Human Security in South Asia

1. Human Security in South Asia Presented by George C Varughese Development Alternatives, New Delhi at the Regional Media Workshop on Sustainable Development: A viable Goal Bangkok, 27th October 2008

2. South Asian Priorities for Action • Eliminating Poverty and Creating Human Security • Conserving the Natural Resource Endowments • Securing the Economic Base

3. Managing Population Growth and its Impacts Direct – Awareness and incentives Indirect – Income generating opportunities, livelihood security, Infrastructure and facilities upgradation Creating Human Security Focus on – Food, Income, Water, Energy, Health and Security from Natural Disasters Eliminating Poverty & Creating Human Security

4. Conserving the Natural Resource Endowments • Arresting Industrial Pollution • Promoting Corporate Citizenship • Addressing Special Needs of Small & Medium Enterprises • Strengthening Regulatory Mechanisms • Managing Urbanisation • Controlling Migration • Addressing Urban Poverty and Slums • Upgrading Urban Infrastructure and Management Systems • Promoting Sustainable Consumption Patterns • Conserving Biodiversity • Assessing Endowments • Protecting Fragile Habitats • Reviving Traditional Knowledge • Facilitating Local Value Addition • Building Bargaining Capacity

5. Securing the Economic Base • Promoting Technology Cooperation • Building a Sub-regional Trading Block • Depending on MinimalExternal Assistance

6. Three Priorities for Human Security • Food Security • Water Security • Energy Security

7. Food Security – scenario • 430 million poor people (nearly 30% of South Asia and 47% of the world) • 315 million people have insufficient food (22% of South Asia) • While % hungry is reducing absolute numbers increasing • Slow progress in recent past • Half our children malnourished • Conflicts and disasters aggravate poverty and hunger

8. Food Security - challenges • Enhancing Agricultural Production & Productivity • Managing land use and availability of arable land • Arresting degradation of land • Checking the conversion of arable land for other uses • Improving irrigation systems and practices • Increasing the area under irrigation • Promoting efficient irrigation practices • Improving farming practices and cropping patterns • intensive vs organic farming • new technologies, methods and techniques • cropping patterns (legumes) • Rationalising the role of subsidies

9. Food Security - challenges • Other Supporting Measures • Improving Accessibility to available food • Role of the PDS and private sector • Improving rural infrastructure (cold storage, transportation) • Ensuring nutritional value of food consumed • proteins – pulses, dairy products, fish, eggs • focus on children – food for education • Agriculture – livelihood for the masses (absorbs 60% labour contributing to 23% GDP) • recognise that land does not have the carrying capacity – skill and capacity building of youth for non-farm activities • Disaster Preparedness and Management

10. Water Security – scenario • Most countries beginning to experience moderate to severe water scarcity due to: • high population growth; coupled with • growth of irrigation, industrialisation & urbanisation • Scarcity likely to increase (3,485 to 2,511 cum/yr/capita between 1985 to 2005) • Excessive dependence and depletion of ground water • Pollution of surface and ground water increasing rapidly • Impressive efforts in providing safe drinking water, but sanitation still lagging • Trans-boundary water wars – a reality

11. Water Security - challenges • Effective policies and implementation mechanisms for • trans-boundary basin management • ground water use • water as a right and yet priced • Technologies and incentives for • Promoting efficient irrigation practices • Pollution prevention • Participatory approaches for (enterprise / community based) • drinking water and sanitation • farmer managed irrigation systems

12. Energy Security – scenario • Demand far exceeds supply in most countries • high population growth; coupled with • growth of industrialisation and urbanisation • Gap will significantly increase (per capita requirements expected to double to 600 kg. oil equivalent by 2020) • Excessive dependence on • Coal (46%) – highly polluting (carbon and climate) • Petroleum (34%) – polluting, foreign exchange drain • Inadequate investments in renewables • Gross inefficiencies in energy transmission, distribution and use • No country can address issue alone – opportunity for regional cooperation

13. Energy Security – challenges • Investments in development of energy resources • conventional sources, especially hydro power • significant growth of renewable sources • Promoting energy efficiency and conservation • energy efficient technologies in industry, agriculture and households • reduction of transmission and distribution losses • addressing subsidies to agriculture and other users • Fostering Regional Cooperation

14. Thank You