PROSPECTS OF SOCIAL CHARTER AMONG SAARC COUNTRIES
ABSTRACT
The 12th SAARC summit was held at critical juncture and turning point when the global political, economic and technological parameters are rapidly undergoing alterations in fundamental ways. The international Politics is leaving profound impact on the lives of South Asian. The poverty and its related problems are increasing manifold due to policies pursued by hyper power, Globalization and mainly by the irrational and anti poor policies by regional governments. The south Asia has the dubious distinction of poorest region of the world even slides behind the Sub Saharan region in all social and economic indicators. This article is an attempt to explore prospects and benefits of the social charter signed by the SAARC members, its need and its positive socio-economic impact on the lives of South Asian people.
“Our hearts are lifted by the winds of rapprochement that are blowing across our region, raising hopes of a more durable environment of peace and stability within and among our states in South Asia.” Lyonpo Jigmi Yoezer Thinley, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan.
INTRODUCTION
The 12th SAARC Summit was concluded in Islamabad in January 2004 in a cordial and congenial atmosphere. “For the first time in organization’s 18-year old chequered history, hope and optimism rather than despair and frustration have governed the proceedings of a Saarc summit”. The Islamabad Summit not only gave a renewed and replenishes thrust and dynamism to the regional association but also mitigated the tension between Pakistan and India. It was guided by the vision of peace and economic prosperity in South Asia and by being proud of its culture and rich traditions. The member states renewed their averred commitment to the lofty objectives of the Organisation and reaffirmed their pledged to continue working towards promoting political stability and economic prosperity in the SAARC region. The current Chairman of SAARC, the Prime Minister of Pakistan termed the summit as “It is victory of neither party; it is victory of poor people of South Asia.” Regional diplomacy emerged triumphant and prevailed and conflict vanished for the time being. “Pragmatism has won over political expediency, and the overall emphasis, shared by all Saarc partners, was on peace and stability. On the whole, this is certainly a forward looking development.”
The climate of fraternity was witnessed following the successful Saarc summit. Mistrust and misunderstanding was replaced by trust in each other and congenial atmosphere was created to comprehend and tackle the common socio-economic problems confronted by all Saarc members. The supreme will of 1.5 billion people of South Asia prevail. Since 11th Saarc summit the relations between two important members of SAARC were vitiated by the complexity of political dispute. The world capitals were anticipating nuclear war and exhorting India and Pakistan to show restraint. The people of South Asia were terrified and apprehensive of their fate. The dark clouds were blown away by the efforts of SAARC. The people of south Asia got sigh of relief and cordially welcomed the holding of Summit.
Tensions between Pakistan and India have kept social development and economic growth potential of the region hostage for long. Better sense prevailed and the political dice got loaded to promote peace Hope has been reignited for the downtrodden masses of Saarc region. The meeting of two nuclear rivals, India and Pakistan during SAARC summit was indeed a blessing for the poverty-ridden people of South Asia.
The 12th SAARC Summit had taken profound and bold steps to correct socio-economic imbalances, consolidate political stability in the region and remove the stumbling bloc in the way of SAARC. The SAARC leaders signed the Social Charter on January 4 2004, which has been described as a key document and a significant development in the eighteen year life of Saarc.
JOURNEY OF SAARC
South Asia is viewed as a region of protracted animosity and variegated region. It is a land of linguistic and cultural diversity. Various ethno-political and religious conflicts have transformed it into a potential threat not only to regional peace but also for global peace and security. The 98 nuclear tests by two members of Saarc, the Kargil crisis of 99, continuing unrest in Sri Lanka and Nepal, have made the world community concerned about the future of this region in the age of globalization and mutual interdependence.
The SAARC is an area wide coordinated endeavor for the eradication of the all pervading poverty and deprivation amongst the teeming masses of the region through self reliance and promotion of planned interdependent all round development. The journey of SAARC was started on December 8,1985, inspite of the serious and chronic intra-regional bilateral territorial disputes and political differences, complicated by prevailing apprehensions of hegemonic domination by the powerful and restrictive ganging up by the weaker states of the Organisation. The quest for peace in region over the last 18 years journey of SAARC has encountered many vicissitudes. People with a high sense of optimism, following the 12th Saarc summit, now feel that our fruitless wandering is over and we have finally come to the foothills of shining peaks called “peace heights.”
The 12th SAARC Summit concluded with the adoption of the Islamabad Declaration with the members’ Heads of States and Governments reaffirming their commitment to “work for collective and joint steps for promoting regional peace and revitalizing the organization by tapping their economic potential through mutual cooperation.” The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation comprising of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, is a manifestation of the firm determination of the peoples of South Asia to strive collectively to unravel their identical problems in a spirit of fraternity, trust and understanding and will to devise an order “based on mutual respect, equity and shared benefits” . K.M Arif has described the members of SAARC family as “the seven member constellation of Ursa Minor in South Asia”.
