Need to address issues of survival, basic entitlements: Gujral

New Delhi, Apr 2 (UNI) Former Prime Minister I K Gujral today stressed on the need for stakeholders in the South Asia to address issues of survival and access of basic needs for all in the region.

Addressing a three-day South Asian People's Summit in the capital, which concluded today, Mr Gujral said,''with the region getting the dubious distinction of having the largest number of people living below poverty line, virtually in a state of destitution and in the grip of severe hunger and deprivation, effort of stakeholders across the region should be to address issues of survival and access to basic entitlements.'' Social activists and civil society leaders from across the region had come together at the summit to galvanise support for greater regional cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and influence governments to reduce defence and arms expenditure by 10 per cent annually and increase outlays on basic services and entitlements such as access to nutrition, potable water and healthcare.

A Regional Declaration passed at the end of the summit urged all governments to work towards a meaningful unification of the region and strengthen the political resolve to combat structural challenges such as poverty and social inequities.

The 200 delegates at the summit called for strengthening people-centered regional unification to overcome the problems of social backwardness and lop-sided development in the South Asian region.

UNI