Reforms at SAARC

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SAARC has been termed as an “unruly stepchild” in the world of regional organizations by Brookings India. Indeed such a comment is obvious for an organization which is incapable of producing any significant result in the time span of almost three decades. The region inhabits one-fifth of the world’s population. Unfortunately the region is also the home of 40% of the world’s poor.

SAARC is an economic and geo-political regional organization of South Asian countries. But the summits were often the victim of political agendas and became the platform to solve bi-lateral disputes, especially of India and Pakistan. The 18^th SAARC summit was one such example when the prime ministers of both countries shook hands only in retreat ceremony. Interestingly the region apart from having two hostile nuclear powered members is a historical large trade center and has the potential to be one in future.

SAARC is one of the few organizations in the world which is having more observers (35 countries comprising 28 countries being represented by EU) than members (8 countries). This clearly states that the whole world is having an eye over the developments in the area, even though they deny the fact. The members should understand that this area has the potential to be the largest stakeholder of world’s trade. The strategically placed subcontinent can serve as the bridge between the west and the east. It’s high time that the members should go for a complete transformation of SAARC.

First, SAARC should be made a socio-economic body from being just an economic body. The addition of “socio” in the definition increases the scope as well as the importance of the organization. Thus, things like eradication of poverty, improvement of standards of living, health, disaster management, etc. will become the area where joint projects can easily be conducted. Although SAARC has SAARC Human Resources Development Centre (SHRDC), SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC) and SAARC Forestry Centre (SFC) but often the disputes over economic agendas subsides them. By making it an aim, the members can achieve two things: overall human development and solve small disputes that arise due to regional imbalance.

Second, when the major players like US, Canada, etc. in big platforms like COP-20, UNCCC (Lima, Peru) are failing to reach to a particular negotiation on climate change, this organization can setup its local protocols. This is feasible as no member will be against it and moreover the climate in the area nearly same. Thus one can easily frame a target based local Agenda 21 like SAARC Agenda 21. The area is fortunate to have many endemic land and aquatic species of flora and fauna. This will unite the region and they can put forward a common say in the international conferences like UNCCC, CDB, etc. This again brings the countries closer.

Third, the area can form a strong bond by helping each other on the directions of SAARC in case of disasters. Recently, Maldives experienced acute shortage of drinking water and on being asked for helped India and Sri Lanka flew loads of humanitarian aids. If there would have been a stronger SAARC, then Maldives would have asked SAARC to help. On reply SAARC would have asked its entire members to look in the issue and instead of just India and Sri Lanka all the countries would have gone for help. Thus a strategic Disaster Management agenda will help the region to unite fast and work together.

Fourth, frequent meet on cultural and sports platform. Events like SAF Games, Nissar Trophy, M.J. Gopalan Trophy, Youth Meets and University’s student exchange programmes, SAARC scholarships, etc on regular interval will not only bring the people of the region together but also change the mentality by making them more introspective. The more the numbers of platforms where the leaders and authorities of member countries meet the lesser will the disputes.

Fifth, the leaders of the member countries should come up to a negotiation on the similar lines of I.K. Gujral doctrine and forget all the disputes to make SAFTA a success. This should be understood that economically developed countries with free trade between them have least number of problems. Areas like ASEAN who moved over political disputes to opt for free trade and development is one such example. It’s not impossible.

So we conclude that, South Asian countries are enough capable to work together and pave a path for SAARC, from an association of developing and under developed nations toa unit of prosperous countries. But for this the countries need to move over their bilateral disputes and we hope this would happen soon.