Events
Report-March 2006 |
National
Consultation on
‘Regional Economic Cooperation in South Asia (RECSA)’ March 24, 2006 Mumbai, India The National Consultation in India on “Regional Economic Co-operation in South Asia” was jointly organised by CUTS-CITEE, Jaipur, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), India and Indian Merchants Chamber, Mumbai on March 24, 2006 in Mumbai. The participants included distinguished leaders from the academic, policy and entrepreneurial spheres. Dr N C Pahariya of CUTS –CITEE represented the consultation programme. Rajesh Kapadia, the President of the Indian Merchants’ Chamber gave the inaugural address. While giving address he stressed the need for more such discourses deliberating such Agreements so that the different stakeholders may be able to know the intricacies of such Agreements and will be able to make cost-benefit thereof. Dr Pahariya, in his introductory remarks, explained the role of the RECSA Project in exploring avenues for enhancing the regional economic cooperation in South Asia by engaging stakeholders’ participation. He informed about the National Consultations held in Pakistan and Dhaka apart from the launch Meeting at Colombo, Sri Lanka, including the rap up meeting that would be held some time in April/May. In the session ‘SAFTA: The Journey Ahead” there was discussion on why the South Asia’s politically fragmented countries are not able to make themselves economically powerful and what is therefore needed is to make the SAARC, a platform to forge strong regional economic cooperation that it serve as a think-tank for the entire region. Th discussants were of the view that more proactive role is needed of the NGOs/CSOs in clearing the clouds of suspicion and non-cooperation amongst the South Asian nations. While addressing the session ‘Foreign Direct Investment: Concerns and Opportunities’ the discussant mostly advocated that the country needs it for speeder infrastructure development. Speaking on this topic, Ajit Ranade, Aditya Birla Management Corporation said that foreign direct investment brings with it the benefits of access to natural and human resources, access to technology and access to markets. In the session ‘Trade Facilitation’ eminent speakers presented the data the Cost of Delay and Dwelling time taken in South Asian nations, which make these countries less competitive. They were of the opinion that customs valuation is an important issue in WTO negotiations. Finally in the ‘Business Engagement’ session the speakers
asked the need for a more closure interactions between businessmen of
South Asian countries, including frequent fairs and exhibitions be organised
in different locations in these countries. The main thrust was that
government should give greater financial support to such activities
and NGOs/CSOs should play a catalytic role. |
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The 10th Campaign Programme under Securities and Market Awareness Campaign (SMAC) phase-III was organised on March 27, 2006 at the Panchayat Samiti office, Baneda in Bhilwara district. The Chief Guest and the main speaker included J D Srimali, Block Development Officer (BDO), Baneda and Kamala Mali, Pradhan, Baneda. There were around 42 participants, including the local people. The discussions on issues such as different alternates of investments, types of investments in capital markets and principals on which investments should be done were held. In addition, the risk factors of investments and liquidity and net resultant of investment were also discussed. Participants were eager to know more about the capital market and other alternates of investments. As some important recommendations, participants wanted extensive training programmes in their areas in order to generate greater awareness. Gauri Rani of CUTS-CHD, Bhilwara Office coordinated the programme at the local level. The whole programme was covered by the media. For further details, please contact |
‘Paricharcha’ State
Consultation on Child Domestic Workers As part of the project on Child Domestic Workers (CDWs) and in continuation to the awareness generation programmes, CUTS in partnership with Save the Children (UK) organised a State level consultation meet on 27th March 2006 at Hotel Maharani Plaza, Opposite Sindhi Camp, Jaipur on the theme ‘Hum Bhi Bachche Hain’ (we, too, are children). The consultation was organised as a part of an effort to share the idea of the CDWs project with the social actors in the area of Child Rights and Child Protection and also make it a platform where a collective plan of action could be formulated by bringing together NGOs/CBOs/Govt Depts. / Educational Institutions etc. for the issue of social cause. In the welcome address Mr. Dharmendra Chaturvedi (DC), Project coordinator, CUTS briefed about the functioning areas of CUTS and a brief outline of CDWs project. DC also briefed about the twin objective of generating awareness and sensitizing the entire Jaipur city towards this issue and secondly, of advocating with the government for inclusion of the CDWs in Child labour (regulation and