The leaders of SAARC were compelled to realize that the countries of region, which constituted one-fifth of humanity, confronted with the formidable challenges posed by poverty, underdevelopment, low levels of production, unemployment and pressure of population compounded by exploitation of the past and other adverse legacies. They were aware of their individual and regional strengths, their potential as a huge market, their substantial human and natural resources and the complementarities of their economies. They eventually realized that without effective regional cooperation, they could not make optimum use of these capacities for the benefit of their peoples, accelerate the pace of their economic development and enhance their national and collective self reliance.
The deteriorated social and economic conditions urged the South Asian people and leaders to come close to each other, hence the heads of states or Government of SAARC countries reaffirmed during the first SAARC summit in Dhaka that “their fundamental goal was to accelerate the process of economic and social development in their respective countries through the optimum utilization of their human and material resources, so as to promote the welfare and prosperity of their people and to improve their quality of life. They were conscious that peace and security was an essential prerequisite for realization of this objective”. The leaders of South Asia felt the gravity of situation and vehemently strived to “break the barriers and help one another to cease to be stranger. An effective attempt has been taken in this direction in the shape of SAARC to make this region socially united, politically strong and economically prosperous”. In the best interests of South Asian region, Bangladesh in 1980 proffered to convene a regional summit for establishing a regional organization on the pattern of ASEAN.
Letter Diplomacy
The letter diplomacy initiated by President Zia Ur Rahman of Bangladesh in 1980 prevailed and the Foreign Ministers at their first meeting in New Delhi on August 2 1983 adopted the declaration on the South Asian regional Cooperation and formally launched its integrated programme of action. The Heads of States or Governments at their First SAARC summit held in Dhaka on 07-08 December 1985 adopted the charter establishing the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
Aims and objectives of the SAARC for the amelioration of people
The Charter of the SAARC consists of ten articles. According to article 1, the objectives are to “promote the welfare of the people of the region and to improve their quality of life” . To accelerate economic growth, to promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, and cultural, technical and scientific fields, to strengthen cooperation among themselves in international forums and with developing countries, to promote mutual trust and appreciation of one another’s problem and to cooperate with international and regional organizations.
The article 11 of Charter of SAARC consists of principles which say that such cooperation shall be based on respect for the sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, non interference in international affairs of other states and mutual benefit. Such cooperation shall not be as substitute for bilateral and multilateral cooperation but shall complement them. The SAARC in its eighteen years life has accomplished enormous achievements despite territorial disputes and unwillingness of members. “The SAARC has successfully begun to make strides towards achieving benefits of regional integration in socio-economic and cultural spheres in a structured and organized manner.”
Conducive and Concerted Steps undertake by SAARC
The SAARC in its eighteen years journey has endeavored to accomplish its lofty objectives. SAARC in order to cater benefits to the people of South Asia has signed diverse regional conventions and agreements. Agreement on Establishing “SAARC Food Security Reserve” was signed during the third SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in November 1987, which came into force on august 12, 1988. “SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism” was signed during the third SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in November 1987, which came into force on August 22, 1988. Another significant development has been the adoption of the Additional Protocol on Suppression of Terrorism, on January 6, 2004.
The leaders realized the fatal menace of drugs and to reduce its adverse impact on fabric of South Asian society signed SAARC Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances during the Fifth SAARC Summit in Male in November 1990, which came into force into effect on September 15, 1993. The prime object is to eliminate the root causes of the problem of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including the illicit demand for such drugs and substances and the enormous profits derived from illicit drug trafficking and other related organized criminal activities which undermine the economies and threaten the stability, security and sovereignty of regional countries.
SAARC in order to enhance economic cooperation among members signed an Agreement on SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA), during the Seventh Summit in Dhaka in April 1993, which came into force on December 7, 1995. The SAARC has accorded priority to all mutual agreed areas of cooperation, and emphasized on the welfare of weakest section of population. The SAARC aptly realized that “the problems faced by children are inextricably linked to the prevailing socio-economic conditions and problems of the region and therefore, adopted humanistic approach to rectify them.” The SAARC has formulated an important convention on Regional Arrangements on the Promotion of Child Welfare in South Asia in January 2002.
The SAARC has also included Women in Development as an area of cooperation under the Integrated Programme of Action. The Heads of Government or governments noted that “many groups of women and girl children in South Asia continue to be in disadvantaged position and lack of equal opportunities for economic and social development.” The SAARC in order to curb trafficking of Women and Children within and between countries established The Regional Convention on Combating the Crime of Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution on January, 5 2002.
