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Lok Sabha Debates

Discussion Regarding Sustainable Development Goals. on 3 August, 2016

Sixteenth Loksabha an> Title: Discussion regarding sustainable development goals.

THE MINISTER OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS   AND MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI ANANTHKUMAR): Hon. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, I request you to take up the Discussion Under Rule 193 on Sustainable Development Goals instead of Supplementary Demands for Grants.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think the House agrees.

          Hon. Members, Discussion on Sustainable Development Goals has been admitted in the names of Shri Rattan Lal Kataria and Shri N.K. Premachandran.

          Shri Rattan Lal Kataria has since requested hon. Speaker to allow Kunwar Bharatendra Singh to raise the discussion on his behalf, hon. Speaker has acceded to his request.

          Now, Kunwar Bharatendra Singh.

 

कुँवर भारतेन्द्र सिंह (बिजनौर):  माननीय उपाध्यक्ष जी, आपने मुझे एक बेहद महत्वपूर्ण विषय पर बोलने का मौका दिया है, इसके लिए मैं आपको धन्यवाद देता हूं। सतत विकास लक्ष्यों की प्राप्ति ससटेनेबल डवलपमेंट गोल्स, मान्यवर, पूरी दुनिया की अर्थ-व्यवस्था और भारतीय व्यवस्था एक अजीब विडम्बना से गुजर रही है। पंजाब में गेहूं, व­ााऩ और चूहों से बर्बाद हो जाता है किंतु कुछ व­र्ष पूर्व तक बुंदेलखंड में लोग भूख से मर रहे हैं। ओडिशा के बोलंगीर जिले में भी लोगों के भूख से मरने की रिपोर्ट आई है। प्रधान मंत्री जी की योजना से जो गरीब जिले हैं, उनको तथा पूर्वोत्तर राज्यों को विशे­ा महत्व दिया जा रहा है। इसी प्रकार से पश्चिम भारत के भंडार अनाज से भरे हुए हैं, किंतु कीटनाशकों से ग्रसित अनाज के उपभोग से पूरे देश में केंसर फैल रहा है। हर बीमारी का आवि­कार हो चुका है, किंतु गरीब आज भी हैजे जैसी सामान्य बीमारी से मर जाता है। दवाइयों के मूल्य गरीब की जेब से बहुत अधिक हैं। ऐसी विडम्बनाओं की सूची बहुत लम्बी बन सकती है। सतत विकास लक्ष्यों की प्राप्ति किसी अंग्रेज शासक के द्वारा हम लोगों पर थोपा हुआ आदेश नहीं है। यह भारत की स्वाभाविक अभिव्यक्ति है। हमारे देश में पेड़-पौधे-नदियों और पक्षियों को पूजा गया है। चारों दिशाओं में चारों धाम स्थापित हैं। यदि हम अपने उत्तराधिकारियों को विरासत में एक सुंदर, सहज जीवन का वातावरण देना चाहते हैं तो हमें इन विडम्बनाओं से मुक्त होना होगा।

          मान्यवर, सितम्बर 2000 में भारत में संयुक्त रा­ष्ट्र महासभा में सहस्त्राब्धि लक्ष्यों के बुनियादी विकास मुद्दों पर विकसित देशों का ध्यान आकृ­ष्ट किया गया था। इन लक्ष्यों की पूर्ति वर्ष 2015 तक होनी थी। वर्ष 2015 के पश्चात् निरन्तरता सुनिश्चित करने हेतु सतत लक्ष्य ससटेनेबल डवलपमेंट गोल्स की घोषणा की गई।

          Sir, there are 17 goals in 169 targets. Nearly 17 Ministries have to coordinate the work among themselves. This goal has to be achieved in the next 15 years. This is a very ambitious plan which has to be achieved by 2030.

          Ministries have to be included and involved in implementation. The Government has done a mapping of the goals and selected the partners who are going to implement these goals. Then, there have been indicators set up by the Government that can monitor how many goals have been achieved and how many we have to still pursue further and what further plans are?

          With this plan and nearly 17 Ministries following this plan, there is the implementation part that our Government is now going ahead with. As you know, Sir, most of the implementation under our Constitution of parliamentary democracy is done by the State Governments. There have already been two meetings of the Chief Secretaries of the State Governments with other Secretaries concerned. It has been a lively participation. These 17 Ministries are working with a lot of excitement. Many Ministries have asked the Department of Sustainable Development Goals to include them as they realised that they also needed to be consulted. So, all this excitement holds good.   

Deputy-Speaker, Sir, a huge amount of population is living in cities today. It has its own dynamics. In 1990, 10 mega cities with 10 million population existed. By the year 2014, 28 mega cities have come up with nearly 453 million inhabitants living in those cities. Therefore, it pushes on the administration and the Governments very poor inhabitations within the city. We need to upgrade the slum settlements; we need to have good public transport; and we need to have urban planning strictly implemented, giving the inhabitants green spaces within the cities.

          Sir, rainfall is falling. The levels of rainfall are becoming lower. Every citizen hopes to have primary levels of existence of water and electricity. The Prime Minister has said that every field should withhold its own water and that every village should try and keep its own water and not let it flow away in the monsoon. So, there is a new impetus that the Government has given to excavate ponds, to have better drainage systems and to have better urban planning. Of course, with the huge demand of urbanisation and every citizen of the world wanting to live in a city, there is also an ambitious plan of having 100 new smart urban cities developed by the Government.

          River flow is also a major concern. Therefore, the Prime Minister and this Government has made a separate Ministry monitoring rivers and water resources. Cyclones pose a major danger. As global warming takes place, average temperatures around the world have risen by two degrees centigrade. So, infrastructure in the coastal cities needs to be more resilient in coastal areas so that they do not get destroyed every time a cyclone hits them. There are going to be more cyclones.

          We have to have sustainable development. Sustainable development is the desire of every citizen. Every citizen wants to have clean drinking water and electricity supplied to him. This can only be done if we have access to resources, to renewable resources. Unfortunately, in India, most of our electricity supply is done by coal based electricity power plants. So, we have to concentrate on renewable energy and efficient use of energy. Here again, the Central Government has come up with a policy that we should be able to give LED bulbs for efficient utilisation of electricity and also to have newer transmission lines. A very ambitious plan has been put into place in this regard.

          Hon. Deputy Speaker, Sir, 193 nations signed the WTO. However, we see that the developed nations seem to follow an escape route under the garb of free trade and labour laws. Although their per capita consumption is far more than that of the developing nations, we have to have a common but differentiated responsibility with developed countries taking the lead and not finding an escape route. Targets have to be global and targets have to be aspirational. Therefore, as much as every State Government and every country’s Government needs to aspire that the SDGs are in place; so does every individual need to aspire for this.

          Policy and programmes are being implemented continuously by the Central Government under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji. When we ask during our regular meetings as to how they are ensuring implementation if a State is not implementing, it was suggested that a ‘name and shame’ policy may be followed. On the one hand, the States that are implementing, the districts that are doing well in implementing these broad-based policies and providing a better tomorrow to our children – they are the inheritors of our nation and the world at large – should be encouraged while the others,  who are not being able to follow these policies, should also be named.

SDG is a common development vision of the world for moving ahead. There are high expectations from our country. We were the first to sign in September, 2000 under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji. We must not believe that the SDG is an infliction from above. It is not an infliction from anybody; it is our own desire. To quote Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, it is the core of our own plan. The Prime Minister’s initiative has been noticed and welcomed by all the world leaders.

I would like to end my speech by informing this august House of the effectiveness of the Prime Minister’s programmes on the ground.

           मान्यवर, हर गांव की गरीब महिला को मुफ्त में गैस, मतलब एक बढ़िया ईंधन जो उन्हें अच्छा स्वास्थ्य दे सकता है, उनके फेफड़ों को कालिख और कार्बन से बचा सकता है, उनके खून में ऑक्सिजन जाये और लाली रहे, इस चिंता के साथ प्रधानमंत्री जी ने हर गरीब महिला के घर में गैस को फ्री उपलब्ध करवाने की ’उज्ज्वला’ योजना चलाई है।

          आज भी हमारे देश में ऐसे बहुत सारे गांव हैं और उन गांवों बहुत सारे ऐसे घर हैं, जहां आज तक हम बिजली नहीं पहुंचा पाये हैं। हर घर में बिजली पहुंचाई जायेगी, यह प्रधानमंत्री जी का बहुत महत्वकांक्षी वादा अपनी जनता से है।

          मान्यवर, मुझे यह कहते हुए बहुत खुशी है कि इसमें बहुत सारा काम उत्तर प्रदेश में किया गया है, बहुत सारी लाइनें लगी हैं, नये ट्रांसफर्मर्स लगे हैं, नये उप-केन्द्र केन्द्र सरकार के पैसे से लगाये जा रहे हैं, ताकि हम हर घर में बिजली पहुंचा सके। अगर कोई भी बी.पी.एल. सूची का ऐसा व्यक्ति जो अपने घर में बिजली की कनेक्शन नहीं ले सकता है तो उसे नःशुल्क बिजली की कनेक्शन देने की योजना है। प्रत्येक गांव में बिजली होगी और ऐसे गांव हैं, जिनमें ज्यादा लोगों के घरों में बिजली नहीं थी, वहां इसका विस्तार किया जायेगा, ताकि हर घर में बिजली पहुंचा सके और हम हरेक गरीब के घर से अंधेरा दूर कर सकें।

          मान्यवर, इसी प्रकार से ’जन-धन’ योजना है। हम हर गरीब को इस देश की महान वित्तीय व्यवस्था से जोड़ना चाहते हैं, यह प्रधानमंत्री जी के पहल से की गई थी। हरेक गरीब को जोड़ा गया और उन गरीबों ने जीरो बैलेंस एकाउंट में अपनी बचत का धन डाला है, वह हमारे देश की बचत का एक महत्वपूर्ण अंश है।

          मान्यवर, इसी तरह से ’स्वच्छ भारत योजना’ आई है। हमें इस एस.डी.जी. योजना को सफल करना है तो स्वच्छता पर विशे­ष ध्यान देना होगा। प्रधानमंत्री जी ’स्वच्छ भारत योजना’ भी लाये हैं। इसी प्रकार ओडिशा और पूर्वोत्तर राज्यों, जहां आज तक विशे­ष ध्यान नहीं दिया गया था, प्रधानमंत्री जी स्वयं वहां अनेक दौरे कर के आये हैं। पूर्वोत्तर राज्यों को मुख्य धारा में लाया गया है, मुख्य चिंता का वि­षय बनाया गया है। इसी प्रकार से हमारी सरकार माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी के नेतृत्व में ’सबका साथ, सबका विकास’ योजना को ले कर चल रही है। उसके कारण पूरी दुनियां की आंखें हम पर टिकी हैं, भारत की ओर देख रही हैं कि हम इस सतत् योजना को केसे सफल करेंगे? इसमें हमें बहुत ज्यादा इस सरकार के द्वारा और माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी के नेतृत्व से सफलता मिली है।

          आपने मुझे बहुत महत्वपूर्ण मुद्दे पर बोलने का मौका दिया है, मैं आपका बहुत-बहुत आभारी हूं। धन्यवाद।

SHRI M. VEERAPPA MOILY (CHIKKABALLAPUR): Esteemed Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank you very much for providing me this opportunity to speak on an important subject like the Millennium Declaration which is now transformed into SDG.

