Remarks by Hon’ble Speaker Smt. Sumitra Mahajan, at the Opening Session of the South Asian Speakers’ Summit on ‘Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals’.

Dhaka, Bangladesh, 30 January 2016.

Distinguished Presiding Officers of South Asian Parliaments; Distinguished President of Inter-Parliamentary Union, Mr. Saber HossainChowdhury;Distinguished Delegates; Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am very honoured to be here among all of you at the South Asian Speakers’ Summit on ‘Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals’ jointly organized by the Bangladesh Parliament, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. I take this opportunity to thank the organizers for convening  this  Summit meeting   to discuss and deliberate an issue which has a bearing on the South Asia region as a whole and the countries of this region individually.

The South Asia region, which is one of the most populous regions in the world, has immense potential for growth and development; at the same time, we have to face many challenges in realizing our goals.  As Parliamentarians and as Speakers of the National Parliaments, it is our duty how to turn these challenges into opportunities for our peoples and also for the entire region.  While discussing the Sustainable Development Goals, I am reminded of the adage that poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere and it is more so in a globalized economy of mutual inter-dependence. 

In my view, this agenda is a unique opportunity for the international community to redouble its commitment for ending poverty and hunger and to set the world on a path to  sustainable and inclusive development. The larger goals of Sustainable Development are intertwined with the issues of regional connectivity and regional cooperation. South Asia has not only a shared history but also a shared destiny. We have age old cultural and civilizational links. Our geographical and economic complementarities can be used for mutual advantage to improve the lives of peoples in entire region.

The Sustainable Development Goals, have a more ambitious agenda seeking to eliminate, rather than reduce poverty, and include more demanding targets on health, education and gender equality to provide a life of dignity to all.  It emphasizes the universal need for development that is sustainable and inclusive and benefits all. Besides, the agenda includes issues such as climate change, sustainable consumption and production, innovation and the importance of peace and justice for all.

India supports Sustainable Development Goals to be aspirational in nature and that each country sets its own targets for achievement, so that the sovereignty of each state is retained.  We acknowledge that each country has the primary responsibility for its own economic and social development and the role of national policies, domestic resources and development strategies specific to its own circumstances and priorities  cannot be but overemphasized. There are different approaches, visions, models and tools available to every country to achieve sustainable development, which is our overarching goal.

India’s stance that a universal agenda ought to be a differentiated one based on the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) has finally been endorsed by UN World Sustainable Development Summit in its outcome document. While India is determined about its commitment to promote sustainable development for its people and do its fair share for global sustainability, it is equally important to ensure sustained and greater international flow of financial and latest technological resources to the developing countries. It is imperative that the developed countries take the lead in rapidly moving towards sustainable consumption and production patterns. It is in this context that we need to concentrate on some of the most fundamental issues that remained at the core of the development debates.  First and foremost is the citizen: no development is possible and sustainable unless it has a human face.  As Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, India’s leading political philosopher and mass leader, once said and I quote, “Integral humanism is the basis for development as it espouses indigenous economic model that puts the human being at the center stage”. Climate change is a major challenge before all of us. We,  in India,  have always believed from the ancient times that there cannot be any sustainable development without nurturing the nature.

Since Independence, India has followed a path of sustainable growth.  From the very beginning, we have pursued the dream of eliminating poverty and we stand vindicated that the same has now been highlighted in the Sustainable Development Goals as the SDGs commits to \'End Poverty in all its Forms Everywhere\'.  Similarly, the issues of food security, health, quality education, gender equality, etc. have always remained high on the developmental agenda of our country.Sustainable Development Goals reflect the development agenda pursued by India for years.

In this context, I would like to refer to some of the recent schemes launched in our country for promoting inclusion and social advancement. The initiative of ‘Jan DhanYojana’ or ‘National Mission on Financial Inclusion’ which aims at  having a bank account for each household, is one example of empowering people through financial inclusion. The Beti Bachao / Beti Padhao or the scheme to protect and educate the Girl Child brings them at the focus of all development schemes. Make in India, Skill India and Digital India are some of the other schemes which will enable us to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Parliaments, being representative institutions have to play key role in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. The oversight and legislative functions of Parliaments need to be strengthened by focusing more on the Sustainable Development Goals, and by associating all stakeholders with the government-led development processes.

We share the common goal of the international community for the successful implementation of Sustainable Development Goals.  However, we also emphasize on ‘global partnership’, based on a genuine understanding of the requirements, priorities, resources available and native realities of the developing countries.

Before I conclude, I would like to emphasize that the 21st century belongs to Asia and the South Asian region, with its tremendous potential in terms of human resources and various other resources, has a pivotal role to make it happen.  This can come about only when we are able to surmount the challenges before our countries and the South Asian region as a whole. We must share the best practices and learn from each other’s experiences, knowledge and expertise. Mutual co-operation amongst us will surely accelerate the growth and fast track the dream of achieving Sustainable Development Goals to improve the lives of our people in the entire region.  This Summit of Presiding Officers of the region offers a tremendous opportunity to show the way forward to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.  I do hope and trust that the deliberations at the Summit will be productive and fruitful and there will be many important take-aways  from this distinguished assembly.

May I also take this opportunity to heartily thank my sister, the Hon’ble Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Government of Bangladesh. and IPU for making  excellent arrangements for this Summit Meeting.