News and Events /EMPHASIS ON NGOs' ROLE IN SOCIETY

Speakers at a Seminar, "Civil Society and Role of Non-Governmental Organisations in Russia and India", dedicated to the Results of "G-8" Summit held in St. Petersburg, at the RCSC, 24, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi, laid deep stress on the crucial role played by NGOs in a society in the contemporary world. The Seminar was jointly organized by the Russian Centre of Science & Culture (RCSC) and the Foreign Policy Research Institute on September 18, 2006 at the Russian Centre of Science & Culture (RCSC).

In his welcome address, Deputy Director of RCSC, Dr. Sergey V. Cherkas, pointed out that the Seminar being organized in the backdrop of strategic partnership has great significance acquiring important dimension in terms of topicality and relevance.

In his keynote address, Dr. J. K. Patel, Executive Director, Foreign Policy Research Institute, noted that the ideas of Indian NGO found eloquent expression in the documents adopted at the G-8 summit, adding that there is much in common between the aspirations of Indian civil society and the Russian civil society. Today, the problems of human rights in Europe and India have come to occupy a prominent position on the agenda of international forum of civil society, he said.

Guest of Honour, Dr. M. M. Verma, President, Interfaith Foundation & Chairman, NGOs in India, making a distinction between registered and non-registered NGOs called for creating a sense of responsibility and cooperation. Hailing the contributions made by India in the Non-Aligned Movement, he emphasized the need for peaceful co-existence. Dr. Verma reiterated that NGOs have a creative role to play.

The Chief Guest, Mr. Andrei A. Sorokin, Minister-Counsellor, Embassy of the Russian Federation in India, said that the 32nd Summit of the G-8 focused on issues such as energy, security, education and fight against infectious diseases Rounding up the results of the Summit, he pointed out that the International Civil 8-2006 Forum was organized by the Russian authorities, and it was intended to demonstrate great possibilities of Russian NGOs to express freely their opinion.

Dr. Zafar Mahmood, Joint Secretary to Cabinet Secretariat and OSD in PMO, in his Presidential address, said that it is absolutely essential for NGOs to concentrate on selfless work, and education must be their priority concern.

Mr. K. L. Malhotra, Organising Secretary, India-Russia Friendship Society, Delhi State, referred to the convergence of Indian and Russian perception on major international issues which justified the strategic partnership between the two countries.