          In the year 2000, 189 nations made a promise to free people from extreme poverty and multiple deprivations and this pledge became the eight Millennium Development Goals to be achieved by 2015. In September, 2010, the world recommitted itself to accelerate the progress towards these goals.

The UNGA adopted a new set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030 and these goals replaced the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which were adopted in the year 2000. It is for India to introspect if we have achieved the MDGs, and see what is the progress on the MDGs and what is the look out for the SDGs. This is the time this Parliament will have to look into these things. Who is coming in the way of implementation? Definitely people want them to be implemented, the Parliament wants it, the Ministers irrespective of the Government which they are part of want these to be implemented so that people’s lives improve. What can be better politics than this? But we have our own problems.

I will come to the specific goals to be achieved shortly. We have several conflicts and day by day these conflicts are increasing. We have conflicts relating to gender inequality, discrimination against dalits, discrimination against minorities like Muslims, Christians etc., problems of the North-East, problems of the East. Every part of India is suffering from one malice or the other. We have health problems, problems with regard to drugs, and we have problems with insurance. We call it insurance but actually it is assurance. Is it crop insurance or assurance which has to be encashed by beneficiary? Insurance should be in absolute terms. I think we have not understood the meaning of insurance. Whether it is life insurance or crop insurance, it should be universal in nature and it should insure the beneficiaries. … (Interruptions) Yes, my experience. I think down the line we have lost meaning of many important terms. We need to redefine, rephrase and tell the administrators what they need to do.

Governance is an important factor but we are least interested in it, whether this side or that side. I headed the Second Administrative Reforms Commission. We went around the world and the country. I visited many conflict zones and we produced 15 reports – on fiscal, conflict resolution, terrorism, or many other aspects. Having been disillusioned for not implementing the governance, I thought let me be at least happy with writing some epic poems like Ramayanam Mahanveshanam, another focused on Draupadi, and the epic poem Bahubali that I am now writing. At least I get satisfaction from doing this. What I could not implement when I was the Chairman of Administrative Reforms Commission, what I could not implement as  the Chief Minister of a State, as the Finance Minister of a State, or as the Industry Minister of a State, or as the Minister in charge of Law and Justice, as the Minister in charge of Environment, Power, Petroleum etc. … (Interruptions) We are not getting maximum satisfaction. I am coming to the point as to why we are not getting that satisfaction.

          I say governance is very important. Technology is important. Originally I drafted the Lok Pal Bill as a Law Minister. And it is yet to see the light of the day. … (Interruptions) I agree. I at least get satisfaction in writing these three epic poems. At least that gives me the satisfaction.

          I must tell you that psyche of a person is very important. One great philosopher C.G. Jung said, it is not the drought, not the big flood, not the carcinoma nor any deadly disease, not volcanoes, but ultimately it is the psyche of the man that is most dangerous. There is no remedy or medicine for that. Rama can become Ravana and Ravana can become Rama with a slight change in the psyche of a young boy or a person. But we find the problems that we have to deal with very difficult to handle. Only pessimists say it is difficult. Optimists like me would always say, we can always find a solution. This is where we are stuck up. I am not enlarging the scope of some of my propositions.

          As far as the technology is concerned some people oppose the technology. Technology according to Plato is a branch of philosophy. That kind of a culture we need to develop. We have to think of technology as a branch of philosophy in life. Even  today we have not understood the meaning of technology. I must say that it is always technology, it is a branch of philosophy and it is meant to understand the object and elevate the human mind. Sometime lobbies are created against technology without understanding the phrase correctly. The object is to elevate the human mind, said Plato. I think we need to address these things. I am coming to that in greater detail. Many of the things my earlier speaker has already dealt with.

          We need to address all these problems first by making governance effective. Mr. Suresh Prabhu has a mission to implement governance reforms. He should do that and not hesitate. Hesitation will not take him anywhere. I know bureaucracy will not agree with him, but he will have to do it. Reform is like creative destruction. It is not negative destruction. Otherwise you cannot change over to the new systems. Mahatma Gandhi said, change yourself and then you can change the world. We are not changing ourselves. How can we change the world? That is why we need to address some of these things.

          Goal one says, end poverty in all its forms and everywhere. I am basically putting one question to this Government. Of course we are introspecting ourselves also.         Do these goals remain in the Union Ministry only as goals?  I was told that 17 Ministries are involved.  It should have been the first agenda of every Ministry or at least those 17 Ministries which are concerned with that.  We would like to know it when the Government is going to reply.

SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL (ALAPPUZHA): Hon. Deputy Speaker Sir, which Ministry is going to reply? Nobody is taking note of anything.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: They will observe.

SHRI M. VEERAPPA MOILY: They will observe very keenly.… (Interruptions)

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Shri Rao Inderjit Singh is also there.

… (Interruptions)

SHRI M. VEERAPPA MOILY: He is the Minister concerned.  He is in charge of Rural Development. … (Interruptions)

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Shri Rao Inderjit Singh is in charge of NITI Aayog.  He can also answer. 

… (Interruptions)

SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL: The hon. Minister is telling he is not.  Who is going to reply? 

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB (CUTTACK): I think the Government does not want to reply.

SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY (DHENKANAL): Then why do we have a discussion?

SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL: Instead of flood and atrocities on dalits, we are taking up this less important thing. The Minister concerned is not here to reply.… (Interruptions)

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhu is also there. He is also a competent man.  He can also reply on Sustainable Development Goals.

… (Interruptions)

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I am only telling that Shri Prabhu is there.  He is a Cabinet Minister.  He has some responsibility.  Shri Prabhu, you are so energetic.

 

THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS (SHRI SURESH PRABHU): Hon. Deputy Speaker, first of all, I must thank all the hon. Members for elevating the level of debate to such an extent.  The first speaker who spoke really brought in the elements that are necessary to be brought in to decide about our strategy for the development goals which have now become Sustainable Development Goals.  Therefore, we really appreciate it.  We also thank the hon. Member Shri Moily, who himself is a philosopher, for coming out with some brilliant ideas, particularly saying that technology itself is a branch of philosophy as was said by Plato.  In fact, if you really look at it, you really need a philosophical bend of mind to look at all these issues because they are so daunting.  If you do not have a philosophical mind, you cannot address them in any case.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: You can reply later.

SHRI SURESH PRABHU: I am making only a small point. What is necessary is that all these goals have to be accepted at global level which we have done.  Now it has to become part of a national mainstream agenda which is what we are doing. We also have to bring it down to the local communities where the action has to happen.  So, it is a classical case of Think Global, Act Local.  For this, the hon. Prime Minister had a meeting with NITI Aayog to decide about a 15 year strategy.  … (Interruptions) The whole idea about 15 year strategy is how we can integrate all these goals and make them into actionable points.  So, we will really take all these inputs coming from such distinguished Members and will use them as part of a strategy as to how to deal with these challenges of dealing with Sustainable Development Goals.  … (Interruptions)

SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB : It is nothing but traction energy put forth.

SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL: Hon. Deputy Speaker, at least Shri Prabhu should tell us who is going to reply.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: He has already answered something.  He has already intervened.

SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL: Hon. Deputy Speaker, my question is which Ministry is going to reply? 

 

SHRI M. VEERAPPA MOILY: Hon. Deputy Speaker, I do not think there is any seriousness on the part of the Government. It is a very casual approach. … (Interruptions)

SHRI SURESH PRABHU: Hon. Deputy Speaker, I want to assure on behalf of the Government that all this will be taken as very important inputs and we will act on them as much as possible. … (Interruptions)

SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL : Hon. Deputy Speaker, today you were there in the BAC.  You know better what we had discussed in the meeting.  The Government said that we have scarcity of time. 

SHRI M. VEERAPPA MOILY: If the Government is not ready, let them defer it for tomorrow.  There should be some seriousness.  There is absolutely no seriousness.

THE MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI): I will answer in part on the Millennium Goals concerned with women and children.  Most of the Millennium Goals really pertain to them.  I have come prepared with the answer.  If the hon. Members like, I can answer after he finishes.

SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY: You can answer only when you are listening.

SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI:  I have been listening.… (Interruptions)

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: The hon. Minister is listening.  She has expressed her willingness to answer.

… (Interruptions)

SHRI M. VEERAPPA MOILY : I do agree that Women and Children are important component of MDG and SDG programme.  I agree and appreciate that at least Shrimati Maneka Gandhi has the seriousness to participate in this debate.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Shri Moily, please remember that when hon. Speaker organized many programmes about women, Shrimati Maneka Gandhi took interest in this subject.  Shrimati Maneka Gandhi is competent enough to answer.

SHRI M. VEERAPPA MOILY : That is why I am appreciating her.

SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL: We agree on the importance of the subject.  But the Government is not taking certain things seriously.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Shrimati Maneka Gandhi has already come forward.

SHRI M. VEERAPPA MOILY: If the Government is serious and if the presence of the Minister of Women and Child Development Shrimati Maneka Gandhi is the indication, we are happy about it. But what about other Ministries?  There should be a holistic approach.… (Interruptions)

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: She is a senior Cabinet Minister.  Shri Suresh Prabhu is also there.  The Minister in charge of NITI Aayog is also there.  So many Ministers are there.  Shrimati Maneka Gandhi has already come forward to intervene and reply. This is a general subject.

