NITI Aayog for more trade, greater integration of Saarc region
New Delhi, July 2: Pushing for greater integration in the Saarc region, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant on Monday said the South Asian region will remain backward until it pushes for greater trade, greater investments and more tourism within the region.
He said the South-Asian region was the least integrated region in the world with virtually no intra-regional trade.
Kant said that on one hand, over 97 per cent of tourists come to India via air from other countries, most Indian tourists also travel to the Southeast Asian region.
The NITI Aayog CEO pushed for greater intra-region tourism to boost growth and even encouraged Indians to travel to Pakistan, and vice versa.
"Why should Indian tourists go to Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand? Why shouldn't they travel to Bhutan, Afghanistan or Pakistan? We should travel to each other's countries. We have made things so difficult politically that we are not able to benefit from all this (intra-region tourism)," he said at the SAARC Development Fund (SDF) Partnership Conclave here.
"If you look around the world, most of the trade, investment and tourism is intra-regional in character. Therefore most of growth has taken place in those regions, and poverty eliminated, because of intra-regional work. If you look at America or Europe, it's all intra-regional," he added.
Kant said there was virtually no intra-regional trade in the Saarc region.
"In terms of tourism, 97.2 per cent of tourists come to India via air from abroad. So there is no intra-regional travel and tourism. And therefore the multiplier impact of trade, or tourism, or investments has not benefited the country. And that's why South Asia remains the region with maximum poverty," he said.
"South Asia as a region has been severely hampered and it will remain backward till we don't integrate the region and till we don't push for greater trade, greater investments, and greater travel and tourism within the region," he added.
Kant said that growth in India and its neighbouring countries will not come from other regions like America or Europe, but it will be the political will, determination and bonding together of the Saarc countries which will enable growth and eliminate poverty.
"That's how it has happened in other parts of the world. But unfortunately, it hasn't happened here," he said.
The NITI Aayog CEO also pushed for more employment opportunities for women saying that they contribute only 25 per cent to GDP in the Saarc region compared to 48 per cent contribution to the GDP in the rest of the world.
He said the region cannot grow until this changes and a conscious policy was needed to promote employment for women and to empower them.
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DMK to challenge Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Supreme Court
Chennai: Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has announced its decision to challenge the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Supreme Court. The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha early Thursday morning with a 288-232 vote despite strong opposition from several parties.
Chief Minister M K Stalin, addressing the Tamil Nadu Assembly while wearing a black ribbon in protest, condemned the passage of the Bill, calling it an attack on the Constitution and an attempt to disturb communal harmony. He reiterated that Tamil Nadu would fight against the BJP-led Union government on the issue of Waqf properties.
“A majority of political parties opposed the Bill, yet it was pushed through with support from some alliance partners. This move is condemnable. The DMK will challenge it in the Supreme Court,” Stalin said.
On March 27, the Tamil Nadu Assembly had passed a resolution against the Bill. Stalin had then accused the BJP government of introducing policies aimed at excluding certain communities, citing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as an example.
“The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is another attempt by the Union Government to interfere in the religious administration of Muslims. It grants greater control to the government over Waqf properties, undermining their autonomy and violating fundamental rights,” he said.
Stalin further accused the BJP of pushing a divisive agenda, asserting that the Bill would create legal hurdles for Waqf institutions and strip them of their autonomy.
