{IR&A} Golden Jubilee celebration of AARDO
- ·
Due to shared history, commonality of issues and
challenges and geopolitical reasons India has been a strong votary and
architect of solidarity and cooperation among Afro-Asian nations. From Bandung
to hey days of Non-alignment and pinnacle of South-South Cooperation India has
always stood up for a closer relationship and collective approach among the
countries of the region on every possible sphere.
- ·
The formation of Afro-Asian
Rural Development Organisation (AARDO) (earlier known as Afro-Asian Rural
Reconstruction Organisation) is one of the earliest examples of South-South
cooperation in rural development in the Afro-Asian region. It is an autonomous
inter-governmental organisation.
- ·
Some
statistics: [1.] an average 68 per cent of
population in the Afro-Asian region still live in rural areas; more than
two-thirds of the world population lives in this region; three-fourth of
world’s poor also live here; [2.]
Worldwide 2.7 billion people live on less than $2 a day, and 1.1 billion people
live on under $1 a day; [3.] In
Sub-Saharan Africa almost 50% of the population lives on under $1 a day; 32 of the world’s 48 poorest countries are located in this region; [4.] South-East Asia account for
approximately half of the world’s poor; Of a population of 1.3 billion, 85%
live on less than $2 a day; [5.]
The East Asia/Pacific region is home to 1.8-2 billion people, making it one of
the most populous regions on earth; About 50% of the population here too
lives on less than $2 a day.
- ·
Poverty is the greatest affront on human rights,
dignity, and development. Many of the
conflicts witnessed in the countries of the region are directly attributable to
extreme poverty of this region.
The “Copenhagen Declaration” described poverty as “….. a
condition characterised by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including
food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education
and information.”
- ·
To banish extreme poverty and allied scourges from the
face of the earth in a time bound manner by 2015 through a global partnership,
UN adopted the eight Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs): eradicating extreme poverty,
achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering
women
reducing child mortality rates, improving maternal health,
combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, ensuring environmental sustainability, and
developing a global partnership for development.
- ·
The principal objective of AARDO has been the
promotion of understanding among member countries for better appreciation of
each others problems. To realise these objectives, AARDO has been
implementing a number of concerted programmes on triennial basis. During
the triennium 2006-2008, all out efforts were made to consolidate the existing
activities of AARDO, namely, training programmes, seminars, deputation of
experts and at the same time, initiate new programmes such as study visits, meeting
of heads of training institutes and regional representatives to discuss and
review technical programmes, etc. AARDO also aims to help the member
countries in obtaining financial and technical assistance for rural development
programmes from the financial and other specialised institutions like World
Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), African Development Bank (AFDB) etc.
- ·
It is in this backdrop that India’s experience and phenomenal success in the field of
agriculture and rural reconstruction are of critical value to the AARDO member
states many of which are still struggling to grapple with the issue of how to
fast pace the development of their rural areas by eradicating thirst, hunger,
illiteracy, disease and poverty.
- ·
To develop about 6 lakhs villages in India, where over
70 per cent of our people live, 5-year plans set out and achieved
ambitious tasks of rural reconstruction. Emanating from this is “Bharat Nirman”
– a time bound business like programme for specific targets of rural
infrastructure development by 2015.
- ·
The new mantra for rural development is to foster an “inclusive growth” which does not leave
out the vast majority of rural populace from the ambit of growth and
development taking place in the country.
- ·
Time has therefore come to strengthen AARDO to enable
it to take a holistic approach to address the rural poverty as defined by the
“Copenhagen Declaration” so that its mission and objectives can be taken beyond
the realms of semantics. The
forthcoming Golden Jubilee celebration
of AARDO being held in New Delhi on 5-6th, March, 2012 shall
provide a new fillip and also an apt platform to the 29 member nations to share
their experiences and explore new areas of cooperation.
| 