… (Interruptions)

SHRI M. VEERAPPA MOILY : I think the Cabinet must be directed to represent fully.  We want a holistic approach on this.

SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL: Hon. Deputy Speaker, this is the wish and will of the hon. Speaker.  Therefore, you should direct them.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Let Shrimati Maneka Gandhi answer.  That is all.

SHRI M. VEERAPPA MOILY: She can answer only to one extent. There should be a holistic approach to the whole subject.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Shri Prabhu can answer to some extent. The hon. Minister of Rural Development has also come forward.  Others can also participate.  There is no problem in that. 

SHRI SURESH PRABHU: Hon. Deputy Speaker, we always make a point that everybody’s responsibility is nobody’s responsibility.

SHRI M. VEERAPPA MOILY : That is what has happened.

SHRI SURESH PRABHU: Shri Moily, we are present here.  One point response will be given. Do not worry; we are jointly responsible to the Parliament.  So, any Member of Cabinet present here represents the whole Cabinet.

SHRI M. VEERAPPA MOILY: Hon. Deputy Speaker, I do not want to prolong this kind of preliminary thing.  But one thing is very clear.  Is there any analysis of the SDGs in the Economic Survey?  Is there any focus on the SDGs in the Budget presented by the Minister of Finance?  No.  Is there a mention about SDGs in any programme of any of the 17 Ministries which are meant to implement them?  For example, the hon. Minister has given a new form for the District Monitoring Committee called the DISHA.  Even in the guidelines which you have issues to the districts, there is no mention about SDGs.  Where is the focus?  Is the focus there only in taking up the subject under Rule 193 and giving a reply?  That is the beginning and the end of the journey as far as SDGs is concerned.  There should be a serious approach to this problem. 

We have arrived in a time in our history when we are equipped with the strength of knowledge, the power of globalization and convenience of technology to accomplish seemingly impossible goals like elimination of poverty.  They can be achieved by combined forces of all this convenience which is provided.  We can try to derive the best out of the free markets.  I am not against the free markets.  But what is that we can do in an open competition and at the same time show compassion to the less fortunate in this world?  In fact, that is what we want to do to the business world- nurture a revolution in kindness.  

15.00 hours           This is what I, as a Minister in charge of the Company Affairs, Corporate Affairs, tried to introduce.  I tried to introduce CSR.  I wanted to do it without any conflict both in the corporate and also political scenario.  We conducted about eight national seminars on that.  This was the first time in the corporate world that we had introduced CSR as mandatory.  Initially there was a strong resistance but ultimately everyone has agreed.  Today they have started implementing it.  Even at the political level I wanted a consensus in Parliament. Not once, twice but four times I sent the Company Bill to the Standing Committee of Finance.  I think, for the first time even without an argument we could get such a complicated, revolutionary Bill passed.  That is why I say that nothing is possible.  Everything is possible.  With all the conflicts and turbulence in the politics, things are possible. 

          One great economist David Kotten said: “Filled with hope for a new millennium in which societies will be freed from the concerns of basic survival (These are all the things which are necessary for the basic survival of the mankind) to pursue new frontiers of social and intellectual advancement”.  In fact, this is what is meant. 

Many a time statistics reveal, all figurative, planning.  We do not lack in statistics but it is not the soul of the SDG goal.  In fact, we always have a constant fight between our mind, which is the engine of problem solving and our mindset which is a set of beliefs and dogmas.  This is how our bureaucracy or the political class is always positioned.  Unless the changes are percolated in the governance process nothing is going to happen.  The conflict and the fight continue and there will be no end to it.  Ultimately there will not be any result. 

Another economist Jim O’Neill said; “As always been particularly excited about India’s prospects with BRICS dream India as the greatest potential of the four, we estimate that by 2015 India’s GDP could be 25 trillion dollars, fifty times bigger than it is today.  India is the lowest of the BRICS.  This means that India has the biggest potential but also the most deliverable objective”.  This is the potential.  In another 15 years, by 2030 this new revised formula has to be implemented.  That is because we have a demographic dividend.  By that time the average age of the working population will be 29 years, the youngest in the world.  This window of opportunity was available with the US about 225 years back.  They built infrastructure, physical infrastructure, human infrastructure and they did everything during that period so that they can face the challenge of demographic dividend.  We have to derive those demographic dividends.  You either derive demographic dividends or demographic disaster.

There is no point in merely giving the direction.  You will have to do it through the institutions of governance.  You will have to create time-tested institutions or nurture the institutions.  I will give you the example of North and South Korea.  In North Korea all the institutions have been demolished.  In South Korea all the institutions have sustained.  One conclusion or  moral of the theory is when the institutions in a nation fail democracy fail.  That is how the North Korea collapsed and the South Korea survived.  This is important.  We have to focus on those institutions.  What are you doing for their accountability, their governance, which includes the Parliament?  These are all the conflict resolution mechanisms because our Constitution itself is a conflict resolution document which no other country has got.  We must be proud of this and we will have to utilise the full content and soul of our Constitution.

          If the process of reform is maintained at the average rate, we are bound to come up.  Our fundamentals of economy are quite strong which no other country has.  We are happy about it.  Even in 2009, pre-Lehman period, when the world economic recession took place, it is India which stood up to face that challenge and we could recover from the crisis of the world.  India stood alone.  We could keep our head above.  That kind of capacity is available but it is just not enough to deal with the capacity at a macro level.  It is necessary to build the capacity in every segment of the society.  They should be re-assured that they have a place, an identity.  Every class of the people in this country will have to be told his role.  They have to be told that they have a niche for themselves to build this country.  It is not the talent alone which counts.  As Isaac said: “It is the passion to do work which elevates the person”.  This is what is necessary.  Can you keep that kind of a spirit or passion?  Every segment of the society will definitely contribute a lot if that passion is there.

          I do not say that we have been perfect in achieving the development goals.  No doubt, we have achieved them.  I have the list but I do not want to take away the time of the House because that is not important.  I can place it before the House.  The goals which are set here include, end poverty in all its form.  This has become the topmost goal in the SDG.  I am not bothering the House with regard to Asian or various other achievements globally.  I am not going to bother the House on the statistics of the number of people living in extreme poverty.  But the All India poverty head count ratio has been brought down to nearly half, from 47 per cent in 1990 to 21 per cent in 2011-12. 

Second goal is to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.  In UPA-I and II we thought of bringing the Right to Work, the Right to Education and the Right to Food through NREGA Programme.  I think this is a story in progress.  I don’t think just because UPA had done it, you should have a different line.  You cannot have a different line.  You must diagnose the disease.  The disease is there.  Medicine will have to be administered.  That is why you will have to continue with it.  We need to bring out many other guarantees which have been promised in the Constitution of India.  We have to achieve them. 

Another goal is to ensure healthy life and promote well being for all.  All these cannot be done very casually.  This has to be seriously addressed.  There should be a proper Drug Policy, a Health Policy, Universal Health Policy for everyone and if you do not do it, it is not going to help the country. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality of education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.  Everybody can do that.  Why is the quality of education not important? 

          Sir, I just experimented on a school exclusively for drop outs in 1991.  My idea was to give first preference of admission to the children who got least marks like 35 per cent and children who have no parents or children whose parents are drunken or destitute.  We used to pick them from hotels or some shop or some streets and we used to admit 35 children in the 8th standard.  The children who had 35 per cent marks at the time of admission got more than 95 per cent marks within three years of training.  That is the capacity of our people.  Many students got distinctions.  There was not even a single third class student.  Only one or two were second class student.  How is it possible? 

Even with regard to higher education, all those down trodden people whom we call OBC and Scheduled Castes or whatever, they are basically intelligent.  They are made of the same DNA.  Let us not think that DNA of a Scheduled Caste family or an OBC family is less than anybody else.

In 2005, I was appointed by Dr. Manmohan Singh as Chairman of the Oversight Committee.  In fact, in that Oversight Committee I gave a slogan – Expansion, Inclusion and Excellence.  I think when Sachin Tendulkar scored a century, India did not win the World Cup.  Only where he did not score a century, we won the World Cup.  So, the country can become prosperous and go in the third or fourth line provided the entire country moves forward and nobody is left behind.

I conducted a socio-economic survey in respect of Tamil Nadu schools, Tamil Nadu engineering colleges, Karnataka engineering colleges, Kerala engineering colleges and  Andhra Pradesh engineering colleges.  Ultimately, what happened?  Having found that the very same OBC people who may think inferior in character to admit them in the IIT and IIM  and apex institutions, in the second year, all of them secured more distinctions, more first classes than the general category students.  This is the capacity.  Let us not discriminate people just because of poverty.  Just because of the origin of the family.  I think they are the people who are more capable because once they get an admission into the institutions like this, they feel that they should be more competitive and that they must work more.  As a result, they come up in the ladder but the general category people think that they are already comfortable and that kind of competitive spirit is not there.  That is how, they go backward. 

My request is that Disha Programme of the Department of Rural Development should also be sent as one of the items to be reviewed by each of the MP in their respective District Committees.  You give the target to the State Committees to know what the deficit areas are of the district.  They should find out the deficit in achieving these goals.  You provide them adequate funds to meet with that challenges so that they do not lag behind.  Without doing that and just sending particulars to the World Bank or the UNESCO is not going to serve the purpose.  I think when you would give a reply maybe this kind of assurance is held out so that this can be reviewed at proper level.  Deficits in those regions or the communities can be found out.  You must come up with the funding and also the effective programmes and effective enforcement of these goals. 

With this, I thank hon. Deputy Speaker for giving me time.

                                                                            

SHRI R. GOPALAKRISHNAN (MADURAI): Sir, I thank you for this opportunity. Under the able and dynamic leadership of our hon. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Puratchi Thalaivi Amma, Tamil Nadu is making giant strides in every field of activity. Overall human development is the ultimate goal of our Hon. Puratchithalaivi Amma. “Makkalal naan, Makkalukkaga naan” is the Tharaga Manthiram of hon. Amma.  That is why, the people of Tamil Nadu have given hon. Puratchi Thalaivi Amma a grand success by electing the Government led by Amma for the record consecutive terms.

