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Nepal’s ranking in the 2019 human development index improved two spots to 147 compared to last year, according to a report published by the United Nations Development Programme today. The ranking is out of 189 countries.

As per UNDP’s Human Development Report, Nepal acquired 0.579 HDI rating in 2018, thereby placing the country in the medium human development category.

The Asia-Pacific region has witnessed the steepest rise globally in human development. It leads the world in access to broadband internet and is gaining on more developed regions in life expectancy, education and access to health care. Yet, it continues to grapple with widespread multi-dimensional poverty, and may be vulnerable to a new set of inequalities emerging around higher education and climate resilience,” reads the UNDP report.

The HDI measures average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development — life expectancy, education, and per capita income.

India ranked 129 out of 189 countries on the 2019 HDI — up one slot from its 130th position last year.

Norway, Switzerland, and Ireland occupied the top three positions in that order. Germany is placed fourth along with Hong Kong, and Australia secured the fifth spot on the global ranking of human development.

In Asia, Sri Lanka and China are higher up the rank scale, placing at 71 and 84 respectively, while others were positioned lower on the list with Bhutan at 134, Myanmar at 145, Bangladesh at 135  at 147, Pakistan at 152 and Afghanistan at 170.

Kathmandu— The brother-in-law of a woman who died after she was banished to a “menstrual hut” in Nepal has been arrested.

Parbati Buda Rawat, 21, was found on Monday after she lit a fire to keep warm in a mud and stone hut and suffocated in the country’s western Achhan district.

Over the past decade in Sudurpashchim Pradesh, 14 girls have died in Accham and one woman and two boys have died in Bajura.

According to the tradition, menstruating women are considered impure and must be separated from others in many aspects of life. Women are forbidden from entering the home or kitchen, or from touching other people, cattle, fruit or plants. Women practising the tradition may also have restricted access to water tapes and wells.

Opponents to chhaupadi recently began demolishing period huts to end the practice, but menstruating women have instead started to stay in makeshift tents.

It is feared she is the latest victim of the centuries-old “chhaupadi” custom that was outlawed in 2005. This is the country’s first arrest over the custom.

Achham’s chief district officer, Bhoj Raj Shrestha, said: “This is the first time we have arrested any person in connection with a death under the chhaupadi custom.”

It remains prevalent in Nepal’s remote west where some communities fear misfortune, such as a natural disaster, unless menstruating women and girls – seen as impure – are sent away to animal sheds or huts.

Police official Janak Shahi said Chhatra Rawat, 25, a brother-in-law of the dead woman, was arrested in the district capital, Mangalsen.

He will be questioned on whether he was responsible for sending her to the illegal hut.

Sudan— UN peacekeepers have been sent to South Sudan’s northern Lakes region after a series of clashes in which 79 people were killed and more than 100 injured.

Photo : UNmiss

With roads impassable due to heavy rains and flooding, the Nepalese blue helmets travelled by helicopter on Tuesday from Rumbek, the state capital, to Maper, about 100km north, according to the UN mission in the country, Unmiss.

Vehicles and other heavy equipment have also been flown into the area to support the force. The 75 soldiers are expected to remain in the area over the next few weeks after the outbreak of violence between the Gak and Manuer communities, the agency said.

Seventy-five Nepalese troops serving with the peacekeeping mission have since been temporarily deployed from Rumbek to Maper to deter further violence between the two warring communities.

“We have found out that our presence has made a difference and for the next few days we shall make sure that we have permanent presence here. We will do an outreach campaign to bring a sense of calm and peace and create confidence for a peaceful settlement of all disputes,” said visiting Lt. Gen. Tinaikar.

In the last three days, the guns have gone silent and all stakeholders, including the two warrying communities and their leadership, Western Lakes area authorities, and UNMISS, are keeping their fingers crossed that this relative calm is sustained.

“It is very unfortunate that today we had planned to have our Pakam community meeting but because of this incident, we have postponed the conference until further notice,” lamented Governor Mamout. “As the government, we are asking both communities to be calm and extend a message of peace among themselves as brothers and sisters,” he counselled.