Share knowledge to cut human deprivation
Experts tell international conference
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the participants of the International Conference on People's Empowerment and Development yesterday in Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital. Representatives from 62 countries are taking part in the event. Photo: PID
Countries across the world should learn from one another about the best practices and measures to mitigate human deprivation, which is a multi-dimensional issue, said noted economist Prof Wahiduddin Mahmud yesterday. The mitigating measures should be harmonised within the overall development strategies and socio-economic settings of a particular country, while adhering to certain common global standards, he also said while addressing a session on “Mitigating Deprivation” at a two-day conference. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh organised the “International Conference on People's Empowerment and Development” at a hotel in the capital. "There are many pathways to mitigate deprivation, but there is no unique blueprint for success," said Prof Mahmud while presenting a paper. Giving instances of some countries in this issue, he said Nepal has made impressive progress in some of the social development indicators in spite of the generally low living standard there while the Indian state of Kerala's effective local governance and decentralisation have played a key role in breaking the old inequalities of class, caste and gender. Explaining the psychology of deprivation, he said when people feel disadvantaged because of class, ethnicity or other socio-cultural barriers, they respond less proactively to opportunities created by economic development. Minister for Environment and Forests Hasan Mahmud said, although the least developed countries (LDC) produce only one percent of the greenhouse gases, it is these countries which would be affected first and the worst. The sea level will rise by 200 feet if the glaciers in Antarctica are melted and the water from it is distributed homogenously to the oceans, he said, adding that around 17 percent of the land in Bangladesh will go underwater and 30 million people will be displaced consequently. He said the global community is not paying proper attention to the people who are innocent victims of the climate change, which is mainly caused by the developed countries producing greenhouse gases. "This is also a deprivation," the minister said, urging the international communities to take responsibility of the climate change vulnerable countries and people to bring them out of the cycle of deprivation. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Nepal Narayan Kaji Shrestha also addressed the session. In another working session on “Inclusion of the Excluded People” at the conference, Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman said the incumbent government has given serious importance towards inclusion of the excluded people specially tenant farmers. “This is for the first time in the country's history that we are giving agricultural loans to tenant farmers which are a Bangladesh Bank's support to innovative financial inclusion initiatives,” he said. He said small and micro credit loans are also playing a role in changing the fate of farmers and poor people. In another session on “Reducing Inequality,” speakers stressed on expanding social safety nets, ensuring health and education facilities and creating more job opportunities for reducing inequality. Voicing for improving the socio-economic status of women, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury said women constitute 40 percent of the world's labour force and 43 percent of the agricultural labour force. Women's empowerment is not an isolated issue and it is absolutely at the centre of achieving people's empowerment, she said, adding that it is essential that this inequality to which women are subjected be reduced. Works and Human Settlement Minister of Kingdom of Bhutan Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba and Deputy Foreign Minister of Maldives Ali Hameed also addressed the session.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments