NEW DELHI : Poverty at the Summit

A half-billion poor--twice the size of the U.S. population--are the dominant social and economic “given” for the seven countries of the South Asian Assn. for Regional Cooperation.

At a summit meeting beginning today in New Delhi, leaders of the SAARC states--India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives--will try to forge a common strategy for easing their peoples’ poverty.

Remedies under study include a boost in area trade, technical cooperation and modifications in social programs to help the poor in the market economy.