We have so many goals before our country even after 69 years of Independence. Food, water, clothing and a shelter to live are the basic needs for a human being. Data provided by NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites that observe and monitor changes in critical areas of the world suggests that Earth's groundwater basins are rapidly getting depleted due to human consumption.

Going back to the tank system and rainwater harvesting seem to be the two options available. Hon. Prime Minister has appreciated Tamil Nadu government led .by Hon. Chief Minister Dr. Puratchi Thalaivi Amma for the ambitious Rain Water harvesting schemes implemented in Tamil Nadu. It is now for all other States of the country to follow the footsteps of Tamil Nadu so that depleting ground water table level could be restored. In its landmark judgment in February 2012, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to implement the ambitious interlinking of river project in time-bound manner.

I urge upon the Union government to extend financial assistance, including cost for land acquisition to interlink rivers in the State. Tamil Nadu has proposed to implement the Pennaiyar (Sathanur dam)-Palar link, the Pennaiyar (NedungaIAnicut)-Palar link, the Cauvery-Gundar link, the Cauvery (Mettur dam)-Sarabanga link, the Athikadavu-Avinashi flood canal scheme and the Tamirabarani-Karumeniar-Nambiyar interlink.

I also urge upon the Union government to commence the groundwork for the speedy implementation of the interlinking of rivers, especially, the peninsular component of the Mahanadi-Godavari-Krishna-Pennar- Palar-Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar link and the Pamba-Achankovil-Vaippar link.

Eradication of poverty and feeding the poor and deprived is still a distant dream even after the implementation of Food Security Act in the country. Hon. Amma, as a visionary concerning the poor and economically backward sections of the society, is implementing Amma Unavagam- a canteen facility providing quality food at low rates. The State of Andhra Pradesh has already launched a similar scheme for providing food to poor at subsidized rates. All the States of the country should try to emulate Tamil Nadu in serving the poor and needy. Even the Union Government should implement this scheme of the Tamil Nadu Government all over India.

Clothing is another basic need of a human being. We need to protect our brothers and sisters working in the weaving industry. For the rural population, weaving is the largest occupation after agriculture. For benefitting the poor and with the objective of providing higher employment opportunities in the handloom, powerloom sector and to bring about renaissance, the scheme of distribution of supplying priceless sarees and dhoties was introduced in Tamil Nadu.

With a noble intention of supplying good quality sarees and dhoties to the poor, the production and distribution of poly-cotton sarees and dhoties were introduced in the year 2003. During the Pongal festival of 2005, the Tamil Nadu Government had extended the scheme of Free distribution of sarees and dhoties to all people living below poverty line in rural and urban areas. During the year 2012, the scheme of distribution of free dhoties and sarees has been renamed as Priceless Sarees and Dhoties Scheme. During the Pongal festival of 2013, 1.73 crore sarees and 1.72 crore dhoties were distributed to the beneficiaries. This scheme is continued with renewed vigour in the State.

Tamil Nadu ever remains a role model to all other States of the country in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals in a time bound manner. The Vision 2023 document released by Hon. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Puratchithalaivi Amma tries to identify and remove the bottlenecks in development, prioritise critical infrastructure projects, and work to propel the state of Tamil Nadu to the forefront of development once again. The total investment to enable universal access to infrastructure services over the next 8-year period in the State is estimated at Rs. 15 lakh crore. As many as 2,40,000 solar power green houses were built in Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs. 4680 crore under Hon. Chief Minister Puratchi Thalaivi Amma’s direction and the beneficiaries are happily residing in these green houses.

          Milch cows were distributed free of cost to 48000 beneficiaries in the State. Around 22 lakh goats/sheep were distributed free of cost to around 5,50,000 beneficiaries.

          Annadhanam Scheme is being implemented in more than 1000 temples of the State of Tamil Nadu. Annadhanam in Srirangam Sri Aranganatha Swamy temple,  Palani Sri Dhandayuthapaani Swamy Temple, Sri Meenakshi Amman temple, Madurai and in many other temples in Tamil Nadu.

          Feeding the poor with food and safe drinking water, providing them with priceless clothes and a shelter to live in are some of the basic needs that are fulfilled in Tamil Nadu through the efforts of our visionary leader Puratchi Thalaivi Amma.

          There are several other schemes which are implemented in Tamil Nadu for making it a progressive State and to attain the number one position with regard to development indicators. There has been a glorious rule for the past five years in the State of Tamil Nadu under the dynamic leadership of hon. Puratchi Thalaivi Amma.

          I would like to urge upon the Union Government to implement similar schemes in different parts of the country so that our aim of overall and inclusive development would very soon be achieved.

          Thank you.

   

DR. KAKOLI GHOSH DASTIDAR (BARASAT): Hon. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak on this very important subject which is plaguing the world today. I stand here as a Member of All India Trinamool Congress.

          Sir, we are today actually standing at cross roads. The question here is – "to be or not to be"? To be a developed nation, or not to be. Certain nations have been developing at a faster pace than ours over the last centuries and those nations have also been the major contributors to Green gas house emissions. Their carbon footprints have also been much more than ours. When we take up the task of development, a lot of sanctions and interjections are being placed on us and we, as a developing nation, are facing this problem now. My hon. Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee has rightly pointed that with perspective to India, the NGT has to be prudent and restrictions towards our fewer developmental projects and refrain from over-zealous actions. But I take this opportunity to extend gratitude to the leaders of the 193 countries who, during the General Assembly of the United Nations in September 2015, got together and took serious cognizance of this burning issue to strike a balance between growth and development of individuals, nations and also to maintain nature, environment and protect our planet. Five `P’s are involved in this total effort – people, planet, peace, prosperity and partnership between nations.

The Sustainable Development Goals were worked up on the lines of the Millennium Development Goals. There were eight goals in that. We have done quite well and depending on that we have worked up the SDGs which also involve the environment. The MDGs did not take into cognizance the environmental factor, but here we want to maintain the environment, like all of us were born from one mother, we have only one world and to leave this world for our posterity we must protect the world. Even if we are trying to develop in different fields, we have to take care of our planet, of our atmosphere, of our water bodies, of our nature and the SDGs have taken this aspect into consideration. This is the first time that all the nations first got together, discussed and then formulated the 17 Goals and 169 targets that the nations are going to undertake over the next 14 years, that is by 2030, to meet our needs. It already has come into effect from 1st of January this year and unlike many previous decisions, the world together in consultation has drawn this up.

It was not a regional decision; it was not a decision of any particular nation, it was rather a quantitative decision dealing not only with human or the planet separately. Ecological sustainability was seen as a element of economic development. The problems were taken to be universal and inter-connected, because if the air quality getting disturbed over my country will go and affect another country. But in doing so, we also have to take into consideration where we are going and developing and we must be given more opportunities.

          The first six Goals of MDG which were for poverty alleviation has been repeated here also. We, the developing world, need industrialisation but we have to be protective towards Mother Earth. On behalf of the people we serve we have taken a historic decision which is comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centric set of universal and transformative goals. We are committed in achieving sustainable development in these three dimensions of economic, social and environmental to build upon the MDGs.

          Sir, most important would be policy-making. When we are discussing it here today Budget allocation should be made towards meeting these 17 Goals and 169 targets. We have to strike a balance. The developed world has been a major contributor towards polluting our water bodies, our air quality including depletion of forest and also about starting the practice of newer food techniques and we have followed suit. We have forgotten our traditional foods.

          Yesterday, the hon. Speaker had organised a meeting regarding SDGs and there an hon. Member was pointing out regarding the present situation in which the present generation does not even recognise traditional foods like Jawar, Bajra for nutrition. They are depending upon packed foods. Preparing foods in the factories, packing them, marketing them involves a lot of artificial methods and energy expenditure which is not good for the planet. We have to go back to our natural resources.

          Six of the goals, out of the 17, that have been mentioned here directly relate to Disaster Risk Reduction recognising that exposure and vulnerability of the poor to disasters is essential for sustainable poverty eradication. Out of the 17 Goals, the first one is poverty eradication. Poverty and degraded environment are closed inter-related especially where people depend on their livelihood primarily on the natural resources from their immediate environment. Restoring natural systems and improving natural resource management practices at the grass root level to protect the nature are central to a strategy to eliminate poverty. Diversion of common and marginal lands to more economically viable, as we say today ` for useful purposes’, deprives the poor of a resource base which has traditionally met many of their sustenance needs. For example, the right of the forest should be with the people who live in the forests since ages. We should give them the power to live in the forest, use the forest as their own to the adivasis who have been living there, to the tribals who have been living there, instead of cutting the trees and giving away the wealth of the forest, giving away the mines and the minerals in the forests to Multi-National Companies. Market forces also lead to the elimination of crops that have traditionally been integral to the diet of the poor.

Sir, here I would like to point out that these days baby food and prepared foods are taking a serious toll on the health of the children. If the babies are breast fed, they are saved and they are protected from respiratory tract and diarrhoeal diseases. According to a very important study in the medical journal of Lancet, it is said that breast feeding could save 8,20,000 lives annually preventing 13 per cent of deaths of children under the age of five.  Breast feeding could reduce one-third of the respiratory infections.  For India, it could reduce 1,56,000 child deaths each year.  It would reduce maternal deaths due to cancer. Breast feeding forms a natural contraceptive towards maintaining family size and it would also help the lady not to get breast cancer or that of the reproductive tracts. As far as the IQ of the child is concerned,  the IQ of the child who is breast fed is  much higher than others.  It is not only that but the proprietary preparations are also marketed by different companies at the moment.  They sell milk formulas which emit 1,11,226 tonnes of green house gases.  So, many countries are opting and educating their mothers towards breast feeding.  The United Nations is laying a stress on infant and young children feed.  There are Reports that many children who have been fed on formula milk remain stunted in growth, live in chronic hunger and their IQ  is not optimally developed. It is not only that but due to the green house emission, during preparation, it generates carbon footprints.  The industrially manufactured milk formula adds green house gases emission at every step of production, transport and use and it gives rise to wastage also.

