Rob: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm
Rob.
Vera: And hello, I'm Vera.
Rob: In today's programme, we have news of a pioneering scheme to help
families in one of the World's poorest countries.
Vera: Yes, that country is Nepal, where it is estimated 40% of the population
live in poverty. So they have poor living standards and do not have access
to facilities that some of us take for granted. But how bad do things have
to be to live in poverty?
Rob: It's a good question. The government in Nepal has launched a new
scheme to assess the extent of poverty in the country – in other words,
to find out how bad it really is.
Vera: It's very keen to find out exactly how many people are living below the
poverty line, or in other words, to work out who the poorest people are.
Rob: We'll find out more about this scheme shortly but, as always, we like to
start the programme with a question to think about. So here is the
question. According to the International Monetary Fund, the IMF, which is
the poorest country in the world? Is it:
a) The Democratic Republic of Congo
b) Malawi
c) Burkina Faso
Vera: I would take a guess that it's Malawi.
Rob: Malawi, b. Well, we will find out if you're right at the end of the
programme. But before then, let's talk more about this new scheme by
the Nepalese government to assess the extent of poverty in the country.
Vera: It's a massive undertaking because officials will be going from house to
house across the country gathering data.
Rob: It could take some time. But once this data – or information – is collected,
what are the government going to do with it?
Vera: Let's hear from the BBC's Jill McGivering, who can tell us a bit more about
what is going on.
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BBC correspondent, Jill McGivering:
Officials in Nepal are starting a massive task: going from house to house across the
country, gathering data about each family's income, assets and how much food they
have to eat. They're trying to identify those living in extreme poverty - people who go
hungry for either three, six or nine months of each year. They'll later allocate new
'poverty cards' which will make these families eligible in the future for government
subsidies - cheaper food, education and health care. Officials expect about a quarter of
the population to be issued with them.
Rob: So, we heard that the government is trying to identify those living in
extreme poverty – so the worst kind of poverty.
Vera: It will be finding out about people's income, their assets - so what they
own – and how much food they have to eat. Those who are in extreme
poverty have been defined as people who go without food for between
three and nine months each year.
Rob: Those people who fall into this category will later be allocated 'poverty
cards' which give these families subsidies – or financial support – for food,
education and health care.
Vera: And the scheme could help a quarter of the population, so it sounds like a
good idea.
Rob: It does. Many people have welcomed the idea but there are challenges too
in running such a big scheme. Let's hear from the BBC's Jill McGivering
again. See if you can hear what the challenges are.
BBC correspondent, Jill McGivering:
The government's been talking for years about introducing a scheme like this. Those
involved are delighted that the process has finally started, although this is only the first
phase and no-one's sure how many months it will take just to survey the whole country.
They describe it as pioneering but also admit there will be challenges. Making sure
people give accurate information, for example, preventing bias against different ethnic
groups and protecting the programme from fraud and corruption. The best judges, of
course, will be Nepal's most poor - whose burden this new national programme is
supposed to ease.
Vera: So there are a number of challenges in running this scheme. They include
relying on people to give accurate information and preventing bias – or
prejudice – against different ethnic groups.
Rob: Yes, there are many different ethnic groups in Nepal, so it's important to
make sure that one isn't favoured over another. Finally, there's a risk that
there could be fraud and corruption because of the economic advantages
on offer to the poorest families.
Vera: Of course, the other challenge is how many months it will take and no-one
is really sure, especially because of the mountainous terrain that some
people live in.
Rob: But people seem delighted – or happy – that after years of talking,
something is finally being done to tackle poverty in Nepal.
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Vera: But who can really tell if it's successful or not?
Rob: Well, the best judges – as we heard – are Nepal's poor, whose lives may
be made a little easier.
Vera: Well, something that isn't easy is your quiz question Rob.
Rob: Really?! Well, earlier I asked you, according to the IMF, which is the
world's poorest country?
a) The Democratic Republic of Congo
b) Malawi
c) Burkina Faso
Vera: And I said Malawi. Was I right?
Rob: I'm afraid you were wrong. The answer is actually The Democratic
Republic of Congo. OK, it's almost time to go now but before we do, Vera,
please can you remind us of some of the vocabulary we heard today?
Vera: Yes, of course. We heard:
pioneering
the extent
data
allocated
subsidies
bias
corruption
terrain
Rob: Thanks Vera. We hope you've enjoyed today's programme. Please join us
again soon for more 6 Minute English from bbclearningenglish.com. Bye
for now!
Vera: Bye!
