Indian NGOs in Rio

Indian NGOs in Rio MUKUND GOVIND RAJAN [August 22] has not highlighted the role Indian NGOs played in Rio Summit. My NGO was one of the 1,400 which were accredited to attend the prepcoms and the UNCED meeting in RIO. I also attended the Global Forum. The loosely organised Global Forum and the highly structured UNGED meet were a contrast in international development diplomacy. Many serious-minded NGO participants were confused about which session to attend and what issues to articulate, in what manner and with what result. Of course the Global Forum organisers did everything to see that everybody got a chance to speak. But by the very nature of the gathering, it did not allow any serious dialogue, despite the treaties drafted by NGO Forum for discussion and adoption. These treaties were parallel to the official treaties of the UNCED but not integrated into the latter.