• Dr C. Ramana Reddy

The establishment of SAARC in 1985 was a milestone in the institutionalization of regional cooperation in South Asia, a region betraying a glaring paradox; abundant in human and natural resources but mired in poverty as well. SAARC aims at accelerating the process of socio-economic development in member states through “collective self-reliance”. Its creation, therefore, kindled hopes amongst South Asian Peoples for a better future marked by prosperity and freedom from want. SAARC, has, however, failed to live up to such expectations. India, the predominant power in the region, in its commitment to SAARC, has had tried to ensure that the latter deliver the good by focussing on poverty alleviation, infrastructure development, regional economic integration and proper harnessing region’s resources, encouraging people-to-people contact and by taking appropriate measures in this regard. India has urged the member states to put aside their rivalries and concentrate their attention energies on regional development delivering win-win results. Despite this, the hostility between two developed regional powers- India and Pakistan –as well as the in-built asymmetry in the Indo-Centric region and the consequent threat perception among smaller countries of the region as frustrated India’s sincere but cautious attempts to make SAARC a meaningful and productive regional organisation. This article examine India’s approach to SAARC since its inception manifesting in its perception attitude towards SAARC and its role in and contribution to SAARC. It will also deal with India’s initiatives toward creating a better future to SAARC.

"INDIA'S ROLE IN SAARC", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.7, Issue 11, page no.106-112, November-2020, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2011017.pdf

"INDIA'S ROLE IN SAARC", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.7, Issue 11, page no. pp106-112, November-2020, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2011017.pdf