Observing that the cornerstone of any successful democracy lies in being able to address the challenges and issues that concern its people, it said the Parliaments can take the lead in truly fostering economic and social advancement of the people.
"The SAARC region is facing a host of developmental challenges and only popular governance can help us overcome them. Devolving constitutional power to the common man and actively involving marginalised sections of society in decision-making is the way forward," Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said.
Participating at the sixth conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians here today, she said affirmative action is imperative to ensure a level playing field for the disadvantaged sections to increase and promote their participation in the governing processes.
The SAARC region, she said, has the highest incidence of poverty in the world as over 40 per cent of the world
