Role of media in promoting Saarc

Nepal is set to host the 18th summit meeting of the eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) on November 25-26. There will be usual fanfare over the summit. A special attraction this time will possibly be the presence of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He invited heads of state and government of all Saarc countries to his swearing-in ceremony. It was something unprecedented.
It indeed augurs well for inter-state collaboration that businessmen of the Saarc member-states have been allowed preferential treatment in terms of visa and other facilities. This has surely allowed regular visits of businessmen to the member-states and enhanced their regular contacts with their counterparts. Such exchange of visits without hassles will surely serve the cause of regional trade cooperation.
Badly needed now is a decision at the summit level as to how to ensure hassle-free movement of media personnel within the region. Innovative development projects in a Saarc member-state can be easily replicated in other member-countries for mutual benefits if these are adequately focused in the media. This can only be done through publicity in both print and electronic media. Otherwise, all good decisions will remain confined to official files only, without letting the common man in the region know what is there for shaping his/her destiny for the better. The Saarc will remain confined in official seminars, meetings and summits. The people  in South Asia hardly know what it is doing.    

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