In order to procure progress in the vital and crucial sector of agriculture SAARC has established a “SAARC Agricultural Information Centre” at Dhaka in 1988. A SAARC Tuberculosis Centre was established at Bhaktapur Nepal in July 1992. The SAARC Documentation Centre has been established in New Delhi in 1994. The SAARC had identified environment as an area for urgent attention. Consequently, SAARC Meteorological Research Centre in Dhaka was established on January, 2 1995. A SAARC Human Resources Development Centre has been established in Islamabad.
INTRODUCTION OF SOCIAL CHARTER
“We need today a new concept of human security-reflected in the lives of the people, not in the weapons of their countries. Human security is not a concern with weapons. It is a concern with human dignity” . The social charter aims at transforming the dream of the legend humanist that is to seek a new concept of development in this unfortunate region through partnership, move from arms security to human security and use the emerging peace dividend to finance the lengthening social agenda of humankind, and form a new partnership.
South Asian leaders voiced lofty hopes during the SAARC Summit at Islamabad. All of them agreed that the 18–year–old South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) must move faster to catch up with other such regional economic groupings or the one-fifth of the world population inhabiting the region would continue to suffer from poverty, hunger, deprivation, squalor and ignorance. The member states seemed to be moving to breathe life into the grouping by moves such as signing of landmark social charter and SAFTA. The signing of Social Charter was hailed as a “historic development” which will surely have a far reaching impact on the lives of millions of south Asian people. A peaceful and enabling environment would be devised to materialize the full economic potential of the region with a view to ameliorate and improve the quality of life of peoples whom are living below the poverty line. The finalization of the social charter with its emphasis on poverty alleviation in the region was really a statement of the intent of the member countries to share their experience in poverty alleviation. The agreements signed during SAARC summit were “noteworthy not only because of the forward momentum they created for regional cooperation but because, combined with the safta agreement they created ambience for the most notable achievement of the Islamabad meeting”.
The Heads of States and Governments of Saarc, in re-affirmation of the prime and lofty objective of Saarc to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development and to provide all individuals an opportunity to live with dignity and realize their full potential, signed the Social Charter on January 4, 2004 which has been described as an opportune omen for the region’s multitudes of impoverished people. The twenty one point social charter urges the signatories to accord profound priority to social development and economic growth. It also stresses that legislative, executive and administrative frameworks should be carried out for the progressive realization of social and economic goals. The social charter “aims at institutionalizing and coordinated efforts of regional countries for poverty alleviation, health, population stabilization, empowerment of women, youth mobilization, human resources development and education, child welfare, and addressing the problem of drugs and rehabilitation”. The social charter also binds the member countries to share and review the implementation strategies of their respective socio-economic uplift plans in agreed fields.
The seven member countries averred that the provisions of social charter shall be respected, protected, and fulfilled. The enforcement and implementation at national level shall be continuously reviewed through an agreed regional arrangement and mechanism. Under the provisions of sc , members also agreed to establish a people-centred framework for the social development and to build a culture of cooperation and partnership, and to respond to the immediate needs of those who are most affected by human tragedy. The Heads of states and Government recognized “poverty alleviation as the greatest challenges facing the peoples of South Asia and declare poverty alleviation as the overarching goal of all Saarc activities”. The charter shall ensure the national process of pro-poor policy-making, their evaluation and true implementation. The member countries are obliged to provide broad parameters and principles for addressing common social issues and developing and implementing result oriented programmes in mutually agreed social areas. A National Coordination Committee, established under the charter, shall facilitate the process of implementation of the social charter or any appropriate national mechanism as may be decided in each member country.
The provisions and intent of the social charter divulge that the charter adhered to and implemented in right earnest by respective governments, could “bring the much-needed social changes in the living conditions of South Asians” over 30 per cent of whom live below the poverty line.
Need for Social Charter in South Asia
Kofi Annan Secretary General of The United Nations visited south Asia in March 2001 and depicted the socio-economic conditions of south Asia in following words. “The fact is that South Asia which is the most heavily populated region in the world faces more daunting problems than any other parts of the globe. It has the most poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition and human deprivation than anywhere else. As long as governments continue to focus on their conflicts with their adversaries and seek a military solution to their disputes, there is no possibility of bringing progress, development and prosperity to their people.”
South Asia, with “21% of world population” it has barely 1.5% of world’s GNP and 3.3% of world’s total land area. Obviously it has the largest concentration of world’s poverty. The seven countries of the region with their wide diversity have a population of over 1.4 billion. India alone by now has 76.2% or more than a billion people, followed by Pakistan 10.6%, Bangladesh at 9.7%, Sri Lanka at 1.6%, while Bhutan and Maldives together have the remaining 0.5%. It suffers “endemic poverty and sense of deprivation, both having very many expressions and roots.” Poor consumption, nutrition, education or sheer illiteracy, resources-poor bases are some of the expressions- all leading to risks, insecurities and vulnerabilities of all kinds. It is rightly stated that South Asia landscape of poverty is simultaneously “static and dynamic, transient and chronic, sporadic and systemic.”
