The Japan and South Asia Youth Forum 2002
"What Japan and South Asia can do Aiming at Peace and Stability in the World"
Group C
Democracy,education and poverty
The delegates of the forum resolved that:
South Asian experience with democracy and poverty has raised serious questions regarding the very promise of democracy. The group noted with concern over the persistence of extreme poverty despite half a century of independent governance.
It is widely known that the countries of South Asia rank far below in socio-economic developmental indices. It is a disturbing fact that the region has a long way to go in achieving primary human security. The group discussed various factors that are responsible for this dismal state of affairs. In order to understand the real causes of backwardness and deprivation most participants felt that it is essential to grasp the complex process of state formation in South Asia, especially in view of the fact that many South Asian countries are composed of diverse social, religious, linguistic, and ethnic identities. Intercommunity relation, in this regard, is an important issue to be noted. Inequitable distribution of land, prolonged monopoly of power by an elite and lack of education have been seen as major causes of our backwardness.
Politically stable democratic government in each country constitutes the prerequisite for South Asia's development. The house was divided on the exact nature of government that should ideally be practiced in South Asia. However the need for good governance was unequivocally emphasized.
The contemporary profile of South Asian democracy does not suggest encouraging prospect for future. Nor does our past experience offer any source of inspiration. It is also unfortunate that independent nation states which emerged after the demise of colonial rules have failed in fulfilling the promises they had made. The group generally felt that all countries in South Asia should gradually adopt more democratic form of governance, which ensures the rights of its citizens regardless of religion, gender, ethnic, linguistic and caste affiliations.
On the question of poverty alleviation and democracy, the general opinion emphasized the linkage between democracy and persistence of poverty. Many participants underlined the need for grassroots democracy which would enable the deprived people to participate in the developmental activities as well as governance. In view of the complex process of nation formation in the region, it was felt that proportional representation and decentralization of power are the immediate need of the time. There cannot be any programme for effective poverty alleviation without the active participation of different deprived sections.
The process of majoritarianism was seen as a hindrance in achieving greater levels of participation in the political process of South Asian countries. It is also unfortunate that the rights of a large number of minority communities are consistently violated in many of these countries.
Therefore, keeping the above in view, the house resolved to make the following are proposed for more humane, democratic and poverty free South Asia
- Land reform
Overwhelming majority of the discussants felt that effective land reform should be carried out by the respective government of each country as the first major step towards poverty alleviation. It was also reiterated that effective land reforms will help to bring about equitable distribution of resources in a predominantly agrarian regions.
- Education
Education, it was unequivocally emphasized, holds the key to long term development of the people. Need for a holistic approach to free primary education encompassing education for all, vocational training and adult education was reiterated.
- Empowerment
Each government must undertake policies with a view to empowering the deprived sections by pursuing the ideal of positive discrimination.
- Proper planning
The need of the hour is to have proper planning to encompass all the crucial economic issues within the purview of development. National policies should emanate from
below, rather than being imposed on the people from above.
- Infrastructure development
The house was unanimous upon the need for paying special attention on the issue of overall infrastructure development, particularly in key socio-economic sectors.
- Problem of the debt-trap
Given the increasing dependence of South Asian countries on the global financial institutions as World Bank and the developed West, the house expressed concern over the possibility of South Asian countries slipping into an inevitable debt-trap. The developed world must appreciate the vulnerable financial positions of these countries and help in bailing them out from their critical positions.
- SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) as an effective forum for regional cooperation
It was unanimously resolved that SAARC must set in motion a new agenda of regional cooperation that can integrate all countries in the region a single economic unit and encourage free movement of goods and capital.
- Removal of mutual distrust between religious and ethnic identities
The social discord in South Asia originates largely from the distrust and misconceptions between different identities. The house called upon respective government to take measures to build up mutual trust and confidence. In this regard, school curriculum and media as important areas that can bring different communities closer together.
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