prohibition) act. DC also extended heartfelt thanks for their continuous support for the smooth running of the project. Addressing the participants, which included various NGOs/CBOs/Educational Institutions etc. Ms. Nupur Pande (NP), Jaipur coordinator, Save the children (SC) (UK) briefed about the functioning areas of SC (UK) as well as child rights and the existing child policy in India, which does not include CDWs under their purview. NP also shared that Tamilnadu & Kerela are the two states of India where CDWs have been included under Child labour. NP also emphasized that CDW is an invisible employment and efforts should be taken to identify the CDWs. NP also briefed about the strategy adopted for identification of CDW in the other four states viz Maharashtra, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Delhi where CDWs project is already been functioning successfully. Continuing with the presentation Ms Smriti (SI) from CUTS presented a detail outlook, need and also the future plan of the project. SI also presented some facts and figures regarding of the CDWs in India and added that India is the largest employer of child labour in the entire world. SI also briefed that the main goal of such projects is the abolition of not only CDWs but Child labour in general form the entire society. After the midmorning tea a Nukkad Natak (Road Show) was presented by Goonj Sansthan, Jaipur on the issue of CDW. They exhibited the problems faced by CDWs while working as households help in their employers’ house. In line with nukkad natak they also presented a self compiled song on the Child rights. Taking the consultation forward Mr. Sandeep Edwin (SE), Project Coordinator, WorldVision India, Jaipur made a brief presentation on present status of child labour in India, reasons for the existence of child labour, need of awareness generation among both parents as well as children etc. SE also emphasized upon the need to take up more of girl child empowerment programme, as it is mostly girl child working as domestic help in the households. SE also stressed upon linking child development programmes with education and vocational trainings and establishment of children’s club where child problems can be dealt with directly. Ms Archana (AR) of I-India gave a brief presentation on the functioning areas of I-India and also informed that the organisation works for children both on and off the streets. AR also explained various projects like ‘Chalti Chatshala’ (a movable school for children), ‘Ladli’ (a skill development programme) etc. AR also shared that large number of CDWs cases come to them and in all cases they counsel both parents and children to send them back to their homes. The post lunch session started with the presentation by Dr. Jyotsna Rajvanshi (JR), Project coordinator, Childline, Jaipur. In the presentation JR shared how Childline helps children and the basic objectives of Childline. JR also briefed that Childline takes up all cases related to children and informed that I-India is a coordinating agency, which works as a call Centre for children. I-India receives all calls from any child in problem and then IIndia counsels the problem child and bring them to the shelter home and send them back to their home after consent of these children. Ms Shikha Wadhwa (SW), Programme Officer, UNICEF, Jaipur made a brief presentation on the strategy formulation for the freedom of CDW from the clutches of employers. SW also shared that sending children to school is no option for stopping child labour. Child labour is existent due to absence of employment among youths. SW also held mental status of employers to be responsible for increasing number of child labour and child abuse in the society. Thus SW emphasized upon quality education of children rather than a simple education, vocational training of parents and strong networking of children important for the regulation of child labour in the society. Around 100 representatives from various NGOs/CBOs/Educational Institutions etc. from Rajasthan State participated in the consultation. During the open discussion various suggestions were given by all present NGOs/ CBOs and all other present participants for the complete eradication of CDWs in particular and child labour in general from society. They are as follows:
Concluding the session Mr. K.C. Sharma (KCS) of CUTS emphasized on the suggestions given by SW for a proper strategy formulation. KCS also stressed on the fact that these children are future of India and it a serious issue to be well thought of in a coordinated way and also a substansial plan os action should be prepared to deal with the serious issue of social concern. For further details, please contact |
| Farmers’
Rights on Traditional Knowledge
Many farmers participated in that meeting and expressed their concern over the Access Benefit Sharing (ABS) and Prior Informed Consent (PIC) issues on the traditional knowledge (TK). For further details, please contact |
‘Involvement