The world development Report 2000-2001 of World Bank acknowledges that while social indicators such as fertility, mortality, and life expectancy rate in developing countries have improved on average in the past decades, “poverty in the developing world has been shifting towards South Asia and sub Sahara Africa.” South Asia following 12th SAARC summit stands suspended between “hope of a better life and fear of a cataclysmic death. The hope emanates from the tremendous human and natural resources potential, the richness and variety of its civilizations. The fear arise not only the poorest region in the world, but also one where the probability of an accidental nuclear war is perhaps greater than in any other region of the world.”
South Asia remains on the sidelines of the soaring world-wide regional trade that is expected to exceed the global volumes in near future. With less than five per cent of regional trade, Saarc is afflicted by conflict, instability and poverty. South Asia is being denied the fruits of regionalism, which has emerged as the locomotive of economic growth in East Asia and Europe. The fear is that time may bypass the region and it may be left in the cold. More than half of the East Asia’s trade, (with nearly a quarter of the world GDP), is with East Asians states, with the largest free trade area in the world in the making. It was less than 20 per cent of their total trade in early 1990s.
As much as 80 per cent the European Union’s total trade is now transacted within the Euro zone, comprising 25 states. The EU has also adopted a common currency and is adding military and political muscle in response to Washington’s unilateralism. In December 2003 ASEAN summit held in Tokyo agreed to create the world’s largest free trade area within 5 years. It would have a combined market of 1.7 billion people, a combined GDP of $2 trillion and a total trade of $1.23 trillion. Japan and South Korea would soon be tempted to join this trade block, already christened ASEAN+3. Besides reaping economic benefits, the region would have stability and larger say in world affairs. While South Asia is suffering from the hangover of the past, East Asia has come with changing reality. Cultivating their “niches in the global economy” the Asean is aware that it can only create “economies of scale” by forming or joining regional blocs. The alternative is to be marginalized in global competition. Towards that end, Singapore is turning into a ‘financial capital and head-quarters’ site for all of South East Asia. Thailand has become an agricultural powerhouse. Malaysia is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of semiconductor components. And thanks to the plentiful supply of “knowledge workers” the Philippines is building up its ‘back-office expertise’ in global information and computer technology, especially in accounting, software development and technical support.
Broad improvements in human welfare will not occur unless poor people receive wider access to affordable, better equality services in health, education, water, sanitation, and electricity. “Without such improvements in service, freedom from illness and freedom from illiteracy, two of the most important ways poor can escape poverty will remain elusive.” South Asia is the poorest and yet the most militarized region in the world. “515 million people lives below poverty line in South Asia. ” The arms race between India and Pakistan (with two countries accounting for 93 per cent of total military expenditure in South Asia) is primarily responsible for this cruel irony. Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen slammed India’s defence budget for harming the country’s human development programmes. “India’s military expenditure was very high and affects key areas like health care and education, which requires massive investment.” Although India’s per capita military expenditure was much lower than that of several countries, including Pakistan, the total budget was still very big.
According to Dr Mahbubul Haq’s Report on Human Development Report in South Asia India, ranked by the World Bank at 142 in terms of per capita income, ranks first in the world in terms of arms imports. Pakistan is not far behind, being ranked 119 in terms of per capita income, and tenth in the world in terms of arms imports. What is even more significant is that , while global military spending declined by 37 per cent during the period 1987- 1994, military spending in South Asia increased by 12 per cent. According to Human Development Report 2002 published by UNDP, “Pakistan spends 4.5 per cent of its GDP on defence, while India spends 2.5 percent. On education Pakistan allocates 1.8 per cent of GDP and India allocates 4.1 per cent of GDP on education”. This military expenditure, whose scale is unprecedented in the developing world, is being done in the name of national security while ignoring “human security needs” .
