However, in South Asia, Bangladesh had left behind India, Pakistan and Nepal, the report said. The characteristics of sub national Rural Access Index estimates were investigated in eight countries: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nepal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. It was found that for the countries in Africa, road density and road condition are important determinants of the Rural Access Index.
For the South Asian countries, improvement of road condition is particularly relevant. The evidence suggests that significant resources are likely to be required to achieve universal access through rehabilitating and expanding the existing road.
However, no data has been mentioned for India and Pakistan in the latest information of the new index. But another World Bank rural communication report shows 57 percent and 52 percent respectively for India and Pakistan. Nepal's new index score is 54 percent.
There are many indicators that measure the development of the global communications sector, among the most reliable indicators or RAI. The number of beneficiaries, the amount and quality of population density unfit total length of rural roads for a standard rural infrastructure around two-kilometer area have been taken into account.
Regarding this, Dr Mustafa K Mujeri, Director of Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development Executive told, we have given more importance in rural infrastructure development compared to other countries in South Asia. Despite opposing views in other sector, every government's gives importance in the rural infrastructure development. Now we are getting positive results.
He said several studies have shown that, improvement of road communication has witnessed poverty alleviation. The production, materials, transport, and fair payment, marketing are involved with the issue. And, the access to roads lead improved communication spreads education and makes health service easier.
Early November this year, the World Bank published a report titled ‘Rural Access index: Main Determinants and Correlation to Poverty'. Based on the reports information development from region to region within the country's rural infrastructure have been highlighted.
The new index score shows Kenya scored 56 percent followed by Bangladesh. Nepal ranked third scoring 54 percent. In addition, Uganda scored 53.1 percent, Tanzania 24.6, Ethiopia 21.6 percent, Mozambique 20.4 and Zambia remain least position scoring 17 percent of the latest index. The report mentioned index of 2015 for Bangladesh, Nepal, Ethiopia and Uganda. But the report mentioned Kenya in 2009, Mozambique in 2010, Tanzania in 2014 or and Zambia in 2011.
In 2006, World Bank prepared rural and population density index for least developed countries for the first time where Bangladesh scored 37. At that time, Nepal's score was 17, Ethiopia scored 32, Kenya 44, Mozambique- 27, Tanzania-38, Uganda-27 and Zambia scored 64.
According to the report published in November 2015, more inclusive growth in developing countries in order to maintain the continuity of transport connectivity is essential. The local, national and global labor-business will be connected with the rural people.
Nearly 100 million people in the world living in rural areas are still out of the road connectivity. The number of rural residents is 68.3 percent. However, there are disparities from region to region to the benefits of road. In East Asia, 90 percent of rural residents get access to at least a two-kilometer paved road. In Africa it is only 33.9 percent.
News courtesy: dailyasianage.com
