-Nihal Rodrigo, SAARC

Kathmandu: A ministerial level consultation on the UNDP supported South Asia Poverty Alleviation Programme (SAPAP) was held here last week on 24 May 2001. The consultation was held to identify the achievements, challenges and discuss the future plans for SAPAP. The representatives attended the consultation from all SAARC Countries.

In his opening remarks, H.E. Mr. Nihal Rodrigo, SAARC Secretary General said that it was a decade ago that the SAARC summit in Colombo recognized that poverty could be dealt with if the poor are mobilized and that social mobilization is key to poverty alleviation. He said, “This meeting to discuss the progress of SAPAP and to see how the SAPAP model can be replicated is well timed. The Finance Minister’s meeting in Colombo in June will take up this issue.”

Dr. Henning Karcher, UNDP Resident Representative in Nepal in his opening remarks said that in 1993, the SAARC countries made a pledge to eradicate the worst forms of poverty by 2002 based on social mobilisation. He said, “The year 2002 is around the corner, but the objective of poverty alleviation is still illusive. Forty percent of South Asians live on less than US $ 1 a day.” But negating the projection of only gloom and doom, he added, “A lot is also happening. In keeping with the SAARC Declaration of 1993, UNDP took up the challenge to demonstrate that people need help to organise and transform their lives. In six SAARC countries (Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan)we are working with 130,000 households. In Nepal decentralisation and social mobilisation have become the back-bones of Nepal’s poverty alleviation strategy.” Dr. Karcher added, “We need to build alliances and coalitions to take the message of social mobilisation to all parts of the region. The poor have kept their part of the bargain but we still have to keep ours.”

Mr. Shoaib Sultan Khan, Senior Advisor SAPAP, speaking from his long experience in forming organisations of the poor in South Asia, pointed out that all the poor need is a support organisation to unleash their potential

A visibly moved Shiela Menike from Nuwara Eliya district in Sri Lanka said, “It is because of the strength I feel inside that I am now in your midst talking about my experiences.” The rural people in Sri Lanka who did not have access to information, technology and markets, now have increased access, incomes and increased awareness on health and nutritional issues.

Mr. Muhammad Azam Khan, Former Chief Secretary, the Govt. of NWFP in Pakistan, spoke on future plans for regional action.