          The second Sustainable Development Goal is regarding the food. Developed nation throws away but the under developed nation goes hungry.  There are many people living in the under developed nations. To be specific one in every nine children go to bed hungry.  But every day, the food wasted in the developed nations is amounting to 4896 crore kilograms.  This food material that is used for land fills give rise to  methane gas. This methane again causes global warming.  This food waste is the highest in the United States where about 80 per cent of the people who are throwing the food say that they feel guilty while throwing the food on their plates but they cannot help it.

I think, while we are discussing the SDGs, we are here to draw up policies on how we can work towards attaining the SDGs.  The policy should be not to throw food. We should actually make it a stylish slogan in the society.  There should be a slogan like ‘Grow more food, don’t throw food’.  Each one of us should try to grow a little bit of what we eat. I can proudly say that I do not buy vegetables for my family. I grow them myself.  Everybody might not be having land to grow enough for the whole family but every balcony and every roof top can house earthenware pots where not only can you grow your own vegetables in little amount but you can actually make manure or compost from everyday household waste like vegetable peels and wasted food matter.  It can be just turned into compost and used as manure.  You can have pots in your balconies where you can have your waste products turned into manure and can have a little amount of vegetables grown. So, the slogan should be ‘Grow food, don’t throw food’.  It is not only for India. It  should be globally accepted.  Everyone must grow a little bit to contribute to the nation, to the international community and to the planet.

          We have to take into consideration that a major thrust in the policy is necessary to ensure equity and justice for us.

          Then the next SDG is basic education.  I am proud to say that my leader, Kumari Mamata Banerjee, hon. Chief Minister of West Bengal, started the Kanyashree Scheme for which she has allotted Rs. 1500 crore. It is not a paltry amount of Rs. 100 or Rs. 500 crores and 25 lakh girl children are being empowered.  She is giving them non-polluting vehicles in the form of cycles to peddle to school because peddling of cycle is not only allowing the girl children to go to school safely and come back but the very effort of peddling the cycle is creating a proper cardiac output by which they will never get hypertensive, never get diabetic and never have any heart attack when they grow up. 

          So, this is the foresight of my leader, Kumari Mamata Banerjee.  I think we should all accept and adopt these methods towards sustainable development because cycle is a non-polluting vehicle.

          As regards India, 15 per cent of homes are lit by kerosene. As far as industry is concerned, we are using fossil fuel and as far as production of electricity is concerned, we are using fossil fuel and even for lighting of homes, we are using kerosene. It is a polluting agent.  It is disturbing the atmosphere. So, we have to shift towards renewable and clean energy.  But my personal experience is this. I have allocated a lot of money from MPLADS towards street lighting by solar energy.  But after two to three years, there is no after sale service for it. There is nobody to take care of the batteries.  So, once they stop working, there is no  way by which we can take them forward. 

          The present Government has started the Pradhan Mantri Kushal Yojana in which vocational training is being given to young children and young dropouts.

          I would request the Government to train these young students to maintain the equipment of renewable energy and non-polluting equipment so that they become a good work force and  maintain these renewable energy equipment for use for a very long time.

          With increasing purchasing power, wasteful consumption linked to market driven consumerism is stressing the resource base of developing countries.  So, we should go back to our traditional way of living in the fashion as our Father of the Nation has taught us for a simple living.  We have to realise whether this is technology push or market pull that the nations today are responding to, the newer generation is responding to.  If it is only the technology push, then a dialogue through policy making would have to be started with the multinationals who are forcing our youth to follow paths which are forcing them to buy these polluting equipments. 

Out of these different  SDGs, agriculture is another very important sector because it involves land use and water use .  We should make available water for agriculture even to the remotest villages. We should start practising multicrop cultivation and have a proper land use policy. Depletion of land should be taken care of by scientists who can ensure nitrogen fixation by alternating crops and by leguminous crops.  It will not only bring down the price of dal as it is now but the legumes will also stabilise the nitrogen of the soil.  The biomas will continue for a long time to be a major source of fuel energy especially for rural poor. We have not actually been able to help them. The biomas will form their major source. But there are two kinds of biomas usage for combustion. The cow dung cake is polluting and it is becoming costly at the moment, but the gobar gas is not. That should be made universally available to the rural poor.

          The significance of diversity in nature must be realized, must be appreciated and taught in schools because we need to protect, preserve only one Earth we have got. There is a strong relationship between health and the state of environment and employment because the workers of asbestos, silicon and mines get silicosis. They are dying of lung diseases. So, we have to give them a proper, healthy atmosphere to work and earn their living. Health budget is 1.6% - it must increase           The overseas development assistance is declining and the commitments made by the industrialized countries at the Earth Summit a decade ago are mostly unmet. We have to turn our attention towards that.

          Environmental and social causes which have implicitly or explicitly part of international agreements must not be used selectively to erect trade barriers against us. We have to take this up at the international fora. Mechanisms must be put in place to make available to developing countries, that is us, the latest technology at the reasonable cost.

          The mainstream education should include science and children should be taught basic science so that they know about the future that if they do not preserve this Earth, they have no more.

          Thank you.

SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY (DHENKANAL): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Namaskar. Here, we are discussing about the Sustainable Development Goals. There are some 16 or 17 goals, such as No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Wellbeing, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Economic Growth, Reduced Inequalities, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life on Land, Peace and Justice and Strong Institutions, and to implement all these goals, there is Partnership for the Goals.

          I remember in 1968 there was this book written by Paul Ehlrich.  I did not read it in 1968. I read it much later. It said that it would be a fantasy that India could ever feed itself with that population in the late sixties. Yet, here we stand today proud as a capable and confident nation. This is a testament of our times that we have over the years fought famine, disease, deprivation, so many social problems and yet we have managed to rise as a nation although we must also be aware that we have very many latent weaknesses, such as the discomfort of most of our hon. Members, especially of the treasury benches to be present in the House when such a serious discussion is taking place, except a few Ministers and a few Members. The same is the case with the major Opposition Party. The benches are empty. The Government also does not care. But I am proud to say that we, who are neither here nor there, have filled up our benches. The left is also here. The left is most probably always right.

          We have a lot more to do to achieve a lot more. Nobody is in a situation to say that we are happy with our achievement. Dr. Dastidar spoke very well. I was listening to her intently. She talked about science being made part of the education from school and college level. One thing I would add to her remarks is, is it not time we seriously thought about introducing agriculture at the school level, teaching our children how to grow food for themselves? Is it not time that we as seniors, as people who hold the mongo – mongo is the thing that we hold in a boat which controls it and I do not know what it is called in Hindi, which means control – to inculcate agriculture in our education?      

          May be in our education we could inculcate agriculture. I am not talking about paddy and wheat, but a small garden where a child grows her or his own vegetables, fruits, etc. and learns that finally it is the farmer, not a steel mill, not a power plant, who matters. I can live without electricity. I mostly go to bed without putting on air-conditioning. Although I have the comfort I do not need it. I can live without a car. When I go to the villages I walk. But I cannot survive without good food, clean water and clean air. These are the three things that I need.

          Man has been known historically to have survived even without clothes. So, it is food that we have to be concerned about. We have to also see what has happened to our country. I may sound very negative. I may be under scrutiny for saying this. I have a fear. Is there a disintegration of our national character? I see a very small example. This is a country where most people do not own automobiles. But most urban centres across India, North, South, East and West – I do not know Gujarat model – but most of the other States that I have traveled have roads and are still building broader and bigger roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, under other Ministers Yojana. All Yojanas are there. But none of these roads possess a sidewalk for a pedestrian to walk. If by mistake some planner has built a sidewalk on a road in a city, what do we see? Either it is the shopkeeper or the house owner who parks her or his car on the sidewalk. If not a car, then their generator is on the sidewalk. So, this is disintegration of our national character.         Corruption is not limited to politicians alone. Corruption, in my mind, stems from the very base, from the people itself. I am not talking against my people. I am talking about the disintegration of our national character which is affecting the culmination point, which obviously you are chairing over today. So, we need to change our strategies to address issues. We have two ways. Either we weave in and out of this national character which has disintegrated or we try to make efforts to build a national character whereby we can see visibly and tangibly results that have come about. We were happy to see our respected colleague from the AIADMK who spoke about a few points, but about points which the Tamil Nadu Government has tangibly attached importance to and has achieved its goals. So, that is a positive side where politicians also have to think how they can be positive. It is not a question of only Congress blaming the BJP or the BJP blaming the Congress. We can only correct ourselves now to live in the present so that we create a better future for our children tomorrow.

          There are about 152-160 targets, 17 sectors. The WTO is also involved in SDGs as a whole. Discussions had taken place on SDGs in New York some years ago. We thought that once the discussions have taken place - some 196 countries took part -  all the signatories will be on an equal footing and will be expected to deliver to their citizens, not to the world alone, some very basic facilities and basic openings for a better life. Unfortunately, because of the way we have created the world which is more or less a unipolar world now, with no country heading any pole, it is only trade which is holding the controls now. The WTO is also involved in the implementation of SDGs. How can we reach these goals when a country like India does not have multi-lateralism? From China to New Zealand we do not have free trade facilities but we are expected to perform according to their wishes.

In the WTO, India has been consistently perceived as a confrontational nation. So, when you are perceived as a mischievous boy  in a class, even if you study well the teacher is unwilling to give you good marks. So, are we putting ourselves in a cage whereby we will be more and more floundering and getting bogged down in our issues in the future?

The Millennium Development Goals  from 2000 to 2015 have already supposedly been achieved, to a great extent, that is what we are told. What do we see in our constituencies back home?  We see schools have new classrooms; we see many new hospitals that have come up; we see infrastructure being built up.  But we do not see trained teachers in the schools. There is a terrible dearth of teachers in our schools. We do not see doctors in our hospitals. There are no doctors available today. It is not that somebody has taken away doctors, and I can request the Health Minister to transfer some doctors. There are no doctors. Period. So, what are we doing to address these issues?

          A country which has seen Gurukul, a country which had seen imparting of education under trees is today just bothered about creating rooms, classrooms, and boundary walls, hospitals walls. Eventually what are we getting into? We are getting into a vicious circle where we are taking care of only petty contractors who we think will help when the elections come. But those ... * contractors, whichever Party give them better contracts, will shift there. So, you are not building a worker base also. You are building a contractor base across the country.

