The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Ministers and senior officials from the Asia-Pacific countries adopted the Delhi Declaration on sustainable livelihood during a ministerial retreat in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The Ministerial Retreat on Rural Development for the Asia Pacific Region was jointly organised by the Government of India and the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) and was held at the Vigyan Bhavan in the Indian capital, according to a press release here.

Dr Ranghuvansh Prasad Singh, Minister of Rural Development of India, presided over the retreat. Ministers and their representatives from all the CIRDAP member countries (CMCs) except Lao PDR and Vietnam participated in the retreat.

The CIRDAP member countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

The theme for the ministerial retreat was sustainable livelihood with special focus on information and communication technology (ICT) and women empowerment in the context of rural development.

In the declaration, the ministers strongly reiterated their commitment to rural development, to eradicate poverty and promote gender equality in the region.

While appreciating the efforts of the Ministry of Rural Development of India in effectively implementing various rural development programmes, the members noted that some of the member countries have made significant progress in poverty reduction.

The declaration agreed upon taking some affirmative action in CMCs on the improvement of rural livelihoods, empowerment of rural women and leveraging ICT for rural development in terms of policy and strategy. The declaration called for simple, affordable and cost effective technology with maximum coverage in rural areas.

Earlier this morning, the retreat began with opening remarks from the Director General of CIRDAP Dr Durga Paudyal. Dr Raghuvansh Prasad Singh set the tone of the retreat and Dr Rita Sharma, Secretary of Rural Development, conducted the programme.

All the participating countries made country statements. The ministerial retreat concluded with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration by the ministers of rural development of CIRDAP member countries.

The ministerial retreat and the special meeting of the CIRDAP Governing Council was inaugurated by the Vice President of India on June 24 June.