07 February 2005	Monday	27 Zilhaj 1425

DHAKA, Feb 6: A two-day Saarc 'people's summit' ended here on Sunday, after adopting a 24-point draft declaration that the participants hoped would make the regional grouping more effective and people-oriented.

The declaration particularly urged India to cancel implementation on the proposed Indian river-linking project, which it said would dangerously affect the biodiversity of the lower riparian countries like Bangladesh and some parts of eastern India.

The conference also expressed concern over the cancellation of the Saarc summit and urged the association leaders to take initiatives to organize the event as soon as possible.

Worried about a possible confrontation over water issues, the conference appealed to the heads of government of Saarc countries to start negotiations on the matter.

The South Asia Partnership in collaboration with the South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication organized the conference titled 'People's Summit for People's SAARC' at the BRAC Inn Centre.

More than 200 delegates from South Asian countries except the Maldives attended the conference which presented several keynote papers on 'Poverty, Livelihood in the Context of Globalization', 'Poverty, Trade and Globalization', 'Trafficking and Human Security', 'Gender Rights', 'Peace and Militarization', 'Governance', 'Food Sovereignty', 'Natural Catastrophe: Issues and Concerns in South Asia', and 'Mitigation of Natural Catastrophe'.

The speakers expressed concern over the political unrest in Nepal and Bhutan, both members of the Saarc. They called for building a comprehensive mechanism for forecasting natural disasters like the tsunami in South Asian countries and for quick dissemination of information to save people from such catastrophes.

The moot adopted proposals for easing of visa arrangements among Saarc states, reduction of military budgets and diversion of the money so saved on education, health, supply of drinking water and food management.

Recommendations were made for inclusion of gender issues in educational curriculum, setting up of people's peace commissions, people's access to information, stopping privatization of public industries and service sectors, and launching a movement for food sovereignty.