All of us have been talking negative. I thought, maybe it is time that we in India realise. We have been spreading our resources very thinly over a very large country with a massive population for which nothing is actually felt at the ground level. The lowest of the low, the common man, who should be considered the highest of the high, should be higher and above us, does not feel that we make any change in her or his daily life for existence. We are being seen as a bunch of ... *  seen as a bunch of people who are out there only to make money, to have their own relatives in good places, to corner benefits themselves and we are not bothered about the country. That is the overall image that politicians greatly enjoy today. But I was thinking this. Is it possible that  a time will come when we see more of Government? I have said this earlier also. There is this slogan – less government, more governance. I do not believe in that. I believe, there should be less of governance and more of Government. There should be people in every office. If a man has a problem today, he can go a Tehsildar’s office. There are not enough Tehsildars in a State to be appointed as Tehsildars in every Tehsil. There are not enough Block Development Officers in every Block. There is a shortage of State level officers because the State is not able to employ more people.

My firm belief is, in an effective democracy, every station that you have created must be manned by a station master. If it is a Block, have a BDO. If it is a hospital, have doctors, nurses, compounders. If it is a school, have teachers and headmaster. If it is a college, have lecturers, principals. So, manning every station – I am not meaning a railway station – is a very important thing. We, by saying, less Government, more governance. Hon. Deputy Speaker, Sir, are you getting impatient?

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: No. In the Railway Stations also, we need good persons to control them. There is nothing wrong in your telling railway station. With good intention, you are taking it.

SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY: Is it possible we concentrate in every State by taking 10 districts? Let us say, Maharashtra or Madhya Pradesh, which are the States ruled by the Party which is in power at the Centre. I am giving their examples. We have seen Maharashtra reel under acute drought. Today, an hon. MP was speaking about floods in Maharashtra where buses and private cars have been washed away. The Prime Minister had tweeted about it. I am very happy with tweets. I am not a tweet though. What I am trying to say is this. Is it possible that in 10 districts of Maharashtra, Government takes a focused view on building about water reserves, ground water, surface water? In 10 districts, in two years’ time we show a qualitative change.

          In Madhya Pradesh, suppose there are medical facilities unavailable because you have scams like Vyapam and others, can we create 10 districts where there will be good doctors? Will there be a qualitative change in the hospital care, medical care at governmental level? Can we take forests and mines in 10 districts of Odisha and focus on recreation of forest land? Take care of mines and the tribal people affected by the mining activities. Like that, if we could focus on certain areas, a huge percentage of our population which is living under abject poverty, they could get succour. They could feel the change.

When we are talking about abject poverty, we always wonder as to why this has happened. Who will be able to free from this shackle? Is it us? Are we capable? Why do some kids grow up to be the author of their fate, while other kids do not know what success or happiness is in life? In my opinion, it is social, cultural and governmental corruption that is creating the inefficiency in our society and in successive Governments. It is also a great lack of justice and the failure of our system which has harmed us.

          To wind up, the Government needs to create the targeted development policies. The Sustainable Development Goals cannot be just a nation wide slogan.

16.00 hours           We have to take into account as to what we achieved under Millennium Development Goals and how we are going ahead with Sustainable Development Goals. In the end, I would urge upon the Government not to look at SDGs as a wide range of policy that will expand over decades, but to look at these goals as a target and immediate, desperate requirements for this country.

 

SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI) (ANAKAPALLI): Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as the House knows, the 15-year cycle of the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) came to an end in 2015 paving the way for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - an even more ambitious set of goals - to banish a host of social ills by 2030. The Goals and Targets will stimulate action over the next 15 years in the following thematic areas of critical importance, namely: people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership.

The UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon called these 17 Goals adopted unanimously by 193 Heads of State, as "our shared vision of humanity and a social contract between the world's leaders and the people".

Of course, the Indian Government has affirmed its commitment to these Goals, as is evidenced by the hon. Prime Minister's speech at the UN Summit in September, 2015 for the adoption of  Post-2015 Development Agenda. These SDGs, while built on the eight MDGs, are expected to plug the holes left by the MDGs and accomplish more.

As far as our State is concerned, under the dynamic leadership of our hon. Chief  Minister, Shri N. Chandra Babu Naidu, post-2015, Andhra Pradesh, along with other parts of the World, decided to adopt the Global Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDG 2030) and targets to direct and drive the social and economic development policies and programmes in the State.

Andhra Pradesh, as a State, has pursued the MDGs with vigour and made a commendable progress towards achieving the MDGs though the level of accomplishment varies across the different goals. Some of AP's commendable achievements under MDGs are: 100 per cent child immunization against measles, 100 per cent births attended by skilled personnel;  Access to improved drinking water to almost three-fourth of the population; and Increase in forest cover. The targets almost achieved are: Access to improved drinking water to almost three-fourth of the population; Halt to HIV prevalence in the State; Increase telephone, cellular, internet, subscribers per 100 population; Under 5 Mortality Rate of 33 per 1,000 live births; and Gender Parity Index in Primary Education at 1.

It is pertinent to mention here that prior to SDGs 2030, Government of Andhra Pradesh has already proposed its draft Vision 2029 framework which envisions to transform the State as "A happy and globally competitive society".

It aims to become one among the three most developed States in India by 2022, when India celebrates its 75th year of Independence. While the objective is to achieve the status of a developed State by the year 2029, it is envisioned that Andhra Pradesh will become a leading global destination by the year 2050.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has prudently adopted a multi pronged strategy and embarked on efficient and effective governance system by launching of Seven missions in Primary sector, Social empowerment, Knowledge and Skill Development, Urban Development, Industry Sector, Infrastructure and Service sector.

Five Campaigns launched to transform Andhra Pradesh into a happy and globally competitive society in a defined time frame are:(Pedarikam Paigelupu (Victory over Poverty), Polam Pilustondi (Integrating technology with agriculture and Field visit of officers twice in a week for sustainable agriculture), Badi Pilustondi (Making AP Knowledge hub),Neeru - Chettu (Conserving water and drought proof AP) and Arogyam Parisubram (Swacha Andhra), and Five Grids are: Water, Road, Power, Gas and Fibre Optic Network .

          In addition to that, Andhra Pradesh has also initiated a high impact citizen-centric programme named as ‘Smart Village, Smart Ward towards Smart Andhra Pradesh’ and ‘20 Non-negotiable commitments’ to eradicate poverty and meet all basic amenities to ensure last mile delivery services by 2022 is a key entity. Along with all these time-bound benchmarking pathways, the Government of Andhra Pradesh had already recognized global agenda to adopt and will necessarily attain the goals and targets of MDGs and SDGs by 2030. So, I would like to say that we can achieve sustainable development through collective effort.

Now, I would like to make some suggestions out of my experience. Everybody has read these 17 goals. So I do not want to take the time of the House by repeating them here. The first thing I would like to talk about is regarding the Government policy on subsidies. How can we eradicate poverty in this country? Most of the political parties and its leaders are doing vote bank politics in this country. Everybody is in a race to give more and more subsidies to attract voters. But will subsidies eradicate poverty? I strongly feel that we have to make the people self-sustainable instead of giving more and more subsidies. Then only can we eradicate poverty in this country.

          Secondly, the biggest problem that we are facing in this country now is corruption. Corruption is there not only in politics. Corruption has become a part of our life. Even people are also not bothered about corruption these days. This is a dangerous signal to a democratic country like India.

          The third point is selfishness. Everybody thinks about oneself and nobody is bothered about the country. Selfishness is growing day-by-day. But it should end somewhere.

          As far as Export Import Policy is concerned, Governments change every five years. But instead of encouraging local competition and local talent, all Governments are giving more importance for imports. For example, if you the automobile industry, we export our minerals to other countries and import vehicles from other countries.

          Then, there is a lot of discrimination among the people on the basis of region, religion and caste. The Government should take some immediate measures to reduce discrimination among various sections of people. Then only society will progress.

          There is unrest among the people. If we do not pay attention to it, it will automatically lead to extremism. Now-a-days, we are seeing how some countries are suffering due to terrorism. They are spending crores of rupees for their security. But still they are suffering due to terrorism.

          Then I come to research and innovation. Once upon a time, we had great scientists in this country like Aryabhatta, Ramanujan and C.V. Raman. But these days, our educational institutions and universities are not focusing on research and innovation.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please conclude now.

SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI): Everybody is following the conventional type of education and money is playing a big role in our education system today. We should not give priority to money. We should have a value based system in the society.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please conclude. The hon. Minister will intervene now.

SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI) : With these words, I conclude.

HON. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Now, the hon.  Minister, Shrimati Maneka Sanjay Gandhi to intervene.

 

SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI: Hon. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, I have been here almost  from the beginning; and I have  listened to the speeches made by a large number of people, who are concerned about India’s future and our ability to meet these Development Goals.

          I specially listened to Mr. Moily, Dr. Dastidar and, of course, Shri Thatagata Satpathy amongst others.  Mr. Moily’s speech was interesting because of one point that he made, which is that, you cannot possibly reach a goal unless everybody is involved in it right from the bottom. So, his suggestion that the new programme started by the Prime Minister called DISHA, in which all of us have to work with the District Magistrates in order to reach certain goals, is an extremely interesting one because the District Magistrate obviously controls   the development at that level; and he needs to know, which goals India is moving towards.

          This Prime Minister, more than any other, has realized that the SDGs or any other Development can only be achieved by reducing the vertical walls between Ministries and between States.  Which is why, once a month, not only is the entire Cabinet and all the MoSs and everybody called but we are taught about each other’s performances, each other’s  abilities; and we learn to share, not just knowledge, but common aims.

          Now, this is being expanded to DISHA where we will be expanding this to the bureaucrats at the District level. This will, no doubt,   provide an impetus to more development quicker. 

          Dr. Dastidar’s  speech was not only informed but very  deep and very, very important.  Though it said small things, it is these small things that will change India. I have  a  suggestion to make.  We come from different States. I myself have written to the Consumer Affairs Minister, and now I am going outside my main speech. We treat malnutrition, we treat children, we create Anganwadis and all that.  But suppose, we were to revisit top up programme and let nourishment, which is the basis of all development, to take place organically rather than through top ups. For instance, I give food to children from 1 to 6; then, I give it to children who are not in school; then, I give it to expecting mothers. Then, Mid-Day Meals Scheme tops nutrition up by giving something   to children in schools.  We  have Supplementary Nutrition Programmes.  But suppose, each one of our States were to put millets into the PDS system, which is what I have written to the Consumer Affairs Minister. Firstly,  they would cost less; secondly, they are environmentally far more sound because they take less water and they grow in more arid areas. They also occupy that space of protein, carbohydrate, which we are attempting daal to occupy. But it cannot be done from the Centre.  Each State has to set a goal just as Sushree Mamata Banerjee has started this amazingly good programme for young girls.

