Review of National Progress Achieved in the Implementation of

the Agenda for Action on Social Development in the ESCAP

Region, in the Context of the Programme of Action

of the World Summit for Social Development

MEETING PAPER NO 2, PART 3 OF 3

III. SECTORAL CONCERNS

This section discusses some examples of country-specific measures and progress made in addressing the region's pressing social issues and targets specified in various sectors, and as they affect the disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.

A. Population, heath and family welfare

Important improvements have been made within population planning and health. Many countries reported a decline in population growth rates in recent years (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand). This has been brought about mainly by declines in the crude birth rates and fertility rates. In many countries, life expectancy has increased. Intensive efforts have been made in Bangladesh, China, India and the Philippines, among other countries, for immunization against six childhood diseases, with a consequent reduction in infant mortality rates. Maternal mortality rates have also declined with better maternal health care.

Allocations in both the development and the revenue budgets for the health and population sectors in Bangladesh are being increased. Among other activities, one health complex in each subdistrict is planned for the near future. In China, immunization against five diseases has covered 85 per cent of children. The infant mortality rate will be reduced to 31.42 per thousand, and 80 per cent of the rural population have access to safe drinking water. The eighth plan of India aimed to reduce the infant mortality rate to 70 per thousand live births, and this has been achieved. Integrated child development services ensure that children up to six years and mothers have access to a package of services, including health check-ups, immunization and nutrition services.

B. Education

The Agenda for Action calls for a reduction of illiteracy by half by the year 2000, universal access to basic education, equal participation of girls in primary and secondary levels and promotion of vocational training, among other targets.

Programmes to meet the goal of education for all by 2000 include the provision of incentives to achieve higher school enrolment, particularly in remote areas, of girls and at the primary school level. Incentives are being provided in Bangladesh and Nepal through food and nutrition programmes which benefit not only the enrolled children but also their families. To promote education for girls, special funds or scholarships have been introduced for females in the remote areas, targeted at the poor.

To reduce high drop-out rates in India, free elementary education, including free textbooks and uniforms, is provided. Under a scheme offering the nutritional support to primary education, midday meals are given in all government schools, local schools and private primary schools. The literacy programme concentrates on specific sectors of the society: scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and women.

The Government of Indonesia has introduced a universal education act covering nine-year compulsory schooling. Much of the reduction in illiteracy is due to the non-formal education programme that has been implemented within the national development plans.

In the Philippines, a master plan for basic education was formulated to increase access to and improve the quality of education. Other programmes have been launched in recent years, the Education for All Movement, the Debt-for-Education Swap, the literacy programme for indigenous cultural minorities in the remote areas, the multi-grade approach, and an education project funded by the Asian Development Bank which has innovative and service expansion components. The Technical Education and Development Authority was created in 1995 to ensure improved access to vocational training relevant to labour market requirements.

In Sri Lanka, tuition is free for government institutions from primary to university levels. The free midday meal programme was restructured in 1993. School uniforms and textbooks are provided each year for students in state and state-aided schools. Instruction and training provided at state-run vocational and technical training institutes are free.

C. Social protection

Governments are committed to formulating an overall policy framework that will accord priority to social protection for all, in accordance with the prevailing standards of society and within available resources. The coverage of both formal and informal social security systems should ensure social security for all who are eligible. Social protection for the poor addresses both chronic insecurity associated with poverty and contingent insecurity such as unemployment, disability, retirement and old age. Some country examples demonstrate the action planned and taken in the area of social protection.

Conventional social security schemes for organized labour exist in some countries. Various social assistance schemes for poor and destitute families, widows, the disabled and older persons have also been put in place in many countries.

China aims to increase the coverage of social insurance in urban areas to 80 per cent of the labour force by the year 2000, and over 95 per cent by 2010. Old-age pension coverage among rural inhabitants will increase to 30 per cent by 2000, and 70 per cent by 2010. In India, social protection is offered to special groups such as scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and minorities through concessional funds for projects and financial assistance for employment. Persons with disabilities are granted scholarships, and assistance for self-employment is facilitated by the provision of prosthetic aids. Three per cent of government jobs are reserved for disabled persons. The national social assistance programme has introduced old-age pensions for poor people over the age of 65.

