Saarc Push Bl11aug08 To Development Agenda

Push to development agenda

Date: Monday 11/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/08/11/stories/2008081150530800.htm The 15th Summit declaration has recognised the urgency for poverty alleviation and is looking forward to a thorough inter-governmental mid-term review of SAARC development goals by 2009.

J. George The 15th Summit of SAARC leaders in Colombo came to a rewarding conclusion. The main gain is the crisp and precise Colombo Declaration. The Colombo Statement on Food Security, in fact, is a strong vindication of the aspirations of the people in the region. ndeed, the Summit’s resolve to create appropriate mechanisms towards such a SAARCelestial abode must be commended. Luckily, the ‘pause’ at WTO mini-Ministerial has come at the most opportune times for the SAARC summit. The Colombo Declaration, as well as the Statement on Food Security, conclusively aborted all attempts at derailing the development agenda in general and the food security as well as the livelihood security issues, in particular. Many developed country members were witness to these overwhelmingly ‘for development’ deliberations in Colombo. The development agenda of SAARC has been reinforced now with 22 well-defined SAARC development goals (SDGs). The decision of focusing on poverty alleviation during the decade 2006-2015 is the spike that has been strengthened. The 15th Summit declaration has, therefore, recognised the urgency for poverty alleviation and is looking forward to a thorough inter-governmental mid-term review of SDGs by 2009. The signing of the charter of the SAARC Development Fund (SDF) as a forward ambitious movement will soon be ratified by each member country. The SAARC Social Charter, decided at the Tenth Summit in 1998 and mandated through a Charter in 2004, will accelerate country1

specific implementation speed to the social development elements of the SDGs.

Development Windows The roadmap for creating a viable and vibrant regional socioeconomic integration and development framework rests primarily on three windows of opportunities. The foundation of these window templates is most appropriately given to development agenda. The three windows, namely, Social, Economic and Infrastructure, in order to be effective, must have a seamless connectivity. This was highlighted by the Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh, in his address: “Economic cooperation, connectivity and integration will be the cornerstone of SAARC in the years ahead.” The challenge, however, in designing a faultless linking mechanism rests on neutralising and overcoming leverage gained in the region by the foremost temptation of overseas development assistance (ODA). The key, indeed, is development. The two operating words must aid our efforts. These are poverty alleviation and livelihood security. Globally it has been observed that all poverty alleviation discourses and efforts are beset with rancour and quibble about numbers. Surely, SAARCognition has provided innumerable evidence of action-plans that was supported and implemented by the public service agencies. The lesson is clear: poverty of state action must give way to proactive and innovative leadership and actions. In this war against poverty in SAARC, it is highly desirable to develop alliances with the civil society organisations (CSOs).

SDF and Livelihood Security Operating Protocol Since SDF is going to be a reality in SAARC, grass roots-level organisations in association with the public agencies will be the best vehicle for dispensing social and economic windows objectives. The point here, however, is whether or not these window templates permit CSOs to seamlessly integrate their standard operating protocol (SOPs). 2

The temptation of an easy option for SDF to transplant some readymade SOP borrowed from the international development financing institutions must be avoided. This is a strategic challenge that must be addressed on priority by the Summit leaders. The livelihood security challenges are best addressed by encouraging and expanding scope for economic activities for productive employment. Secondary and tertiary sector economic activities presuppose a basic threshold level of social development attributes that is sadly deficient in the region. The resultant outcome is the heavy burden on the informal sector particularly in the residual ‘others’ category in the employment statistics. This has also exacerbated the slum development besides widening the rural-urban and digital divide.

Food Security Window The short to medium term safe-mode option for creation of a SAARCelestial economic realm is to be found in the agricultural activities. This domain, particularly in the SAARC region, has been vitiated by the developed countries’ protection to their 2-4 per cent population in agriculture as primary vocation. The smallholder-driven agricultural activities certainly need prioritisation. The Extra-ordinary Meeting of the Agriculture Ministers of the SAARC Member States, to be convened in New Delhi in November 2008, surely will incorporate these regional sensitivities. SAARC provides a platform for the people of South Asia to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding. It aims to accelerate the process of economic and social development in Member States. Certainly, the level as well as the depth of regional engagement and integration witnessed in the Colombo Declaration and the Statement will work for unceasing and inclusive growth in the region. (The author, an economist based in Delhi, heads the Strategic Economic Management Initiative in Governance)

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