In the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the year 1990 was officially declared as the SAARC Year of the Girl Child. Which focus theme does this special year represent?

Introduction / Context:
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, commonly called SAARC, has from time to time declared specific years as SAARC years to draw attention to key social issues affecting the region. One such important declaration was the SAARC Year of the Girl Child. This question checks whether the learner knows which focus theme was linked to the year 1990, a significant milestone in the regional effort to improve the condition of girls in South Asia.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• SAARC is a regional grouping of South Asian countries.
• The year mentioned in the question is 1990.
• SAARC declared 1990 as a special SAARC year.
• The options list several possible themes, including girl child, shelter, cooperation, and drug abuse.

Concept / Approach:
The correct approach is to recall which specific theme was highlighted by SAARC in 1990. According to summit declarations and official statements, the leaders of SAARC countries agreed to dedicate that year to issues affecting girls, such as education, health, nutrition, and protection from discrimination. Other SAARC years were dedicated to different themes like drug abuse, shelter for the homeless, and environment, but they correspond to different calendar years. Therefore, carefully associating each theme with its correct year is essential for answering this general knowledge question accurately.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that SAARC sometimes declares particular years to focus on specific social challenges in the region.Step 2: From historical references, remember that 1990 was highlighted as the year that would focus on the status and welfare of girls.Step 3: This special observance was called the SAARC Year of the Girl Child, making the girl child and her development the central theme.Step 4: Look at the options and identify which one explicitly mentions the girl child.Step 5: Select the option Girl child because it directly matches the official name of the SAARC year and reject the remaining options.

Verification / Alternative check:
SAARC summit documents and parliamentary references from member countries clearly note that 1990 was observed as the SAARC Year of the Girl Child. Later, the period 1991 to 2000 was also declared the SAARC Decade of the Girl Child to extend this focus. Separate SAARC years were observed for combating drug abuse and for shelter and environment in other years, which supports the conclusion that the year 1990 is tied specifically to the girl child theme.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Shelter for the homeless: Although homelessness is a serious issue, SAARC Year of Shelter was associated with a different year, not 1990.

Mutual cooperation: This is a broad idea inherent in the purpose of SAARC, but it was not the explicit title of the 1990 SAARC year.

Combating drug abuse: SAARC Year Against Drug Abuse was linked with another calendar year and not with 1990.

Protection of the environment: Environmental protection is important, and SAARC did observe a year for environment, but again, that was not the theme of 1990.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse the different SAARC years because several were declared in close succession and all relate to important social issues. The presence of very plausible alternatives such as shelter and drug abuse can easily mislead candidates. To avoid this, it helps to use a simple mnemonic: first remember 1990 as the Girl Child year, then connect the later decade with the continued focus on girls, and finally place shelter, environment, and disabled persons in neighbouring years rather than in 1990.

Final Answer:
Girl child