chapter8

CHAPTER-VIII

PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONTACT
-SAARC Audio Visual Exchange (SAVE) Programme
-SAARC Scheme for Promotion of Organised Tourism
-SAARC Chairs, Fellowships and Scholarships Scheme
-SAARC Youth Volunteers Programme (SYVOP)
-SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme
-SAARC Youth Awards Scheme (SYAS)
-South Asian Festivals

PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONTACT

Promotion of people-to-people contact in the region to strengthening mutual understanding and goodwill among the peoples of South Asia, has always received a high priority among SAARC leaders. In order to give effect to this concept a number of initiatives have been taken under the aegis of SAARC.

1. SAARC Audio-Visual Exchange (SAVE) Programme
The SAARC Audio Visual Exchange (SAVE) Committee, aimed at increasing the awareness of SAARC among the peoples of the region and disseminating information about Member Countries, was established by the Council of Ministers at its Third Session (New Delhi, June 1987). The Committee is entrusted with the task of producing and implementing the SAVE Programmes.

SAVE programmes comprise regular TV and Radio Programmes. These are telecast/broadcast on the 1st and 15th of each month, respectively in all SAARC member countries. SAVE Radio and TV Quiz Programmes are also organised at regular intervals and have evoked keen interest among the youth.

Other SAVE programmes include joint productions on specific themes such as Environment, Disabled Persons, Youth, Literacy and Participatory Governance. SAVE has proved to be an effective medium for promoting South Asian consciousness amongst the peoples of the region and for establishing people-to-people contact.

Recently, the Committee has been entrusted with the production of a video documentary SAARC - The First Decade .

2. SAARC Scheme for Promotion of Organised Tourism
The SAARC Scheme for the promotion of organised tourism was initiated with the over-all objective of strengthening people-to-people contact in the region. All issues relating to the Scheme are addressed by the SAARC Technical Committee on Tourism. The Scheme is specifically aimed at facilitating intra-regional tourism.

It was envisaged that the Scheme would facilitate exchange of organised group tours between the member countries, with provision of concessional air-fare, and arrangement for limited convertibility of foreign exchange through a travel voucher system.

The first meeting of SAARC Tourism Ministers held in Colombo in September 1997 decided to launch the Scheme with immediate effect.

3. SAARC Chairs, Fellowships and Scholarships Scheme
The SAARC Chairs, Fellowships and Scholarships Scheme was instituted with the aim of providing increased cross-fertilization of ideas through greater interaction among students, scholars and academics in the SAARC Countries. The Scheme was reviewed by an Expert Group recently and its recommendations are under consideration by the Technical Committee on Education, Culture and Sports.

4. SAARC Youth Volunteers Programme (SYVOP)
The SYVOP is aimed at harnessing the idealism of Youth for regional cooperation programmes. The programme enables young people to work in other countries in the field of agriculture and forestry extension work.

SYVOP is implemented by the Technical Committee on Rural Development.

5. SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme
In order to further promote closer and more frequent contacts among the peoples of the region, the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme was initiated in 1988 and became operational on March 1, 1992. Under the Scheme, visa requirements are waived for specified categories of persons to travel within the region. Currently, there are 21 categories of persons who are entitled to the Scheme. In addition, a process of simplification of visa procedures and requirements is in place to assist business people to accelerate promotion of trade and tourism within the region.

6. SAARC Youth Awards Scheme (SYAS)
The SAARC Youth Awards Scheme was established in 1996. The aim of the Scheme is to provide suitable recognition to extra-ordinary young talents and encourage the overall development of youth in the region. An annual award is presented to an outstanding youth selected from the Member States.

The first and second SAARC Youth Award were presented in 1997 and 1998 for "Outstanding Social Service in Community Welfare" and "New Inventions and Discoveries", respectively. The third award will be presented in 1999 to a selected youth from the region.

7. South Asian Festivals
The holding of the South Asian Festival at regular intervals is regarded as a desirable activity by all Member States to promote inter-cultural exchange, understanding and friendship among the artistes of the region.

So far, two festivals have been held in India (1992), and Sri Lanka (1996). A film festival is planned to be held in Sri Lanka in 1999.