Q&A

THE CHAIRPERSON (HON. DR. PRASOP RATANAKORN):

I notice that my colleague from Indonesia would raise a question. Please.

HON. NAFSIAH MBOI (INDONESIA):

Thank you, Chairperson. I wonder how you knew.

First of all, I would like to extend my appreciation and thank you so much for this very interesting paper. There are several questions, sir.

First of all, Professor, could you provide us with some figures showing the gender analysis of the urban migration? Are there more men migrating than women or total families?

As we know from the total population of Nepal, there are only ninety-two women per hundred men, which is very low indeed. But how does that impact on the urban migration? Could you give us some figures on that please.

The second one is, I found your analysis on page three very interesting saying that the poor sectors are really the agricultural employment as well as urban employment in the Terai region which would mean that these facts, these two "pull factors" would result in a positive economic impact as well as positive impact on food production.

Could you give us some figures on the human development index or indicators comparing these rural urban areas, especially the Terai areas? Because if it should prove more posi-tive, would you agree that with the limited resources available to the Nepal government, that this would be better to concentrate sustainable development efforts in the Terai region?

My third question, Professor, is on page 4, where you said that although the urban migration or the level of urbanization is low but actually, the urban population is very high. Could you give us some more data on the total fertility rate in these regions which again is closely related to the gender difference of the urban migration?

And last. I agree fully with you that, as of now, the Katmandu share in the total population is quite low and that industry should not be concentrated in Katmandu because, I was there last week and I noticed that urban pollution in Katmandu is already very high and very bad, which again confirms your suggestion not to develop any industries in Katmandu, except for draconian measures actually, but to really pull it to the Terai region.

Could you comment on that Professor? And thank you.

Thank you, Chairperson