In a situation where “35 percent population lives below the poverty line, 22 per cent population is without access to health services, 11 per cent population is without access to safe water, 63 per cent population is without access to sanitation, 45.5 per cent of total adult population is illiterate, 58 per cent of total adult female population is illiterate, 47 per cent of the children” in South Asia are malnourished. The defence expenditure “as a per cent of central government expenditure of Pakistan is 21.1%, India 9.5%, Sri Lanka 30.3%, Bangladesh 3.9% and Nepal 2.1 per cent”. South Asia imported 18 per cent of total arms, the logic of such large and growing military spending needs to be questioned. The trade-offs between military expenditures and the provisions of basic services are worth considering. According to Dr Mahbub-ul-Haq: “A battle tank normally costs $4million, Immunizing a child against deadly diseases cost only$1. For the purchase of each battle tank, four million children could be immunized. A Mirage reportedly costs $90 million. It costs an average $30 to maintain a child in primary school. Three million children can benefit against the same amount and be provided primary school education. Against the purchase of three Agosta 90-B submarines seventeen million out of school children could have been provided with primary schooling, while sixty seven million people could have been supplied with safe drinking water for one year or nine million couples could have been facilitated with family planning services.” The question arises is whether national security can be sustainable when achieved at such heavy cost to the citizen’s health, education and well-being.
Furthermore, the heavy arms build-up and constant conflict in the South Asian countries have taken their toll in the guise of subverting the basic social fabric of our civil society. Be it a Pakistani, an Indian, Nepal or even the sober Sri Lankan, they all have “become highly militarized, bigoted and intolerant”. The belief that a change from a belligerent to a peaceful foreign policy based on the principle of co-existence would jeopardize our existence or would compromise our sovereignty lacks logic. If Cuba can co-exist with the USA, and china can have trade relations with Taiwan, without hurting china’s claim over the island, why can’t Pakistan and India live together in an environment which would give their peoples more advantages than adversities?
Factors contributing Poverty
India and Pakistan fought three wars in the first 24 years of their separate existence. While they fought for brief periods, unlike the wars in the west, they find themselves in near-war condition often. And their forces have been facing each other eye-ball to eye-ball on too many occasions. The cost of deploying their forces on the borders is too heavy. And after that they spend far more on defence by strengthening their weaker sectors and acquiring far more deadly and costly weapons wasting precious foreign exchange. In the process vast funds which normally might have gone for economic development or social sector progress get spent on arms or soldiers. Meanwhile the population increases and poverty spreads further and becomes deeper.
Within each SAARC country there are communal and political conflicts resulting in widespread violence and death. The wave of communal killing in India is a tragic example. Muslims and Christians have been put to death in Gujarat in February 2002 in large numbers in a ghastly manner also subjected to economic boycott increasing the hardships for more of them. “Certain crucial aspects of the carrying out of the pogrom required systematic planning well in advance of the Godhra incident. The lists the rioters possessed and used must have been compiled over time. The targeting of Muslim homes, institutions, establishments and shrines was very precise and accurate. Even when there was one Muslim home or shop in a congested Hindu-dominated area, it was attacked, ransacked and burnt”.
In Sri Lanka there has been the protracted civil war between the Sinhalese led government and the Tamil which now seems heading for a solution. In Nepal there has been a protracted murderous conflict between the Government and Maoists which claims a large number of lives. In Pakistan the sectarian and extremism strife has made lives perish. Crimes are on the increase in each country largely due to poverty. Too often women are the worst victims of such prolonged and grinding poverty.
Governments in South Asia have primarily pursued “national security” through increasingly destructive military apparatus, rather than seek ‘human security’ through actualizing their creative potential. After fifty six years of economic development, we find that increasing numbers of people are suffering from hunger, illiteracy and preventable diseases. The chief Justice of Sri Lanka said “Ignorance and poverty were the main factors holding back the growth of the region. Peace and security were essential to fight the twin menace”.
Children who embody our future are in a far worse condition. The majority are suffering from malnutrition, with 99 out of every 1,000 children born dying before the age of one. Out of those who survive the one year barrier, millions die of water – borne and preventable diseases; almost half the school-age children do not get the opportunity of even primary education.
Out of those too poor to go to school, millions of children are engaged in labour: many are maimed, blinded, and afflicted with lung diseases and brain deformities related to poisonous emissions, and physical hazards at workplaces. We are witnessing a massacre of the innocents that, in spite of this fact, south Asian governments are directing increasing resources to building weapons of mass destruction.
South Asia's pervasive poverty is both a cause and consequence of its low level of human development and, in particular, the low status afforded to women. Despite improvements in education and health services, the region still has the world's highest illiteracy rate at 45 percent. Moreover, 56 percent of women in South Asia are illiterate. South Asia also accounts for one third of the world's maternal deaths. Nearly half of the children under 5 years are malnourished. Environmental degradation, inadequate infrastructure, and social exclusion are among the other numerous obstacles to growth and poverty reduction.
Higher and sustained growth with more equitable distribution of benefits is essential to substantially reduce poverty in South Asia. The share of South Asia's intra-regional trade in its total foreign trade has doubled since 1990. However, at 5 percent, it remains far below its potential.