          If  one State could start this process of putting millets into PDS so that there is basic nourishment at the absolute normal level and  top ups are never needed after that.  It would help India. For instance, Sikkim did not wait for anybody in India to tell them what to do.  They went organic on their own without Central Government helping.  So, it is possible for a State to achieve whatever goal it sets for itself and be an example to the rest of the country.

          Hon. Deputy-Speaker and hon. Members,  last year all of us, as the residents of this planet, took a giant step of faith and set for ourselves the Sustainable Development Goals as the agenda for action for people, planet and prosperity.  Under the aegis of the United Nations, we gave ourselves 17 sustainable goals to be achieved by 2030 with an objective of ending poverty and hunger, protecting the planet from degradation, and ensuring economic social and technological process of all human beings.

          Hon. Members, the aspiration behind these Sustainable Development Goals is huge but at  the same time, it is not unachievable. Which is why in the core of this whole agenda lies  the spirit of strengthening global solidarity and global partnership so that every country and its people participate in the process and contribute in its achievement.  Under the leadership of our Prime Minister, India has been at the forefront of all dialogues around Sustainable Development Goals,  and the Prime Minister has been one of the key contributors in shaping this Agenda. The 17 goals have been structured into 160 targets so that  each of the Member countries is able to align its programmes as well as formulate new ones where it needs to intervene.

          I cannot claim to be speaking from the entire Government. But I would like to explain to this august House how my Ministry, through a large numbers of programmes  and initiatives is working towards achieving the SDGs.

One of the key objectives of the SDG Agenda is to achieve food security. Specifically under this goal, there is the target of ending hunger and ensuring access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food for all including infants.

          The second target is to end all forms of malnutrition and address nutritional needs of adolescent children and lactating mothers.  My Ministry implements the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) aimed at fighting malnutrition.  Under this programme, an institutional infrastructure consisting of Anganwadis and Anganwadi social workers has been created in the country, which is now 40 years old, which covers  almost every habitation. Almost four lakh Anganwadi Centres are operating in the country, which are manned by 24 lakh Anganwadi workers and helpers. Under this programme, we feed and look after approximately 10 crore children; and pregnant and lactating mothers are provided supplementary nutrition and basic healthcare in the Anganwadis.

Unfortunately, this programme, which could have worked extremely well with a certain amount of attention, did not work for a long time. The Anganwadis themselves were not built for all. They were not built so that they could be used for storage and for feeding children and to work as  crèches.  No monitoring at all was ever applied and no training was applied to the Anganwadis, who were paid very well to begin with. But as the value of money diminishes, they have become more and more agitated, and are concentrating   mainly on their pay rather than what their services are. Their  services over the years, have become amorphous.  They handout election chits  and they also go to VIP gatherings. They are called into fill up space wherever it is necessary for audiences.

          So, restructuring ICDS has been one of the key focus areas of the Government in the last two years; and we have addressed various components of this.  Delivery of services in the Anganwadis is being put on to real time monitoring platform of which the software has been designed and tested. All the Anganwadi workers are being given smart phones with preloaded software and they will have to daily feed in data of children and mothers, which is going to be daily available to the Centre and to the States.  Through this, we would be able to monitor the status of malnutrition for each and every child as well as each and every pregnant and lactating mother.  Will this system work?  I am very hopeful. Why am I very hopeful? It is because we have a brilliant system set in for child line, in which every child that needs help,  phones. We get, in a month, 14 lakh phones. I can monitor each and every one  -- which child phoned, what did he say or she say, who picked up the phone, what response was given, how many were saved. I would like to invite anybody in Parliament who is interested, to come with me in Gurgaon, which is one of our six centres, and see this miracle happening in front of our eyes. We are attempting to duplicate that for Anganwadi monitoring.

          Obviously, just reforming the Anganwadis themselves is not good enough. The second component that we are restructuring is the food itself. We are going to increase the cost norms of the food per child as well as ensure that safe and nutritious food is given.  In any meeting that I have had with the States, and I am sorry to say this, the food that is being given to children in the Anganwadi system, I cannot say that any State is really doing a great job.  It is mainly oil, sugar and a very low kinds of cereal with lots of maida in it. It  does not really have very nutritious ability.  Therefore, we are working with each State.  We   plan to enhance the cost norms. We  have also started talking to people across the board to say who can make food based on local millets say bajra, ragi, etc., just to see whether children can be fed for nutritious food. 

We have also formulated new recipes which are based on local food grains as well as local taste references. These have been formulated with the help of various experts in the field of nutrition. We are also upgrading the physical infrastructure of Anganwadi centres and in collaboration with MNREGA, we aim to construct about four lakh new Anganwadi centres in the next 3-4 years so that better services can be delivered. This restructured ICDS is taking the shape of the National Nutrition Mission which shall hopefully be approved shortly. With this mission mode project in place, we hope to eliminate hunger and malnutrition well before 2030. What Dr. Dastidar talked about stunting is really quite frightening.  We are planning to go into a technological age.  In this technological age, we need people with sharper brain power than we have at the moment.   On the other hand, when there is stunting due to malnutrition, the neurons of the brain itself, simply do not connect.  After all, the neuron formation takes place before the age of two years and if there is insufficient nutrition, the neuron itself is malformed or under-formed. Therefore, later, even if I cure the anaemia or malnutrition, the child will not get back to the ability to think at the level that is needed for him.  Therefore, we are aiming straight for stunting first.   

Hon. Members, the restructured ICDS and the National Nutrition Mission will also help us to achieve the targets under the third goal of SDG which is ensuring healthy lives and better well-being for all at all ages. In the ICDS programme, we start tracking the health of a pregnant mother as soon as the pregnancy is registered. With the help of regular check-ups at the Anganwadi centres and the supplementary nutrition, the problem of infant and maternal mortality on account of lack of nutrition will also be reduced to a large extent.

I would like to take this opportunity to refer to one of the key targets under the third sustainable goal which refers to strengthening the implementation of WHO Framework Convention on tobacco control.  This august house had passed the Juvenile Justice Bill last year through which India has become the first country in the world where inducing a child to consuming tobacco in any form has become a serious punishable offence. This law does not exist anywhere else in the world. We must all commend the wisdom of this august house for having taken a global lead on this front. Many other countries, now, have contacted us.  We have sent them what we have legislated  and they have said that they will bring it up in their own counties.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development also contributes to the achievement of fourth sustainable goal related to inclusive and equitable quality education for all. The implementation of the Right to Education is monitored on an ongoing basis by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. We also provide basic life skills to those adolescent girls who have for some reasons not able to complete their school education. This along with supplementary nutrition to the adolescent girls, under the Scheme SABLA, would go a long way in making them better prepared for their futures.

I shall now come to the sustainable development goal number five which refers to achievement of gender equality and empowering all women and girls. A large number of initiatives and programmes by the Ministry of Women and Child Development have been started in the last two years which will help in achievement of targets under this goal. One of the targets is to end all forms of discrimination against all women and girls. We have started looking into this aspect right from the time when a girl child is yet to be born.

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme has been formulated by the hon. Prime Minister.  It was, perhaps, one of the first programmes to take off in this Government. It targets the female feticide and infanticide resulting in adverse child sex ratio. This programme is currently running in 161 districts of the country where the child sex ratio is the lowest. When we started this last year in February, it did not seem possible that we would be able to make any headway so quickly.  After all, we took districts in which, we had gone as low as 790. 830 was the average norm.  I am happy to tell you that in just one year alone by working closely, apart from new programmes, apart from media, we have insisted on children being delivered in the hospitals. By working in different ways, we have increased it from 830 to 907 in the first year itself.  People don't have girls for a myriad of reasons including dowry or patriarchal ideas of girls being paraya or not being good enough.  So, to bring it even from 830 to 907, within one year means, the quickest transformation of a small section of society, which in itself is a good thing. This initiative had led to a major improvement of 70 to 75 points in the child sex ratio in almost 60 per cent of the districts so far.

We have also started establishing One Stop centres in the country which provide legal, police, medical and psycho-social counselling services under one roof to women who have suffered any form of violence. In the initial phase, we sanctioned one centre per state and we have now planned to establish 150 centres and will be reaching to one centre per district by the end of the financial year 2017-18. Seventeen Centres have not only become operational but we have also made a booklet on who is doing well or who is not doing well.  It is a day-to-day monitoring of each centre.  I do not know whether I should say I am happy but Raipur is doing the best with over 200 women coming at the centre and Meghalaya, for some strange reasons, is not doing at all well with not a single woman going there. Either, there is no threat to women in Meghalaya but if there is, then I suggest that we do better there.  

We have also mandated the mobile phone companies to get a panic button mandated on all mobile phones which are manufactured and sold in India after 1st January, 2017. We are urging them to set up repair centres where anybody, who has got a mobile phone from before that date, can go and get the button put in. These panic buttons will provide a safety net to women who are under threatening conditions and the pressing of panic button will set in motion necessary rescue services provided by the police authorities as well as family members. We are in the process of getting an app which will also go along with this, free in which while the police come, if you press this button, it goes to the ten closest people near you, so before the police come, these close people, who are strangers to you can respond and help you out. 

A lot of women face harassment and abuse in the course of finding a life partner through the matrimonial websites. With the help of Department of Information Technology, we have been able to get a self-regulatory code mandated for all these matrimonial websites which involve a crow woman.

Another important initiative taken by the Ministry is to get 33 per cent reservation for women in police forces for which I would like to thank the Home Ministry for their immediate acceptance.  This automatically would lead to greater sensitization of the police forces towards women related crimes. I would like to thank, as I said, the Home Ministry and the hon. Prime Minister for getting a direction issued to all the Union Territories immediately for this. One by one, each State is implementing this. So far seven States have implemented this 33 per cent reservation. 

