SAARC Social Charter

Detractors of SAARC argue that it has not done much for South Asia. These cynics compare it with the European Union and other similar blocs. While SAARC has to climb to that elevation some day, we cannot expect the region to achieve this goal overnight.

What is encouraging is that SAARC leaders are gradually proving their detractors wrong by implementing various collective measures for the benefit of SAARC citizens. One such initiative is the SAARC Social Charter.

Trade and development are important and SAARC has taken steps in this regard, but social development is even more important. This is the aim of the Social Charter.

Sri Lanka on Thursday presented its Action Plan under the SAARC Social Charter. Sri Lanka does lead South Asia in terms of many social indices and even comes close to the developed world, but this does not mean we can rest on our laurels.

In this context, the Government deserves plaudits for including ambitious targets such as a 25 per cent poverty reduction and providing drinking water to 80 per cent of the population by 2010 under the Action Plan.

The targets are to be achieved in the areas of poverty eradication, population stabilisation, women empowerment, youth mobilisation, human resource development, promotion of health and nutrition and the protection of children.

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka has asserted that the Government has the political will and commitment to reach these noble goals. The Government’s 10-year vision Mahinda Chinthana tallies with the SAARC Social Charter and the UN Millennium Goals.

There is every possibility that these goals will be achieved on time, as Sri Lanka’s Human Development Index (HDI) is already high. Its HDI rank is 99 out of 177 countries.

Impressively, these gains had been made while fighting one of the world’s most ruthless terrorist groups. The conflict has sapped our resources and finances, but successive Governments continued investments in health, education and social welfare.

One can only imagine the potential for social development in all areas of the country if peace is established. The East is already witnessing a resurgence and a similar programme has been envisaged for the North as well. Equitable distribution of resources and development will be the key to Lanka’s prosperity.

Sri Lanka will be in the SAARC limelight next year as it hosts the SAARC Heads of State and Government meeting next year. The SAARC Social Charter and other SAARC activities are likely to receive a boost under Lanka’s Chairmanship. After all, Sri Lanka had played a major role in its preparation and adaptation.

Social development must be a priority for all SAARC States. With one-fifth of the world’s population, SAARC remains a poor region although some individual countries have made vast strides in development.

Drinking water, sanitary facilities, healthcare, electricity and education are still out of reach for millions of people in the region. Granting them access to these facilities will be a Herculean task and some SAARC economies cannot cope with the required financial allocations.

Eradicating poverty can thus be seen as a major challenge confronting SAARC. Sri Lanka’s Samurdhi and Bangladesh’s Grameen Credit programme are two initiatives which have helped the poor to extricate themselves from the poverty trap. The poor need to be made self-reliant, not dependent on handouts.

Women and children are marginalised in some SAARC countries, much to the detriment of their future. The emancipation of these two sectors is vital if SAARC is to prosper.

It is through education that SAARC can hope to become a force to be reckoned with in the world in the generations to come. Empowering women, politically and socially, is also essential.

Further integration should be a priority for SAARC, so that existing social disparities can be collectively addressed. A SAARC-wide free trade agreement is being implemented.

Likewise, SAARC needs to think seriously on the possibility of having a common currency and ‘borderless’ movement of goods and people. There is already a proposal for a SAARC railway system and a call for more ferry services and flights to increase people-to-people contact.

Eight countries, one goal: Equality and prosperity for all in South Asia. With the Social Charter, SAARC has taken the first step in that direction. The challenge now is to deliver the goods on target.

SAARC will not fail in this endeavour if the political leadership in individual countries strive to achieve the ambitious goals in line with their own development programmes. If there’s a will, there’s a way.