This is a study of issues in good governance in South Asia, viz. in the countries of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal. The focus is on the interconnections between governance, decentralization (of authority and decision making) and poverty eradication. The book submits a stratagem to turn South Asia's greatest handicap, poverty, into a source of strength, in which the poor contribute directly to growth. The key to this pro-poor growth strategy, according to the authors, is community mobilization through social movements and non-governmental development initiatives. The book is divided into three parts, the conceptual framework, illustrative case studies and lessons for macro/microeconomic policy. Part I critically evaluates conventional developmental thinking and suggests the outline of an alternative pro-poor developmental strategy. Part II, the backbone of the volume, is a collection of six case studies from selected locations in south Asia, covering both rural and urban experiences. Part III draws lessons from these studies for a value-driven policy with both short-term and long-term implications. The book is a first of its kind, examining in-depth issues of vital importance to the development of the South Asian region. The importance of this volume lies in the synthesized lessons for policy and implementation drawn from cases where new ground has been broken in the conceptualization of social mobilization and pro-poor growth.

Wto Is Seen Largely As A Symbol Of North-South Conflict, Due To Divergent Perceptions Of The Developed And Developing Countries On The Multilateral Trading System. This North-South Divide Is Reflected In Their Ministerial Negotiations Where The Rich Countries Try To Impinge Their Ultimate Authority Over The Global Economy Leaving Thus Limited Options To The Poor Countries To Defend Their Economic Space, Notwithstanding The Fact That The Developing Countries Account For Nearly 80 Percent Of Wto Membership. There Is Now A Growing Concern Among The South Asian Countries, Including The Four Least-Developed Countries On The Restrictions Imposed By The Developed Countries In The Form Of New Clauses In The Wto Framework. The Initiation Of Liberalization In These Countries In The Early 1990S Did Not Improve The Trade Prospects Significantly. South Asian Countries In General And India In Particular Is Now Taking Keen Interest In Cooperating With The Fellow Developing Countries And Championing Their Cause At The International Fora. This Volume Attempts To Examine The Different Facets Of Implications Of Wto On South Asia, Viz., Trade Cooperation For Development And Poverty Alleviation; Agriculture; Singapore Issues; Health And Intellectual Property Rights; And China S Accession Into Wto And Other Related Issues. It Emphasizes The Stand Of South Asian Countries To Safeguard Their Trade Prospects By Protecting From The Restrictions, Imposed By The Developed Countries In Several Clauses Under Different Agreements Of Wto. It Is Hoped That This Volume Will Become An Important Addition To The Existing Literature On Wto, As It Covers The Adverse Affect Of Wto On South Asia Which Has So Far Not Been Analyzed Exhaustively.