. Necessary surveys to be organised and held for survey of the existing population situation;

d. Study of activities influencing the population to be undertaken by the ministries, departments and other organizations viio are related with the population programmes, preparation and execution of plans and programmes and periodical assessment and review of the same; e. Contacts to be established and maintained with international organizations agencies(sic) in regard to population policies and activities and to work as National Centre in this field;

f. Launching of a pilot project in the form of experiment on experimental basis in a particular place, area or location community(sic), institution or a class of society

[3] The four committees were: (1) Family Planning Services, (2) Population Information and Education, (3) Population Distribution, Citizenship and Migration, and (4) Population and Law.

[4] Cited from the 'Report of Mission on Needs Assessment for Population Assistance', UNFPA Report No.21, 1979, pp. 129.

in connection with finding out factors contributing to faster growth of population;

g. Arrangement of training programmes to civil servants and other workers to implement the projects under population plan and policies;

h. Execution of recommendation for encour agement; and

population policies, search and factors providing for necessary

i. Other necessary activities to be caused to be undertaken the successful implementation of population policies.

As time passed, it was soon realized that the NCP did not progress in its activities other than the health based programmes. This was largely due to its administrative structure. The NCP proposals must be submitted to the Government through the Ministry of Health. As a result, it received a low priority within the Ministry of Health.

The NCP was reorganized again in 1979. The Prime Minister, again, chaired the NCP. The position of vice-chairman was given to the vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission. The secretariat of the NCP was kept under the secretariat of the National Planning Commission. The new structure of the NCP provided it with its own administrative staff. Technical staff were drawn from various ministries to work on specific areas of research.

5.3 IMPLEMENTATION OF POPULATION POLICIES

As we have noted, Nepal has a comprehensive population policy to bring down the level of fertility. The Family Planning Programme is expected to affect fertility directly, whereas a number of socio-economic measures may affect fertility indirectly.

In the Sixth Development Plan (1980-1985), the Integrated Rural Development approach is the basic approach adopted to meet the plan objectives. Under this approach, steps are to be taken to provide at least minimum human needs, particularly education, health(including training for Ayurvedic and traditional healers), and provision of safe drinking water, housing and development of programmes to provide at least minimum income. All the programmes will have indirect impact on lowering fertility if they are successfully implemented.

5.3.1 SOCIO-ECONOMIC MEASURES

5.3.1A POPULATION DISTRIBUTION

A resettlement programme was one of the earliest measures taken to tackle the population problem in the Hills[5]. In 1954, the government of Nepal allocated areas for relocation of the victims of monsoon floods and landslides in the Hills. The Papti Valley Development Programme was launched in Chitwan district in 1956. The programme aimed to relieve population pressure in some neighbouring areas, rehabilitate the landless peasants, and solve the food deficit in the Kathmandu valley. The programme did not make progress until the malaria eradication programme was launched in 1958. By the end of the First Five Year Plan(1960), approximately 28,000 hectares of land were distributed among 5,233 families. However, this programme failed

[5] Much of the information in relation to resettlement programmes is based on an article: Kansakar(1979), 'Internal Migration and Population Distribution in Nepal', in NEPAL: REPORT OF MISSION ON NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR POPULATION ASSISTANCE, Report no. 21, UNFPA, New York, p p . 137-152.

to meet its objectives for two reasons: (1) malfeasance in the distribution of land, and (2) reckless deforestation by large-scale migration of the Hill people to the Terai (Plain) and inner Terai in quest of cultivable land for resettlement.

The Government established the Nepal Resettlement Company in 1964 based on a feasibility study report of 1962. The company stated its policies as follows:

1. to bring fallow and uneconomic forest lands under