Manage Disaster, SDF, SAFTA agenda of SAARC

Nksagar-Sagar Media -24th August 2010-New Delhi: 2010-08-24 07:16:17 - Finance Minister SAARC nations will be attending a three day conference in Thimpu from Tuesday. The conference will draw consensus for the newly operational SAARC Development Fund (SDF), and second main point to discuss regarding implementation of the South Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) plus regional connectivity projects, among participating nations.

Finane Ministers of State or Government of BANGLADESH
, BHUTAN, INDIA, MALDIVES, NEPAL, PAKISTAN and SRI LANKA are meeting for objectives of SAARC
Desirous of promoting peace, stability, amity and progress in the region through strict adherence to the principles of the UNITED NATIONS CHARTER and NON-ALIGNMENT, particularly respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, national independence, non-use of
force and non-interference in the internal affairs of other States and peaceful settlement of all disputes;

On the agenda is finalizing the basic guidelines of the SDF and its funding modalities.The issues of increasing the current size of the SDF capital of USD 300 million will also be discussed.So far, only India and Bhutan have contributed to the SDF.India has chipped in another USD 100 million as a voluntary contribution for social development programs.

The SDF was launched at the 16th SAARC summit back in April with the aim of assisting social, economic and infrastructure growth of the members nations.

Currently, the only social window of the SDF is in operation with projects like poverty alleviation and child and maternity health.The conference will also discuss financial issues related to the road map of the SAARC Economic Union and regional capital market.

South Free Trade Agreement too forms the main agenda but SAARC chair has indeed no official statement on flood situation in Pakistan the current chair of SAARC has not yet any programme to mobilize funds for a member country but at this point the natural disaster sufferings to member country close co-operation is needed hence the point of cooperation could emerge in this meet the Minister of State for Finance, Namo Narain Meena will represent India in the-summit.

SAARC has The objectives of the ASSOCIATION shall be:
Article I of SARC is to promote the welfare of the peoples of SOUTH ASIA and to improve their quality of life; clause b to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to provide all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realise their full potentials;

SAARC has a Disaster Management Centre that was approved by the Heads of states in its 13th summit. At the sixteenth SAARC Summit meeting held in Thimpu, the leaders of the region emphasized the “need for more efficient, focused, time-bound and people-centric activities�� However the current inaction of SAARC reflects the fact that it has again failed to rise to the occasion. writes Smruti S. Pattanaik in website IDSA ,'Time to Redeem SAAR

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