India Advocates People-Centric Development at UN Discussion
During a recent UN discussion on “Leveraging outcomes of the Second World Summit for Social Development from Copenhagen to Doha,” India presented its comprehensive rights-based and inclusive approach to development. Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Smt. Savitri Thakur, emphasized that social justice is integral to India’s national aspirations for a developed nation by 2047, known as Viksit Bharat@2047.
Smt. Thakur revisited the core tenets of the Copenhagen Declaration, which centers people in development pursuits, and highlighted how the Doha Political Declaration further cements this commitment in the face of emerging global challenges. She articulated that India’s governance philosophy—”Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”—embodies a collective approach that engages both government and society to ensure dignity, equity, and opportunity for everyone.
India’s Social Protection Measures
In her address, the Minister outlined several large-scale social protection and inclusion initiatives that exemplify India’s commitment to its citizens:
- More than 800 million individuals are beneficiaries of food security programs.
- Over 550 million citizens receive free healthcare through an expansive network of health and wellness centers.
- 16,000 Jan Arogya Kendras provide access to affordable medicines and medical devices.
- India has empowered over 1.45 million women representatives in local governance, showcasing its dedication to grassroots democracy.
- Key programs like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana focus on enhancing education and financial security for girls.
- Labour reforms are being implemented to ensure equal pay, safe working conditions, and increased participation of women in the workforce.
- Collateral-free loans have opened avenues for millions of women, entrepreneurs, and street vendors to join the formal economy.
- Targeted schemes, such as SMILE, aim to aid the rehabilitation and integration of transgender individuals and other vulnerable populations.
Commitment to Transparency and Global Partnerships
Smt. Thakur also highlighted how India’s development strategy incorporates digital public infrastructure, direct benefit transfers, and active citizen participation, ensuring transparency and efficient service delivery to the last mile.
Echoing India’s ancient ethos of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”—the idea that the world is one family—she expressed India’s eagerness to bolster global partnerships and share its development experiences to promote social justice worldwide.
The session drew enthusiastic participation from numerous UN member states. Following the discussion, Minister Thakur held a courtesy meeting with H.E. Ms. Camilla Waltersson Grönvall, Sweden’s Minister for Social Services, further fostering international collaboration on social development issues.
Observer Voice is the one stop site for National, International news, Sports, Editor’s Choice, Art/culture contents, Quotes and much more. We also cover historical contents. Historical contents includes World History, Indian History, and what happened today. The website also covers Entertainment across the India and World.
