Here - SAARC Human Resource Development Centre

Role of HRD in Improving Governance in the SAARC RegionInaugural CeremonyThe inaugural ceremony of the training course was held on October 04, 2010 in Islamabad,Pakistan.The ceremony was started with recitation of some verses from the Holy Quran.H.E. Air Chief Marshal, Jayalath Weerakkody, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Islamabad inhis inaugural address said that Governance and Human Resource Development (HRD) are interlinked.Human resource development cannot be sustained without good governance. Governance cannot besound unless it sustains quality human resource development. He stated that the SAARC countries arestruggling to achieve a higher degree of perfection in respect of human rights, political pluralism,institutional efficiency, responsiveness of public sector, rule of law, and freedom of expression. Hehoped that the training program would help the participants to understand issues and obstacles, androle of HRD in achieving good governance in the SAARC region.Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Riffat Aysha Anis, Director SHRDC, said that governance hasthree interdependent dimensions: Political, Economic and Social Governance. Successful governancemeans better delivery of health, education and other relevant services, stronger and more equitableeconomic growth, stability and security. She said that in South Asia, governance is a major agenda fordiscussion and discourse in the context of development and service delivery. Good governance isrealized as vital for improving the public service delivery, and responding to citizens' needs anddemands. Despite different programs, policies and reforms to streamline public administration,governance in the South Asian countries has failed to address adequately such issues as reducingpoverty, equality of access to public services and fairness, security and safety of citizens, democraticinstitution building, participation in the decision making, and implementation of policies. It is oftenhighlighted that the absence of good governance in the South Asian region is because of lack ofcapacity of civil servants, hierarchic decision making process, non-accountability of public servantsand politicians, non-transparency and opaque official procedures and, corruption.5