of Consumers in Power Sector Reforms in Rajasthan’ The 10th Circle Level Training Workshop under the second phase of the CUTS-FES programme was organised at CUTS Centre for Human Development (CUTS-CHD), Chittorgarh on March 21, 2006 with the support of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), New Delhi. About 75 participants, who came from various blocks of Chittorgarh and Ajmer districts, attended this workshop. The objective of the workshop was to propagate the
power reform initiated by the Rajasthan Government and to make people
aware of these reform processes through participatory approach. In the workshop, sessions on capacity building in power reforms, awareness regarding the power reforms, power tariff settings, role of consumer organisations in power reforms were taken up for discussions. The event was well organised, well attended and well covered in the media. For further details, please contact |
National
Conference on Competition and Consumer Protection in Vietnam CUTS Centre for Competition, Investment, & Economic Regulation (C-CIER), in collaboration with the Competition Administration Department, Ministry of Trade, Vietnam, organised a national conference on ‘Competition and Consumer Protection in Vietnam’ at Hanoi, Vietnam, on March 20, 2006. This conference was organised within the framework of its project, ‘Advocacy and Capacity Building on Competition Policy and Law in Asia’ (7Up2 Project). The conference, which was held at the Centre for International Conventions at Le Hong Phong Street, Hanoi, coincided with the World Consumer’ Rights Day drawing more than 100 delegates. The participants included officials from various government agencies of Vietnam, representatives of consumer associations and civil society organisations (CSOs), and the media from cities and provinces across Vietnam. For further details, please contact |
Technical
Workshop on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)
in Zambia
March 16, 2006, Lusaka, Zambia Consumer Unity and Trust Society-Africa Resource Centre (CUTS-ARC) and Civil Society Trade Network of Zambia (CSTNZ), organised a Technical workshop on the Economic Partnership Agreements on 16th March 2006 Lusaka. The workshop was being held under the project being implemented in 6 countries by CUTS-London Resource Centre (LRC) titled: Capacity Building of Eastern and Southern African Civil Society during the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations. The project is being implemented with the following objectives; to contribute to the achievement of a development-friendly gender-sensitised outcome of the EPA negotiations, especially for Zambia and other ESA group of countries, to build the capacity of NSA to engage with the EPA negotiations, directly contribute to the efforts to attain Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 1 (eradicate extreme hunger and poverty) and MDG no. 8 (Develop a global partnership for development). In this context the technical workshop aimed at consulting technical experts on existing EPA impact assessments and the implications for civil society, marginalized and vulnerable. The workshop was officially opened by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI), Mr. Davidson Chilipamushi. In delivering his speech he raised a question as to whether Zambia needed EPAs since there have been little benefits from past agreements/arrangement. He also stressed the importance of an impact assessment study, which would draw out the negative and positive impacts of EPAs. He indicated that the absence of an impact assessment study had presented a number of challenges to government. He however, stated that government is awaiting the completion of a second assessment study. He indicated that Zambian Government is faced with a dilemma on deciding over its dual COMESA SADC membership. This has come to light with the EU drive on trading partners to form customs union in order to have one Common External Tariff (CET) which will in turn make it easier for European investors to invest in the regions. He also mentioned that Zambia is faced with supply side constraints such as production costs, production quality, and exporter’s capacity to adapt to changes in world demand. Presenting the background paper Anne Zulu Chime, Stated that Zambia was currently negotiating EPAs with the EU under ESA configuration. The first phase of negotiations, which was an all ACP-EU level, took place between September 2002 and September 2003. These negotiations did not lead to formal agreement as was hoped by the ACP countries. However, the EU and the ACP countries adopted a joint report listing down convergences and divergences in their negotiations. Although this phase was never closed, regional negotiations were initiated in 2003. She further stated that regional negotiations were at the level of ACP countries and regions were set out in configuration groups. For further details, please contact |
