MINUSCULE Celebration for CIRDAP 41st Year Anniversary

On July, Monday 6th CIRDAP reached its 41st anniversary in a minuscule celebration with a handful of staff of about 19 people including the Director General, Mr. Tevita GB Taginavulau who gave an address.

In his address, Mr. Taginavulau said, “It is an honor and grateful joy for me to give an address to mark CIRDAPs’ 41st Foundation day today on 06th July, 2020. CIRDAP was established on 6th July, 1979 and 41 years later it is still well and alive. Institutions and individual have made this happen. Allow me therefore to extend our special thanks to the following for their immense contribution.” He then paid tribute to the Governments of Australia, Bhutan, New Zealand, and United States of America for their presence as observer during the Establishment conference held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 29 July 1978.

Further he mentioned the Governments of Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Korea (Rep. of), Lao, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam in the Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of a Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 29 July 1978;

He also mentioned FAO for coordinating the Conference and establishment of CIRDAP Centre. He specifically acknowledged the Government of Bangladesh, “for hosting the Centre with its related undertakings with the provision of the beautiful Chameli heritage site as its Centre and its maintenance amongst others through its generosity.”

Mr Taginavulau also paid tribute to his predecessors, the former Director General of CIRDAP including Mr. Aziz-ul Haq, Bangladesh (1979-1984); Mr. ATM Shamsul Haque, Bangladesh (1984-1992); Dr. Shamporn Hanpongpandh, Thailand (1992-1996); Dr A.V.S. Reddy, India (1996-2000 ); Dr. Mya Maung, Mayanmar (2000-2004); Dr. Durga Prasad Paudyal, Nepal (2004-2012 ); and Dr. Cecep Effendi, Indonesia (2012-2016).

He also thanked all the former Staff Members of CIRDAP; Current Staff Member; and Development Partners. Further he said, “We have been in the process of celebrating the Foundation Day in a big way particularly in the last three years. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has forced us to celebrate in a smaller way as we respect the govt. of host the country’s precautionary measure and safety guideline for your own health as well as others.” Again he added, “On the other hand, COVID-19 has also provided us an opportunity to respect our vision, goal and Strategies. For the past few months, we have seen the importance of embracing the Basics of life especially in terms of Connectivity with-Marginalized Rural People; Relationships (basic value of love, oatience); Physical Environment; Tradition; and Digitalization.

The staff had a minute of ‘silence’ in memory of those who had passed away in all CIRDAP member countries due to COVID-19 followed with prayers and Holy Scriptures recited. After the speeches, the highlight of the celebration was the cutting of the cake in memory of CIRDAPS 41st Anniversary followed by a photo session.