Under Indonesia’s sixth five-year development plan, programmes include (a) enhancement of social welfare programmes in isolated communities and for the poor, the elderly and destitute children; (b) social and rehabilitation services for the disabled, juvenile delinquents, victims of narcotics abuse, social deviants and disaster victims; (c) community participation in development activities; (d) social protection for children, women and the elderly victimized by violence; (e) development of day-care and playgroup centres; and (f) the establishment of youth organizations at the village level.

In Nepal, social security schemes for unemployment, disability or old age were only introduced in 1994. These programmes also focus on the backward classes. In 1994/95, an old-age benefit scheme was introduced in four districts, providing NRs. 100 per month for persons aged 75 and above. Provisions in the 1995/96 budget include extending the monthly old-age benefit to all districts, destitute widows aged 60 and above, and the permanently disabled. Old-age homes are being established through NGO support. Loans taken out by small farmers hit by natural disasters will be written off.

In the Philippines, coverage of social security has expanded considerably. However, some sectors are still excluded, for example, casual and temporary workers. The government aims that, by the year 2000, the social security system will have universal coverage. The inclusion for private sector employees was broadened to include self-employed persons. Safety measures have been provided to counteract the adverse effects of structural adjustments. These include food and housing assistance, training and an increase in public employment. In the area of workers' welfare, a zero accident campaign project was launched in 1994 to increase public awareness and give recognition to successful safety and health programmes in private business enterprises. A programme offering credit for the poor was launched by the government in line with the Social Reform Agenda which adopts a clientele segmentation approach by economic bracket, a socialized credit programme for the ultra-poor, cooperatives for the average poor and mainstreaming of the near poor.

In the first stage of the comprehensive social insurance scheme in Thailand from 1991 to 1996, health care and income protection were provided in sickness, maternity, work-related disability and death. The second stage introduces old-age pensions and family benefits. The programme includes self-employed and own-account workers. Under the health care card programme, the participants voluntarily purchase a card which entitles each household to a certain number of treatments per year. Low-income cards are issued to people who earn less than 1,000 baht per month, which entitle them to medical care in all government facilities.

In order to strengthen the role of the family as a basic provider of social security and protection, a family values public education information package has been disseminated widely in Singapore to help low-income families. Since 1995, family-life education campaigns have been carried out.

The National Committee on the Family in Thailand financed local family support activities in the provinces, reviewed family-related laws and organized seminars on family issues in 1995 and 1996. This Committee, in cooperation with the National Commission on Women's Affairs, the Office of the Prime Minister and other governmental committees in Thailand, has produced a paper that outlines some points of the economic and social development plan as they relate to family matters and family policies. It shows a governmental commitment to families, with a particular accent on family education, counselling and guidance services, gender equality, the male role in the family, the status of elderly persons, domestic violence and the role of the media.

D. Environment, shelter and disaster control

Taking into account the commitments of governments contained in the Agenda for Action on the conservation and sustainable use of natural resource bases, environmentally sound management of toxic and hazardous products and wastes, the provision of adequate shelter and disaster management systems, various measures have been implemented towards attaining the set targets. Some examples are given below.

Environmental policies, plans and strategies have been formulated in many countries, including India, Nepal, Samoa and Vanuatu. These plans and strategies have supported multisectoral investment programmes in the areas of population, land use, water and waste management. Legislation has been enacted with higher intensity in China and India to control pollution, protect wildfire, clean river waters and provide for urban waste management. Some governments have recently adopted environmental impact assessment and related guidelines.

Slum improvement programmes aim at improving the living conditions of urban slum dwellers through the provision of drinking water, drainage, community baths, toilets, street lighting and other amenities. Housing schemes are increasingly being directed towards the low-income group and the poor. In Indonesia, the development of housing and settlement has been carried out through three main programmes: public housing, a clean water supply and a healthy environment. International organizations, governmental agencies and NGOs are building up national capability for disaster management in the country.

