7th SDC NFP Coordinators Meeting held on 28-29 July 2011 at SDC, New Delhi. The meeting was attended by Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka. Mr. Bikash Chandra Saha [Principal Scientific Officer, BANSDOC, Dhaka] attended the meeting on behalf of SDC NFP Coordinator (Bangladesh), Mr. Indra Sen, SDC NFP Coordinator (India) [Sr. Technical Officer(3), NISCAIR, New Delhi], Ms. S. D. I. Arachchige [Planning Assistant (Library), Centre for Development Information, Department of National Planning, Ministry of Finance & Planning, Treasury Building, Colombo] attended the meeting on behalf of SDC NFP Coordinator (Sri Lanka) and Ms. Thifla Umar, SDC NFP Coordinator (Maldives) [National Library of Maldives, Male] attended the meeting. Ms. Thifla Umar attended the meeting via Internet based Video Chat mode. This is the first time in the history of SDC, Internet based Video Chat mode was used. Besides, Dr. Gangan Prathap (Director, SDC), Mrs. Kesang Dechen (Deputy Director, SDC), Mr. Rajeev Kumar (Computer Officer, SDC) and Mr. Ahmed Rasheed (IT Staff, National Libray of Maldives, Male) also attended the meeting. Mr. Ahmed Rasheed attended the meeting via Internet based Video Chat mode. Pakistan and Bhutan sent thier country papers, which were read in the meeting.
The 2-day Seventh Meeting of the SDC NFP Coordinators (SAARC Documentation Centre National Focal Point Coordinators) began with introduction of each of the member present in the meeting by the Mrs. Kesang Dechen, Deputy Director, SDC followed by the welcome of address by Dr. Gangan Prathap, Director, SDC on July 28, 2011 (Thursday) at 10:30 AM. Bangladesh was elected as Chair.
In the meeting, efforts made by SDC to fulfill its objectives was widely appreciated. Several suggestions were given on HRD and Database projects. The Digital Library Service of SDC was discussed and Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka show there interests to use the service.
The meeting was declared closed by the Chair after vote of thanks proposed by Mr. Indra Sen on 29th July 2011 at 1:30 PM.
SDC NFP Coordinators Meeting 2011 is scheduled to be held in New Delhi, India on 28-29 July 2011.
In order to implement the programmes of SAARC Documentation Center (SDC),effectively, the National Focal Points (NFPs) of the SDC have been established in each SAARC Member State. The functioning of the SDC-NFP is administered by a Coordinator in each NFP. The NFPs also play an important role in popularising the activities and functions of SDC in the respective Member States. The SDC-NFP Coordinators meet to ensure effective coordination in implementing the programmes and activities of SDC.
Following are the National Focal Points of SDC in member states: -
- Afghanistan - under process
- Bangladesh - BANSDOC (Bangladesh National Scientific and Technical Documentation Centre), Dhaka.
>>[Coordinator - Mr. Md. Mijanur Rahman].
- Bhutan - RIM (Royal Institute of Management), Thimpu.
>>[Coordinator - to be nominated, earlier Coordinator Mrs. Kesang Dechen has joined as Deputy Director of SDC on 20th May 2011].
- India - NISCAIR (National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources), New Delhi.
>>[Coordinator - Mr. Indra Sen].
- Malidives - NLM (National Library of Maldives), Male.
>>[Coordinator - Ms. Thifla Umar].
- Nepal - .., Kathmandu.
>>[Coordinator - Mr. Purushottam P. Tiwari].
- Pakistan - PASTIC (Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Centre) National Centre, Islamabad.
>>[Coordinator - Mr. Mohammad Aqil Khan].
- Sri Lanka - Centre for Development Information Department of National Planning, Colombo.
>>[Coordinator - Ms. B. I. Hendavitharana].
In the year 2009 and 2010, the SDC-NFP meetings were not held. In the meeting, forthcoming programmes of SDC will be discussed. Entire SDC team is preparing for successful meeting.
SAARC Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC), Islamabad, Pakistan is organizing a 6-day training programme on "Combating Child Trafficking: Unravelling the Push and Pull Factors in the SAARC Region" (18 – 23, July 2011).
SAARC Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC) is a regional centre of SAARC. The objective of SHRDC is to undertake research, impart trainings and workshops, disseminate information on HRD issues and advise the Member States on HRD related policies and strategies.
The training program on “Combating Child Trafficking: Unravelling the Push and Pull Factors in the SAARC Region”, organized by the SAARC Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC), Islamabad will look into greater and better-targeted tools to combat the child trafficking, strong policy commitments; exploitations of synergies between socioeconomic issues and human development; learning from the experiences of high achievers; rearrangements of available resources and regulations for combating the issue in the Member States.
(for more, click here .............)
The 5th conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians will be held in New Delhi from July 9 to 12, the second time that the event is being held in India.
The Speakers of Parliaments of SAARC Countries first met in Sri Lanka in June 1992 and resolved to set up an Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians. They met in Kathmandu in November 1992. In the First South Asian Festival (held in India in October 1992 with participation from all Member Countries), a unique event which focused on the rich cultural heritage of South Asia, formally launched the "Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians" and adopted the Charter of the Association. The Speakers Council, which is the Apex Body of the Association, finalised and ratified the draft rules of the Association prepared by the Parliamentary Secretaries-General in January 1994. Since then they have met periodically and addressed issues of common interest to member countries. The Heads of State or Government at their Seventh Summit (Dhaka, April 1993) welcomed the initiative of the Speakers of Parliaments of SAARC Countries in forming the Association.
The Inaugural Ceremony of the Fifth Conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians will be held in the Central Hall of Parliament House on Saturday, the 9th July, 2011 at 1800 hours. Hon’ble Prime Minister (India), Dr. Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the Conference and deliver the Inaugural Address. Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha will deliver the Welcome Address. H.E Chamal Rajapakse, Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka will deliver the vote of thanks speech in his capacity as the former President of Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians.
Lok Sabha (India) Speaker Meira Kumar constituted the Reception Committee for the Conference with K Rahman Khan, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha, as its chairman and Kariya Munda, Deputy Speaker as the co-chairman. The committee comprises 38 members, including Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pawan Kumar Bansal; besides sitting and former members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
Pakistan is set to unleash woman power at the Conference. The Pakistan contingent, led by National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza, will include three women MPs, Tasneem Siddiqui, Shahnaz Ali and Kashmala Tariq. Mirza is the first woman Speaker in the Muslim world. Afghanistan is making a debut at the conference.
The Conference will deliberate upon two themes: "Consolidating Democracy: Strengthening Trust between Parliament and the People" and "Sustainable Development in SAARC Countries- The Way Forward". Earlier, the Conferences have been held in Delhi, Islamabad, Dhaka and Colombo.
(Lok Sabha Link .....)
