INTRODUCTION
A landlocked country in South Asia, Nepal stands bordered by China in the north and India in the south, east and west. The country, which was initially a monarchy, is now a Federal Democratic Republic, through an Interim Parliamentary bill passed by on 28th December 2007. A multi-cultural, multi-linguistic and multi-religious country, Nepal boasts of a varied landscape, ranging from Terai plains in the south to mountainous Himalayas in the north.
The official language is Nepali. Apart from that, English and a number of other languages are also spoken. Nepali is constitutionally recognized as the official language. Hindus (80 per cent) and Buddhist (10 per cent) are the two predominant religious groups, followed by Muslims, Jains and Christians
Nepal is among the least developed countries in the world, with almost one-quarter of its population living below the poverty line but interestingly, the only country in world whose national flag is not quadrilateral in shape. Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, is located in Nepal and tourism is key in earning foreign income. Eight of the highest peaks of the world are situated in Nepal. Mount Everest (8,848 meters), the highest peak in the world, forms the highest point in Nepal.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for three-quarters of the Nepali people and accounting for about 1/3 of GDP. Nepal has a considerable scope for exploiting its potentials for hydropower, with an estimated 42, ooo MW of feasible capacity, but political instability hampers foreign investment. Additional challenges to the country’s growth include technological challenges, landlocked geographical location, civil strife and unrest and its susceptibility to natural disasters. Poverty is rampant especially in rural areas, gender disparities; unemployment, HIV/AIDS, child mortality and health related changes are key development constraints.
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