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CUTS Centre for Human Development (CUTS-CHD) organised a seminar on ‘World Consumer Rights Day’, at Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, on March 15, 2006, in which around 150 people participated. In the inaugural session, Ashutosh Gupta, District Collector, Chittorgarh threw light on the importance of health and hygiene. P N Khnadelwal, District and Session Judge, laid importance on health and hygiene and stressed the promotion of basic rights of the consumers. World Consumer Rights Day is an annual day for celebrating and showing solidarity in the international consumer movement. But, more importantly, it is a time for promoting the basic rights of all consumers, and for ensuring that those rights are respected and protected. For further details, please contact |
Training
Workshop on
Competition Policy and Law for Students of Cambodian Law and Economics March 10, 2006, Phnom Penh, Cambodia CUTS Centre for Competition, Investment, & Economic Regulation (C-CIER) organised a training workshop on common issues related to ‘Competition Policy and Law’ for Cambodian students of the Royal University of Law and Economics, Phnom Penh, Cambodia on March 10, 2006. This workshop was organised within the framework of its project, ‘Advocacy and Capacity Building on Competition Policy and Law in Asia’ (7Up2 Project). More than 100 participants attended the workshop, which was conducted at the premises of the Royal University of Law and Economics, Cambodia. In order to conform to the commitments for accession to the World Trade Organistaion (WTO), Cambodia has been in the process of drafting a national competition law. For this, the development of human resources would be a focal point in working towards establishing an effective competition regime and a healthy competition culture. In this context, the academia and students from interdisciplinary areas, such as law and economics will be the top priority. The workshop contributed greatly towards building and enhancing the knowledge base on competition issues in Cambodia. For further details, please contact |
World
Women’s Day CUTS Centre for Human Development (CUTS-CHD) organised a seminar on ‘World Women’s Day’, at Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, on March 08, 2006. In the inaugural session of the seminar, while explaining the history, objectives and aim of celebrating World Women’s Day, Dhanna Singh Rawat of CUTS-CHD urged the women to unite against the protection of their rights and involve men also for achieving the same. Speaking as a Chief guest, Khandelwal said that child marriage is a social curse and a major barrier in the development of girls, so it should be restricted. He expressed deep concern over admonishment of women in the name of witchcraft, superstitions, and education. Women should stand united against the protection of their rights and elimination of social evils in the society. He further said that society should help in preventing crimes and provide justice to the sufferers. “There should be no discrimination between the daughters and daughter-in-laws of the same family, both of them should be equally treated. Abortion of female foetus is a legal and social crime, and if it is not prevented, then the number of crimes would increase leading towards society imbalances. Therefore, abortion of female foetus should be strictly prohibited”. These were the views expressed by District and Session Judge P N Khandelwal in the inaugural session of the seminar. The seminar was presided over by Pradhan (Head of a cluster of villages) Rajeshwari Meena. She said that women should be politically and socially strong and play an important role in politics. Education and Awareness has played an important role in the empowerment of women. For further details, please contact |
Training
Workshop on
Competition Policy and Law Implementation for Lao Competition Authority March 07-08, 2006, Vientiane, Lao PDR CUTS Centre for Competition, Investment & Economic Regulation (CUTS C-CIER) organised a training workshop on generic issues related to competition policy and law implementation for Laotian competition authority, in Vientiane, Lao PDR, during March 07-08, 2006. This workshop was organised within the framework of its project entitled ‘Advocacy and Capacity Building on Competition Policy and Law in Asia’ (7Up2 Project). Designed as a blend of theoretical analysis and hypothetical case study, the training workshop drew on the rich and varied experiences of several competition experts, to help formulate an applicable and effective approach for establishing a competition regime in Lao PDR in relation to the country’s new competition statute, the Prime Minister’s Decree on Trade Competition No. 15/PMO, which has just been adopted in early 2004 and yet to be implemented. The venue was the Lane Xang Hotel, Vientiane, Lao PDR and the number of participants was approximately 50. For further details, please contact: |
The
farmers’ rights to use their own variety of seeds and farming methods
have been discussed in a meeting organised by Calcutta Resource Centre
(CUTS-CRC), in association with Rural Resource & Training Centre
(RRTC) – a wing of BOSCO Reach Out – at Umran, Meghalaya, on March
22, 2006. | Copyright 2005 Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS),
All rights reserved. |