POLITICAL SCIENCE PROJECT WORK TITLE - SAARC

POLITICAL SCIENCE PROJECT WORK TITLE - SAARC.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on 8 December 1985. The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first raised in November 1980. After consultations, the foreign secretaries of the seven founding countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—met for the first time in Colombo in April 1981. Afghanistan became the newest member of SAARC at the 13th annual summit in 2005. The Headquarters and Secretariat of the Association are at Kathmandu, Nepal..

Members of SAARC SAARC comprises of eight members States Afganistan Bangladesh •Bhutan •India •Mald ives •Nepal •Pakistan •Srilanka (3.

AREAS OF COOPERATION. Human Resource Development and Tourism Agriculture and Rural Development Environment, Natural Disasters and Biotechnology Economic, Trade and Finance Social Affairs Information and Poverty Alleviation Energy, Transport, Science and Technology Education, Security and Culture and Others.

SAARC GROUP on STATISTICS Reanna'. Social Window funds projects on poverty alleviation, social development focusing on education; health; human resources development; support to vulnerable/ disadvantaged segments of the society; funding needs Of communities, micro-enterprises, rural infrastructure development. Social Window Our Funding Windows Economic Window extends funding to projects in Trade and Industrial Development, Agriculture and allied sectors, Services Sector, Science and Technology, and Other non- Infrastructure areas. Economic Window Infrastructure Window of SDF extends funding to projects in Energy, Power, Transportation, Telecommunication, Environment, Tourism and other Infrastructure areas. Infrastructure Window.

OBJECTIVES OF SAARC. To promote the welfare of the people of South Asia and to improve their quality of life. 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 realize their full potentials. To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia. To contribute to mutual trust, understanding and appreciation of one another’s problems. To promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and scientific fields. To strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums on matters of common interests..

SAARC SPECIALIZED BODIES.

Its primary objective is funding of project-based collaboration in social sectors such as poverty alleviation, development, etc. SDF is governed by a Board consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Finance of the Member States. The Governing Council of SDF (Finance Ministers of MSs) oversees the functioning of the Board..

South Asian University is an international university, located in India. Degrees and Certificates awarded by the SAU are at par with the respective Degrees and Certificates awarded by the National Universities/ Institutions..

South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO) has its Secretariat at Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was established to achieve and enhance coordination and cooperation among SAARC member states in the fields of standardization and conformity assessment. Aimed to develop harmonized Standards for the region to facilitate intra-regional trade and to have access in the global market..

It is an inter-governmental body having its office in Pakistan is mandated to provide a legal framework/forum within the region for fair and efficient settlement of commercial, industrial, trade, banking, investment and such other disputes, as may be referred to it by the member states and their people..

PRINCIPAL ORGANS. Meeting of Heads of State or Government Meetings are held at the Summit level, usually on an annual basis. Standing Committee of Foreign Secretaries The Committee provides overall monitoring and coordination, determines priorities, mobilizes resources, and approves projects and financing. Secretariat The SAARC Secretariat was established in Kathmandu on 16 January 1987. Its role is to coordinate and monitor the implementation of SAARC activities, service the meetings of the association and serve as a channel of communication between SAARC and other international organizations. The Secretariat comprises the secretary-general, seven directors, and the general services staff. The secretary-general is appointed by the Council of Ministers on the principle of rotation, for a non-renewable tenure of three years..

WHY INDIA NEEDS A STRONG SAARC?. SAARC as regional forum, has great potential, but this potential of regional cooperation cannot be realised without strong bilateral linkages. Given the asymmetry inherent in the geographical, economic and strategic dimensions of the eight member countries, meaningful cooperation can materialise only when there is mutual trust and willingness among members to resolve bilateral differences and apprehensions for the greater good of their own people. India has a major responsibility in this respect on account of several factors. The most important factor is that India is the only country, which shares borders with all the SAARC countries, barring Maldives and Afghanistan. The implication of this geographical reality is that India has to facilitate the establishment of strong economical linkages with the neighbouring countries. More importantly, India should take initiatives to solve the difficulties, which the partner countries have been experiencing in trade with India on matters relating to border trade and transit facilities..

While preferential trading arrangements, like SAPTA, would work out to be mutually beneficial for all the partners, it should be realised that India can also derive a lot of benefits through strengthening bilateral relations. Currently, India runs a huge $15 billion trade surplus with other SAARC countries, with exports worth $17.5 billion and imports of just $2.5 billion. The idea is to correct this skewed figure in a way so that Indian businesses can source more from other SAARC countries and build better value chains. For this, India has to invest more in the region by taking advantage of the arbitrage in wage and electricity rates. From Maldives in the south of India to Bhutan in the north, several SAARC countries are keen to seek Indian investment and expertise. It is estimated that 55% of intra-regional trade potential in South Asia remains untapped..

THANK – YOU. EFFORTS BY: DIMPLE TANIYA MANVI NAVYA LAIBA VARSHA.