Kathmandu, Feb. 11: Foreign secretary Murari Raj Sharma has stressed the need for integreting the activities of the South Asian countries and making it more effective for poverty alleviation.

Speaking from the chair at the two-day seminar on “poverty alleviation strategy in South Asia through social mobilization” organised jointly by the National Planning Commission (npc), Sapros and Sapna, a Sri Lankan non-governmental organisation here today, Mr Sharma said that joint efforts should be made for poverty alleviation in the South Asian region where one fifth of the world population and half the poor population live.

Stating that the South Asian region should not only contribute to world politics but also to the world economy, Mr Sharma said that poor people should be involved in policy making and development works for this purpose.

Stating that the Ninth Plan has given top priority to poverty alleviation, Mr Sharma said that the necessary programmes, plans and strategies had to be formulated to achieve the set targets of the Ninth Plan.

Presenting a working paper on strategy for poverty alleviation, Dr. m. ali stressed the need to build infrastructures to make the poor people productive and to ensure market access.

It is absolutely necessary to increase production for poverty alleviation, Dr. Ali said, adding  that the local governments should be involved the mainstream of the society for this purpose.

Presenting a working paper on the experiences of decentralisation and poverty alleviation in the Indian state of Kerala, Dr. s. madhu said that the Indian state of Kerala was ahead of other Indian states as a result of the progress made in the fields of education, health and economy.

Stating that a three tier Panchayat system comprising gram (covering 30,000 people), block (covering 10 gram Panchayats) and Jilla Panchayat exists in Kerala, Dr. Madhu said that decentralisation of powers varies in different Indian states.