CANCUN, Mexico, December 10, 2010 – India has reiterated an offer to provide scholarships and other technical assistance to member countries of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said that the Indian Government is offering a minimum of two scholarships to each of the 43-member grouping of small and vulnerable islands.
“It’s a purely demand-driven programme with the scholarships ranging between six months to two years and within areas relating to climate change, adaptation, coastal zone management, renewable energy and agriculture,” said Ramesh, who spoke to AOSIS’ delegates on Thursday.
He said that India is prepared to launch this initiative with the AOSIS Group by March or April 2011.
“This has been one of the most successful programmes of the Government of India. Many people of Africa, Latin America and other parts of the world are using this programme”.
He said that India’s greatest contribution in the long run will be to help create the institutional capacity in the AOSIS Group.
The Indian Minister said he has met separately with the Pacific Island States and made an offer of setting up an e-network to connect all the island states for telemedicine and tele-education.
“We are preparing a feasibility study and this will then be presented to the governments of the 11 Pacific States,” he said.
Ambassador Colin Beck of the Solomon Islands, speaking on behalf of Pacific Island States, acknowledged the initiative and said that they are eager to take advantage of the opportunity and look forward to it as soon as it comes online next year.