In such deplorable economic scenario the need of a new and fresh social charter is sin quo non for the amelioration of poor people of South Asia. The SAARC has rightly undertaken Herculean task of bettering the lot of poverty ridden masses of SAARC region that will not only help improve the socio-economic condition but also promote the world peace.
PROSPECTS OF SOCIAL CHARTER
The Roman Philosopher vegetius once said “Si vis pecem, Para bellum”. Today this could be amended to read, “If you want peace, you must prepare for peace” but peace building is going to be hard, bumpy and Sisyphean process. It will entail many vicissitudes, twists and turns, zigs and zags and breaks and starts. An honorable and just peace is always productive and enduring. Nevertheless, for this, India as the bigger neighbor has to demonstrate a real change of heart. Only then can South Asia enjoy an honorable and just peace, which could be both fruitful and enduring. This Imperative for peace and security was summed up eloquently by former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto in these words. “The subcontinent is cry out for a solution that will give economic freedom to the masses who struck out for political freedom on the historical night of August 14, 1947. The leaders of both side of the divide need to rise and meet this challenge or they will be waylaid by history and by time”.
Poverty reduction
If Himalayan task of poverty is to be trouncing, and indeed if life itself is to be sustained in South Asia, a new mind-set in the conduct of relation and interplay is called for. There is a need to get out of the straitjacket of what may be called on nuclearized imagination, notion of power based on the capacity to kill and sense of insecurity fuelled by demonized perceptions of each other. The new mindset of relations has to be fashioned out of the well-spring of love, universal humanism, and the desire for a creative interplay amongst culturally diverse people of South Asia. These well-springs irrigate the civilizations in South Asia. Only within this radically different psychic perspective of relations would it be possible to resolve outstanding territorial disputes, achieve nuclear disarmament and reap the peace dividend for the impoverished people of South Asian countries. “All of them have a strong potential of riding the region of many of its present inadequacies in several fields impinging on development, social services and poverty alleviation. If implemented in the same spirit in which they were offered-Vajpayee talked of a ‘collective approach’ – the Saarc vision and objective would be easier of attainment.”
South Asia experienced rapid economic and social development during the 1990s. While it has been among the world's fastest growing regions, improving the health and education of its people and reducing poverty rates, it remains a region enormously challenged to improve the quality of life for all its 1.5 billion citizens.
The indicators for reproductive and children's health will further improve, and, since 1990, maternal mortality has declined from 87 to 73 per 1,000 live births. Mortality rates for children under 5 years have declined from 129 to 99 per 1,000 children. Child malnutrition has declined slightly in the region, but remains among the highest in the world with almost 50 percent of children below the standards for weight by age. While primary school enrollment and adult literacy rates have increased, South Asian illiteracy rates, at 45 percent, are still the highest in the world. The implementation of lofty social charter will help improve socio-economic indicators in south Asia considerably.
As a corollary, the region would experience a rapid growth rate, averaging 5.9 per cent annually and 4.2 per cent in 2002. “South Asia’s GDP is bound to grow 7.2 per cent in 2004 owing to many reasons, including improved relations between India and Pakistan”. The per capita income of all South Asian countries will enhance. South Asia still attracts the lowest rate of foreign direct investment in the world at just 0.5 per cent of GDP. The prospects for economic growth will depend on their ability to attract foreign capital. “In turn, this depends on whether they can provide good governance, cheap skills, roads, communications and utilities necessary for serving as production plate forms for global capital”. The saved resources hitherto used on whimsical notion of territorial security, would be materialized on the establishment of necessary infrastructure in all countries.
By freeing up trade barriers, improved social interaction and enhanced economic cooperation, the members would see improved economic growth and better productivity. The benefits will be most spectacular in the least developed states of Saarc, likely to add an estimated 1.5 per cent per year to their gross domestic products. Existing members of Saarc would see annual economic growth boosted by around 0.2 per cent, with around 150,000 new jobs created within the Saarc region. Anwar syed, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University Massachusetts USA opines that the context of relations within the sub-continent will change radically if the provisions of social charter, proposal for an economic union, common currency, and open borders materialize in that context the matter of Kashmir’s future status will probably change its hue and contours and possibly become much more amenable to resolution.
It is firmly believed that once the disputes are settled peacefully among South Asian countries, SAFTA and Social Charter implemented in letter and spirit there will be no bone of contention of any consequences to damage the relations between India and Pakistan and South Asia will become a haven of peace, prosperity and stability.