The Government of the Philippines is drafting strategies for sustainable development for the Philippine Agenda 21. The national shelter programme extends housing assistance through relocation schemes and financing. The government aims to raise the level of disaster preparedness by improving early warning systems. Monitoring stations have been established and upgraded nationwide with disaster enquiry desks and preparedness training for families in disaster-prone areas. In Nepal, a national comprehensive plan for disaster management has been formulated. A national action plan deals with disaster preparedness, response, mitigation, reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Conclusions

The responses from the mailed questionnaires and available country reports provide a positive indication that governments have taken cognizance of their commitment and crucial leadership role in undertaking comprehensive national action towards attaining the goals and targets of the regional Agenda for Action. Important initiatives have been taken by some countries in reviewing and, as appropriate, revising or reorienting existing national policies and plans to align them with the major concerns and priorities in the Agenda. Some countries have enunciated new policies, formulated social programmes and identified country-specific and time-bound targets on the major issues in accordance with their national circumstances and priorities. A few countries reported steps that have been taken to review and reform the legislative framework and provide better support for achieving their social development goals and targets.

Particular attention is being paid to the two core goals of poverty alleviation and employment expansion in many developing countries of the region. Multisectoral poverty alleviation and employment programmes have been or are being developed, targeted at vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, with particular concern for remote and large rural areas. It has been recognized that macroeconomic growth-oriented policies must be accompanied by resolute social policy measures if improved quality of life and a reduction of poverty are to be achieved. Forces inherent in the globalization process and structural changes may counteract efforts at employment generation through displacement of labour, cause a mismatch between labour demand and labour supply, and lead to a deterioration of employment and health conditions. Rapid economic growth may worsen the distribution of income. The state's role in poverty reduction must be congruent with the overall social goals and basic development strategy. Measures for social integration have not been reported within a clear framework of purpose or targets possibly because the definition of "social integration" remains broadly stated, and few targets are explicitly identified within this specific area in the Agenda for Action.

Not much effort has been undertaken to assess progress towards the attainment of goals in the immediate and intermediate time-frame. Countries should make an effort to analyse their performance and modify their programmes to catalyse the achievement of enunciated targets.

It is essential that the poor, the disadvantaged and the marginalized should be drawn into the mainstream of development through improved access to health, education, employment and social security provisions. The formulation and implementation of an effective social development programme requires better focusing and identification of the target groups and their special needs. Support for community-based efforts, programmes for skills upgrading and training, in addition to increased access to credit and other productive assets, would lead to the increased participation and greater contribution of the poor, disadvantaged and marginalized in the development process.

There is substantial evidence that developing countries in the region have initiated social security schemes for the protection of vulnerable groups, such as old-age benefits, employment promotion and crop insurance for small and marginal farmers. The coverage of these schemes, however, remains inadequate. Most groups in the informal sector of the economy - small and marginal farmers, casual workers, the self-employed and home workers engaged in small enterprises -remain excluded.

It is clear that in the developing countries of the Asian and Pacific region, programmes which focus on assisting the poor and marginalized merely through income transfers, family allowances, food and funding subsidies to supplement their income and consumption are non-sustainable in the long run. Greater attention should be directed to the development and implementation of strategies that empower and link them to the mainstream development through their participation in programmes. Successful strategies must include the components of productive asset development through skill development and upgrading, the transfer of appropriate technology, the provision of education and functional literacy, affordable credit and employment and social safety nets.

Various means of institution-building for social development have been implemented. While government ministries still shoulder the brunt of the work in their respective sectors, some countries have established multisectoral committees or other focal structures to develop integrated strategies and actions for social development. This is aimed at improving coordination and maximizing the use of resources among governmental and non-governmental sources for programmes in implementation of the Agenda for Action. Such mechanisms have been established in several countries, a few at the highest intersectoral planning level, to spearhead and monitor the implementation of the Agenda. The potential role, structure and capabilities of the focal points for effective coordination, advocacy, planning, evaluation and resource mobilization for social development should be further examined and strengthened.

The significance of involving local government entities and of the direct participation of the people in social development is being increasingly recognized and acted upon. However, further support is needed to strengthen such efforts nationwide and regionwide. Those countries which have made progress in decentralizing and devolving responsibility for planning, implementing and monitoring social programmes to subnational levels could usefully share their experiences for replication in other settings. Likewise, operational and training manuals could be developed to meet the capability-building needs of local-level implementors.

Financial allocations to the social sector are reported to have increased in the recent past. However, as the multisectoral dimension of social development, specific activities and coverage of what constitutes the social sector vary from country to country, more detailed analysis of resource mobilization and allocation for social development is needed.

Relatively little action has been taken in regard to training of social development personnel. Given the new demands of planning and programme management skills arising from the multisectoral dimension of the Agenda for Action, this lag should be addressed.

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