New Delhi
3 October 2005
Mahatma Gandhi's Gram Swaraj may have few takers in India
today and Khadi may have seen better days but Afghanistan is one country that wants to
replicate the Indian model and "borrow [Indian] expertise" to turn the lives of its people
around.
The Afghan minister for rural rehabilitation and development, Mr Haneef Atmar, who
currently is visiting India, is keen that his ministry collaborate with the Khadi Village
Industries Commission for setting up export-oriented small and cottage industries in his
war-torn country.
"Over 80 per cent of Afghanistan's population lives in a rural environ and almost 50 per
cent of Afghans earn their income from non-agricultural sector which is why," Mr Atmar
explains, "the Indian model should suit Afghanistan's needs for reducing poverty and
boosting economic growth."
The visiting Afghan minister, who called on Union Minister for Small Scale, Agro and
Rural Industries Mahavir Prasad on Monday, has sought "institutional arrangements" for
a "permanent dialogue" and also invited a group of multi-disciplinary experts to suggest
a suitable roadmap.
While India long has offered a package for training and entrepreneurship development in
sectors like handicrafts, textiles and small-scale manufacturing industries as part of the
reconstruction activities, Afghanistan has identified carpet and construction sectors for
possible collaboration.
New Delhi has also extended the scholarships announced for the Afghan youth under the
Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme to cover tool room
training and product-specific programmes in areas such as food processing and
footwear.
India has extended a 500-million dollar package of assistance to Afghanistan. Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh committed 50 million dollars more during his recent visit,
which was the first by an Indian premier in 29 years. This aid is apart from other
humanitarian efforts.
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