Financial Relief from Rich Countries
The peaceful Saarc would compel the member states of the rich Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) to raise their aid level to the developing countries of South Asia to 0.7 per cent of their GDP, as resolved by the United Nations General Assembly instead of the US giving 0.1 per cent and Britain 0.2 per cent, which they intend to increase only marginally. The donors would be obliged to come up with debt relief and debt swap for social sector development for Saarc states. The rich countries would consider making legislation directing their financial institutions to frame rules against the illegal flight of capital from this region. The Saarc would solicit the donor states to accord financial relief to Saarc countries on the lines of that given to the Highly Indebted Poor Countries as this region deserve and needed such assistance. Such assistance will forthcoming, and in large measure, and on liberal terms, only if the donors are sure the aid is properly used and is producing the promised results. If instead they find a great deal of regional precious resources are going to the arms to use against each other or on the large standing armies on which too much is spent, large aid and measures intended to reduce the poverty will not be forthcoming.
Admission to emerging economic bloc
The Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional cooperation (IOR-ARC) was established in 1997 by nine countries, including one member of Saarc and ECO. The IOR-ARC is also considering an over-arching policy objective of achieving free trade arrangements and investment among member countries by 2010. Pakistan, as usual has lost immense opportunities to have a share in consultation and be part of those projects. But so far, it has been serving the Indian objective of keeping Pakistan out of Asian, African and Australian trade bloc.
The IOR-ARC has expanded itself to 19 countries including two members of Saarc Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The Indian Ocean Rim counted for 31 per cent of the world population, but 6.3 per cent of its GDP and 10.7 per cent of its trade. The intra-IOR trade is only 22 per cent of the total. There lies a great intra-regional trade prospect besides inter-regional trade, not adequately explored pro tanto. It is shocking to note that Pakistan is not in any regional bloc except the Saarc and ECO. Pakistan has equally a significant strategic location, almost half way, if we cast a glance at the sea route running from Durban to Australasia. Besides, Pakistan has easy access to the landlocked countries of Central Asia. All countries of Central Asia are members of ECO and enjoy cordial relations with Pakistan. Though Turkey is not a part of the Indian Ocean, Pakistan together with Iran is part of the ECO, and the ECO and the IOR states could benefit by establishing their trade links through Pakistani ports. Unfortunately, Pakistan has so far been denied admission in the IOR-ARC because of strong opposition by India. Countries like Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Oman and Bangladesh have committed Pakistan full support at the IOR-ARC. Pakistan is anxiously seeking entry into ASEAN. Majority of members have pledge support for Pakistan’s admission, consequently India will not resist its membership. The entry into the Asean will open new avenues for Pakistan’s economic development and trade.
The benefits to India will also be manifold, including trade not only with Pakistan but also with the Central Asian states and the construction of pipeline. India has been looking for membership of Security Council of United Nations and good neighbourly relations with Pakistan are bound to help in enlisting the support of Pakistan. India can procure moral stature internationally.
Following successful twelfth Saarc summit at Islamabad, India have softened its opposition to Pakistan’s admission in Commonwealth. India will be under enormous pressure under the provisions of Social Charter and Pakistan will get membership of these potential regional organizations. Its membership will bring immense benefits for the poor people of Pakistan in terms of trade and employment opportunities. In return, Pakistan will give the MFN status to India, and save itself from the undue exploitation by India on the international forums under the pretext of trade discrimination. Pakistan can learn from the achievements of India’s rapid industrialization. The intra-Saarc trade will enhance.
Protection of Minorities
The enormous benefits of social charter would be the adoption of social protection mechanism. “A social protection strategy for South Asia must find ways to develop alternatives to the safety nets which the developed welfare states provide their citizens through formal mechanism such as insurance and social security. Relief must be provided to the poor through less traditional measures such as micro-finance and public works aimed at reducing volatility” . The small countries of South Asia shall not only find core competence but also create economies of scale in production by promoting and forging regional cooperation. The social charter would help protect the minorities living in seven countries as “minority communities in each country are extremely vulnerable to reprisals as a consequence of events in the other country”. The majority will respect the right of minority living in their country. The tragic incidents of mass killing of Muslims and other minorities will not occur in future.
Development of Soft Sectors and reduction in Defence expenditure
While SAARC leaders have agreed on numerous steps to be taken jointly, the more important steps to fight poverty have to be taken domestically. The five major steps for reducing poverty like containing corruption, ensuring good governance, transparent use of public funds, improving official procurement process and bringing improvement in the police and judicial systems, have to be taken by the governments of each of the seven Saarc states in a manner that really works in each country. It is indeed a great achievement on the part of Saarc that the poor would get relief and lead a prosperous and peaceful life.
Moreover, the saving over defence will go a long way to increase literacy among the poor in addition to improving the economic condition and health care. The heavy amount spent on purchase of unnecessary arms would be saved and redirected to the development of soft sectors. “South Asia purchased arms to the tune of 2984 million dollar. India bought 55 per cent and Pakistan 42 per cent of the total”. The alternative to all this will be the permanent confrontation between India and Pakistan and sufferers will mostly be the teeming poor of both countries. As the President of Maldives have aptly said in his speech that “our people need food, not fighter aircraft; books, not bombs; medicines, not missiles, Saarc soon may become an anachronism if we, individually and collectively, do not find the heart to step into the future”.
