Urban rural disparities in Nepal:
  • Population of Nepal: etwa 30 Mio (2010), 15Mio (1981)
  • rural population: 80%
  • urban population: 20%
  • urban growth of population: 5,5%
  • rural growth of ppulation: 2,2%
  • unemployment rate: 46%

Village development:
Since its existence, the Nepal Relief Association has implemented various projects committed to the development of villages.
Background:
The improvement of living conditions, the establishment of sources of income and the enhancement of educational offers in villages are important approaches to reduce rural exodus and the emergence of slums. The largest portion of the fast growing population still lives in rural areas and from subsistence farming. Averagely, families do not dispose of more than 1 ha land, an area usually not sufficient to feed an entire family. Additional possibilities to gain some income are rare so that rural exodus to urban areas is common. The population growth in cities is with birth rates amounting to 5.5% already high, the high quantities of immigrants even increase it.
Agglomeration areas are thus growing uncontrolled and fast, the high unemployment rate is desperately high, water and electricity sources do not suffice, neither do sanitary installations, canalization or waste management.
If rural exodus is to be stopped it is vital to provide conditions that enable people in their villages to meet their basic needs. This can be achieved by: