Prime Minister's Office
PM’s Address in ECOSOC commemoration of UNs 75th Anniversary
Posted On: 17 JUL 2020 8:49PM by PIB Delhi
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This yearwe celebrate the75th Anniversaryof the founding of the United Nations.It is an occasionto recognise the UN'smany contributions to human progress. It is also an opportunity to assess the UN's role and relevancein today's World,and to shape a better future for it.
Excellencies,
Indiawas among the 50 founding membersof the United Nations immediately after the Second World War.A lot has changed since then.Today the UN brings together193 member countries.Along with its membership,the expectationsfrom the organisationhave also grown.At the same time multilateralism is facing many challenges today.
Excellencies,
From the very beginning,India has actively supportedthe UN's development workand the ECOSOC. The first president of ECOSOC was an Indian.India also contributedto shaping the ECOSOC agenda, including theSustainable Development Goals. Today, through our domestic efforts,we are again playing a salient role in achieving Agenda 2030and the Sustainable Development Goals.We are also supporting other developing countriesin meeting their Sustainable Development Goals.
Excellencies,
India is hometo one-sixth of humanity. We are mindfulof our weight and responsibility.We know thatif India succeeds in achievingits development objectives,it will go a long way in achievement of global goals.And sowe have taken "whole-of-society" approach- by engaging our States,our local governments,our civil society, communities and our people.
Our motto is 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas, Sabka Vishwas' - meaning 'Together, for everyone's growth, with everyone's trust'.This resonates with the core SDG principle of leaving no one behind. Be it access to nutrition , health education, electricity or housing - we are making great progress through our inclusive programmes.
Excellencies,
Last year, we celebrated the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi,by achieving full sanitation coverage in our six hundred thousand villages.
In five years,we built over 110 million household toilets,which improved our rural sanitation coverfrom 38 % to 100 %. Our massive awareness generation programmesare empowering our women.We have achieved gender parity in elementary and secondary education. Nearly 70 million womenin rural Indiaare part of self-help groups under our Livelihood Mission.They are transforming lives and livelihoodson a big scale.Over a million womenare elected representativesof our local governments,leading the process of participatory development.In the last six years,we opened 400 million bank accountsfor the unbanked, out of which 220 million are owned by women.We have leveraged the power of technologyfor financial inclusion.This is based on the trinity of a unique identity number, a bank account, and a mobile connection for everyone.It has allowed us to make Direct Benefit Transfersof 150 billion dollars to over 700 million persons.Our food security programmesreach 813 million citizens.
Our ‘Housing for All’ programme will ensure thatevery Indian will have a safe and secure roof over her head by 2022,when India completes 75 years as an independent nation.By then, 40 million new homes would have been madeunder this programme - more than the total number of householdsin many countries.Today,our ‘Ayushmaan Bharat’ schemeis the world's largest health protection programme, covering 500 million individuals.In the fight against COVID, our grass-roots health systemis helping India ensureone of the best recovery rates in the world.We are also on track to remove TB by 2025.Other developing countriescan learn from the scale and success of India's development programmes. And from the technologies and innovations we have deployed.It is this realisation that under-pins India's own development partnership with the global South.
Excellencies,
While marching forwardon the path to development, we are not forgetting our responsibility towards our planet. Over the past few years,we have reduced38 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. This was achieved by electrifying our villages, providing clean cooking fuel to 80 million poor households, and introduction of energy efficient measures. We have set a target to install 450 Gigawatt of renewable energy and restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. We have an age-old tradition of living in harmony with nature. We launched one of the largest campaigns for cleanliness and discouraged usage of single-use plastic. Internationally, our Initiative to set up the International Solar Alliance was a practical manifestation of climate action. Similarly, the Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure brings together all relevant stake-holders for a comprehensive approach. We have always prided ourselves as the first responder in our region - a friend in need.Be it earthquakes,cyclonesor any other natural or man-made crisis,India has responded with speed and solidarity. In our joint fight against COVID, we have extended medical and other assistance to over 150 countries.We also helped create a SAARC COVID emergency fund in our neighborhood.
Excellencies,
The COVID-19 pandemic has severely tested the resilience of all nations. In India, we have tried to make the fight against the pandemic a people's movement,by combiningthe efforts of Government and society. We have given the highest priority to deliver benefits to poor households. We have announced a package of more than 300 billion dollars. It will bring the economy back on track,build modern infrastructure and put in place a technology-driven system.We have put forwarda vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' a self-reliant and Resilient India, integrated with the global economy.
Excellencies,
India firmly believes that the path to achieve sustainable peace and prosperity is through multilateralism. As children of planet Earth, we must join hands to address our common challenges and achieve our common goals. However, multilateralism needs to represent the reality of the contemporary world.Only reformed multilateralism with a reformed United Nationsat its centercan meet the aspirations of humanity.Today, while celebrating 75 years of the United Nations, let us pledge to reform the global multilateral system. To enhance its relevance, to improve its effectiveness, and to make it the basis of a new type of human-centric globalisation. The United Nations was originally bornfrom the furies of the Second World War. Today, the fury of the pandemic provides the context for its rebirth and reform. Let us not lose this chance.
Excellencies,
India has been elected to the United Nations Security Council at this very important time.With our deep commitment to maintaining global harmony,to improving socio-economic equity ,and to preserving nature's balance, India will play its rolein full support of the UN agenda.
Namaskar.
Thank you.
*****
