Asia-Pacific countries adopt Delhi declaration on sustainable livelihood

DHAKA, Bangladesh, June 26 (BSS) - Ministers and senior officials from the Asia-Pacific countries adopted the Delhi Declaration on
sustainable livelihood during a ministerial retreat in New
Delhi today.

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
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.