The role of small urban centres in rural industrialization in the hill areas of Nepal | |
| Author | Parajuli, Mahesh Nath |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.HS-93-22 |
| Subject(s) | Urbanization--Nepal Rural industries--Nepal |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. HS-93-22 |
| Abstract | One strategy of Nepal's rural development effort is to develop an effective system of small urban centres throughout the country as a means to deliver socio-economic services to the rural people and as a centre of processing the rural products. Thus, it is worthwhile to asses the role of these centres in rural development, particularly in rural industrial development in the hill areas in Nepal which cover about 85 per cent of the total area. in the country. Development of small urban centres in the hill areas is conditioned by a. complex process of historical factors. Yet, it is the transportation network that plays the crucial role in the development of these centres. Hill topography restricts the accessibility which in turn is responsible for limited market activity in the area. Small urban centres in the hill areas are small and are retail commercial centres serving to the people in the immediate surrounding areas. The study region, Western Hill Region in Nepal, is predominantly agricultural where cereal production is most important. Production is at subsistence level and only a small portion of the total production comes to the market. Low production, low marketable surplus, la.ck of transportation network, unavailability of various other facilities and lack of capital are the main problems for rural industrial development. Majority of industries in small urban centres are small enterprises of general type. These industries serve the consumption demand of the local people. Externally based industries, tha.t is, based on imported raw materials are also developing in these centres. Some of these industries are helping skill development among the local people. The products of some of these externally based industries are mainly for the non-local market. Investment in these industries is from small local entrepreneurs. There a.re other potential entrepreneurs also who are interested to invest in small industries in these centres. They need to be identified and encouraged. Availability of the transport network as well as various other facilities are essential for the development of rural industrial activities. Those centres with the transport network have a very good prospect of development as a rural industrial centre. Thus, centres along the modern roads should be developed as centre for rural industrial activities. The development of an effective system of hierarchial linkages and regional spatial planning, fully identifying the local production specialties, and an innovative system of generating sources of investment from within can be an effective strategy for rural industrial development in the hill areas in Nepal. |
| Year | 1993 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. HS-93-22 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Department of Civil and Infrastucture Engineering (DCIE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Human Settlement (HS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Routray, Jayant Kumar;Weber, Karl E.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Demaine, Harvey; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA);Asian Institute of Technology-Canadian Universities Consortium Partnership Project; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1993 |