CONCLUSION
The study has revealed that the benefits of social charter are immense and far reaching. The social charter would transform the future of poor south Asians in all walks of life provided political commitment is shown by the leaders of Saarc leaders.
Mabub ul Haq in his book “Reflection on Human Development” proposed the establishment of “Economic Security Council within United Nations” but the idea could not materialize. I, in the supreme interest of poor south Asian proffer the establishment of “Economic Security Council within the framework of Saarc”. This would be the most revolutionary and indispensable innovative step in the region. The economic Security Council may enjoy a clear, pro poor and comprehensive mandate for decision-making in the mutually agreed social and economic areas.
Pakistan and India, two important members of Saarc have been locked up in unrelenting confrontation since their emergence as independent states in August 1947. The region is, in fact, the most deadly and explosive areas in the world in view of its nuclear capability which both India and Pakistan possess. There are strong apprehensions that in case; these two nuclear rivals may end up in a nuclear war, which will cause a total disaster for the entire region. It will not be amiss to mention here that while neighboring ASEAN has proved a great success, over the years and many other regional blocs in the world have also blossomed, it is unfortunate that SAARC since its very start has remained hostage to Indo-Pak rivalry and outstanding political dispute of Kashmir has over shadowed meaningful cooperation between these two countries.
Moreover, the “Big-Brother”- India, unlike Indonesia, has not evinced any serious interest in the organization as it prefers to cooperate with small neighbours only on bilateral basis. In view of the changed global scenario, it is now being seriously felt that South Asia has no alternative but to proceed forward with regional cooperation, leaving cumbersome burden of history behind. The time has come for South Asia to serge forward and catches up with the advanced world, if it has to survive as a respectable entity. People of the region have suffered for too long and they certainly deserve a better life on planet earth. They must not be condemned to eternally live amidst poverty, ignorance, disease and perpetual conflicts. The Saarc members have to agree under the aegis of Saarc on reducing force level and in cutting down their huge military expenditure. Such expenditure takes the bread off the mouth of poor and milk off the mouths of babies.
This is the quintessence of Indo-Pak rapprochement which if translated into reality will benefit the people of this region and the world at large in terms of enormous economic opportunities that will accrue through intra-regional as well as inter-regional cooperation with other parts of world. Above all, it will “enable both countries to fully devote their resources, both human and material, to improving the lives of their people, particularly the poorest among them”. The dynamic and effective SAARC is capable of eliminating the ever increasing poverty from unfortunate SAARC region, which generates less than 2% of world income, yet support 22% of world population and 44% of the world’s poor (those who earn less than a dollar a day) and strive to diminish the ever increasing defence expenditure of member countries. According to Former Indian prime minister V P Singh a new ray of hope has been kindled in the relations between India and Pakistan due the efforts of SAARC. The world has recognized that the SAARC is the only Ray of Hope for downtrodden people of South Asia groaning under the ever increasing burden of defence, debt and conflicting political history.
I would conclude the article with the golden words of current chairman of Saarc. “We can together utilize the resources of our region to make it a veritable centre of economic growth in Asia. We subscribe to the vision of robust multidimensional cooperation in South Asia. But, we must realize that this vision could only be transformed into reality, if we are able to overcome our differences and disputes and create a climate of mutual trust and confidence”.
Annexure “A”
Table: Human Development Index—SAARC Countries
1990 1995 2000 2001
Bangladesh 0.414 0.443 0.478 0.502
Bhutan - - 0.478 0.502
India 0.519 0.553 0.577 0.590
Maldives - - 0.743 0.751
Nepal 0.413 0.451 0.490 0.499
Sri Lanka 0.692 0.715 0.741 0.730
Pakistan 0.440 0.472 0.499 0.499
Source: UNDP Human Development Report (various Issues)
Annexure “B”
Resources Allocation World Developing countries India Pakistan
Education spending as a per cent of economy 4.8% 4.1% 3.2% 2.7%
Health spending as a % of economy 5.3% 2.7% 0.8% 0.7%
Defence spending as a per cent economy 2.3% 2.7% 3.0% 4.5%
Education & health spending as a per cent of Defence 440% 252% 133% 75%
Defence spending as a per cent of Budget 11% 15% 15% 24%
Source: World Development Report and Economic Survey of Pakistan 2002-2003.
I am Teaching International Politics and running ECO & SAARC Local Information Centre at Government Islamia Arts College and Post Graduate Studies Centre Sukkur Pakistan.
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