Socio-Economic Impact of Poverty Alleviation Fund Programme (A Study of Sunarpani VDC, Ramechhap District)

Abstract

Nepal is known as one of the poorest country. More than 49% of people are below the poverty line. For eradication of poverty different kinds of programme have been implemented. Before knowing the definition of development it is important to know the history of development. The history of planned development in Nepal goes back to 1950s. Tribhuvan Gram Bikash was established for this purpose in 1952. The concept of community development slowly emerged in our society. Shrestha defines community development as socially a village self help programme, in which people themselves, through their own village leaders, organizations and institutions are to have the opportunity of working together to improve all aspects of village life. The central and the state government are only to assist the progress. Poverty is a multi-dimensional and complex problem. The causes of poverty by analyzing different aspects of income and human poverty are not only economic but also social and technological backwardness too. One of the main causes of poverty is low economic growth rate. The stock taking of economic achievement of last three decades shows a lower economic growth rate of approximately 4 percent while annual population growth rate was about 2.5 percent. The per capita income growth rate at a very low level could not contribute to mitigate poverty significantly. This research is done in the contemporary issue related to the PAF. Impact of PAF programme in Sunarpani VDC, of Ramechhap District. In various parts of the country PAF has been working as a close partnership for the local peoples. It is trying to develop the disadvantage, disable, women, Janajati empowerment, income generation, social mobilization and capacity building. This study focuses in the developmental process, affecting factors relation to socio-cultural activities done by PAF in Sunarpani VDC. The main objectives of this study were to know the impact of PAF in local development process. However, other specific objectives are;  To analyze the socio-economic condition of Sunarpani VDC, Ramechhap district people.  To find out the impact of PAF in study area.  To know the socio-cultural change in study area.

On the process of study out of 471 HHs only only 50 HHs were selected with purposive sampling. At the end of the research it was found that PAF is the main heart of the rural area which was seen in Sunarpani VDC. PAF and its role in local development process are going increased in the study area. The following developmental activities had done by PAF in the local level. Self dependent for Disable, women and marginalized people, Transportation and Communication facilities, It ended the selfishness, It provided the awareness for local poor, Roads for transport, It had supported the alternative energy PAF made various schools, Changed the traditional agriculture irrigation system, Helped to establish Poultry form, Forest management and capacity development, Drinking water, Entrepreneur Loan / Agriculture Loan, Participation and social-mobilization, Livestock farming etc respectively. The study shows that the Socio-Economic impact of PAF programmes in the study area was quite satisfactory.