Hon. Members, the Government has come out with another innovative scheme of Special Mahila Police Volunteers which has been co-created by Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Home Affairs. I would like to ask all Members of Parliament here to please help me on this.  We have written to Members of Parliament also about this.  I have written to the Chief Ministers of the States that we are selecting one girl above the age of 21, who has passed the 12th standard, for each village. She is selected, trained and appointed as mahila police volunteer.  We have sufficient funds to run this scheme in all the districts of the country.  They will be paid a tiny honorarium which will just help them to pay for their cell phones or to have a visit to the police station.  Their job is to check violence and discrimination in the village.  So, they will keep an eye if a girl is not going to school, if a girl is getting married early, if parents are forcing a girl to do something, if she is being hounded by a set of boys, if there is wife beating going on.  This is her job to monitor and to report.  Hopefully, once you all get into this and send me your lists, we can implement this really quickly because I have been writing and writing with virtually waiting for the Governments to respond. 

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Madam, you give power like police; you give such kind of authority.  Then only they will do the work.  By simply putting volunteers, they are not in a position to do. They should have some kind of protection also.  You have some kind of salary and some incentives; then only it is possible.

… (Interruptions)

SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI: Power  is perceptional.  If she has a badge and if she has the ability to report and she gets a small stipend from the Government, that should give her enough power in order to be able to simply report.  We are not asking her to take action.  We are asking her to be our eyes and ears in the village.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Like whistle blowers, definitely they want protection.

… (Interruptions)

SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI: Yes. It is not really whistle blowing; it is more subtle than that.  We  learnt this from what Madhya Pradesh has done.  They have started something called the Shaurya Dal.  They have not put one person; they have put 10 people and a mix of boys and girls in many villages.  What they have found is, wherever the Shaurya Dal operates, children attend school.  There is much less discrimination against women and physical violence.  The teachers come to school; the Aanganwadis give the food.  So, they become a force for the good.  In fact, they have been recognised by the Madhya Pradesh Government and they also take part in Republic Day parades.  So, we learnt from that.  I cannot afford 10 people per village; but I can afford one.   So, we have to select carefully. 

We have started a comprehensive programme for capacity building of women sarpanchs which as we all know constitute one-third of all village sarpanchs. For this, we have collaborated with the Ministry of Rural Development. Our objective is to develop an empowered class of grass-root women politicians who can mainstream the gender issues and protect the rights of women at the village and community level.  This is the first time that we will be training women sarpanchs in order to understand their duties and their responsibilities.  They can understand where they can access money from the Government, how to build a naali, how to keep books, how to conduct a panchayat so that, perhaps, in time, we do away with sarpanch patis and Pradhan patis and let the women come into their own. 

We are in the process of formulating the National Policy for Women which will replace the last policy of 2001. The consultation process on the draft policy is already over and we hope to get the new policy in place before the end of next month. The new policy will completely shift the focus entitlements to rights – till now it has only been welfare – and from empowerment to creating an enabling environment. The broad objective is to create a conducive socio-cultural, economic and political environment to enable women enjoy de jure and de facto Fundamental Rights and realize their full potential.

On the economic empowerment front, we have the STEP scheme through which we support NGOs to provide skill training to women. We have the Rahstriya Mahila Kosh which provides low interest funds to women self-help groups which are aimed at economic empowerment through micro-entrepreneurship. And we have something completely new.  The Mahila-e-haat has been launched by the Ministry in which any woman producing anything, anywhere in India can come on to this e-commerce platform.  It links them free and directly to the customers. Within a few months of its launch, Mahila-e-haat has reached to two lakh women producers and we have sold lakhs of rupees worth of goods from laddoos in villages to providing services like mehandi. 

A number of other initiatives are in place which can be directly linked to the targets under this sustainable goal. These include mandatory mentioning – even something as simple as this –  the name of widow on the death certificate of her husband so that she can claim all entitlements easily which is something we had not done till now, a comprehensive new legislation for trafficking of women and children which should hopefully be ready by the end of the year, establishment of a large shelter home in Vrindavan to begin with for widows, and extending maternity leave duration for working widows which comes under the Labour Ministry but which is a thrust from us.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, Sir, our Prime Minister has the vision which has shaped these sustainable development goals. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is all set to give shape to our part of the vision of the hon. Prime Minister and to put in place mechanisms which will ensure that the sustainable development goals and targets are achieved. Thank you, Sir.

SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE (GULBARGA): Sir, just I want to bring to your kind notice and also to the notice of the hon. Minister that out of 20 speakers, hardly four have spoken.  Still, 16 Members have to speak.  So, after completion of their speech, or after listening to all the 16 Members, 15 Members or whatever, if the Minister intervenes or replies in totality, that will be better.  It is because, now, she has finished her part and, naturally, what other 16 people will speak, she will not be able to give reply to. Only the other Minister has to give reply.  So, my request is that, kindly do it after listening to the other 16 people.  It is because hardly four people spoke, namely, Moily sahib, Dr. Dastidar, Satpathy ji and one of my friends from Andhra Pradesh. Therefore, justice will be done if after hearing all people’s view, you give reply.  That will help us.  So, at least, the remaining two-three people are going to speak on this; the Minister should be asked to reply at the end instead of in between. … (Interruptions)

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: It is your suggestion.  But, the Ministers may generally intervene; that is there.

… (Interruptions)

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Shri Konda Vishweshwar Reddy.

 

SHRI KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY (CHEVELLA): Hon. Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me the opportunity.  The key takeaway from the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012 led to a document titled ‘The Future We Want’.  With that, we migrated from the Millennium Development Goals to the Sustainable Development Goals.  But, even at the Millennium Development Goals, the goals remain goals and we did not achieve them on infant mortality, maternal mortality – this is between 2000 and 2015 – women employment, hunger which is very important.  We did not reach these goals.  Then we migrated to the Sustainable Development Goals. 

But, if you look at the term ‘Sustainable Development Goals’, there is an inherent conflict of terms or probably an oxymoron because some of us interpret it as the goal should be sustainable.  Actually the goal should not be sustainable; goal should be reached.  What we are doing is, we are sustaining the goals rather than sustaining the development.

If you look at the various plans, programmes, projects, schemes and yojanas of various Ministries in this Government and in the past Government, it looks like no country, no Government takes care of its people as much as the Indian Government takes care of the Indian people.  Right from child birth or pregnancy, we have so many schemes and yojanas.  When the child goes to school, we have a yojana.  For the mid-day meals, we have programmes.  We have programmes for employment, for education and thereafter if they want to set up an industry or get a job.   At the end, even when they become old, there is a yojana for old age.  I think, no other country has so many yojanas and schemes.  But, I think, the Sustainable Development Goals are highly interconnected and intertwined.   That is what was discussed at the UN.  While the goals are interconnected, the programmes of all the Ministries are not inter-connected.  Many of them work in silos.  In fact within some Ministries, there are two programmes and there is conflict with each other.  The hon. Minister Tomar Ji is here.  I will just give one example.  We have the toilet programme.  We have two soakpits for toilets. It is very good for Swachh Bharat.  Then, we also have drinking water programme.  We want to provide clean drinking water to everyone.  Now, in every village, every home has a toilet with two soakpits.  The e coli bacteria from the soakpits will go into the borewell drinking water. It goes against the principle of clean drinking water from borewell but yes, we had to do it because it is easier achievable than to put a drainage system.

It was practically not possible to put a drainage system for the whole village and take the drainage out of the village. It was something that was practical and it was done.  But I think these should not conflict with each other. Most importantly, we have to be tough on ourselves.  We have to set some targets and goals in the villages and say that if you do this, then only we will provide additional funds.  Let us say, for youth, sports building or a community hall or additional road for the village.  So, we have to be tough and we should be less tolerant on ourselves when it comes to any targets relating to these goals, whether it is cleanliness or hygiene. We need to be less tolerant. 

          There is one more example.  The SDG-7 is relating to energy bio-gas.  Bio-gas is a programme of the renewable energy but this actually intersects seven other SDGs.  SDG – 7 is related to energy but bio-gas also takes the municipal sanitation, animal waste and human waste to make bio-gas. So, it connects also to SDG-6 on sanitation.  Putting a bio-gas plant requires labour, technique and skill in the rural areas.  So it provides employment.  So, it addresses SDG-8.  Bio-gas also keeps the village clean because of sanitation.  So SDG-3 is also addressed.  So, it has impact on climate change, that is, SDG-13 because bio-gas is the only renewable energy which reduces climate change which captures methane instead of going into the air.  So, there is no coordination between many of these programmes and different ministries.

Similarly, on the skills development - Rudy Ji was here - most of the skill developments are oriented to city jobs.  Out of more than 235 private sector partners and 38 sectoral skill council, most of them are oriented towards city based jobs. Now, we also have this problem of migration from the rural areas to cities.  So, it actually conflicts with that because agriculture labour has become less and less efficient because the average age of the agriculture labour is about 50 years and they are less productive. 

Coming to the Railways, Railways is focussing on great inter-city connectivities but what is happening is, in smaller towns, which are right next to the cities, the trains do not stop there.  So, the youth are forced to leave their villages and start living in the cities instead of living in the nearby villages and they are commuting.  So, this is a problem.  I think many Members have mentioned this in the Parliament.  The trains are not stopping because trains not only provide transportation, they can also actually prevent migration from rural to urban areas. 

Sir, I think there is one sector in the country which spends the most and provides the least employment and that is energy sector.  We spend about Rs. 1.5 lakh crore on importing oil and another Rs. 50,000 to 60,000 crore on importing coal.  We spend a lot of money on power projects. It provides the least amount of employment.

Now, we have started the solar policy which again requires no skill, no local employment and high capital outflow.  Some of these need to have coordination between various ministries and various programmes and they should not work in silos.  They also need to coordinate with the State programmes.

 I think the hon. Member, Kakoli Ghosh ji, had mentioned about the traditional fruits and vegetables. That was an extremely important point. We go to the Central Hall. We have lunch there. I have never eaten the local Indian vegetables. I ate tomato, potato, carrot, capsicum, beetroot, beans, cauliflower, corn, chillies etc. All these are imported and they are not native to India.  We have not eaten Kaddu, Karela or Palak. So, I think the bio-diversity has gone.  But more than just having pride in our traditional food, if you say, for growing Kaddu and Karela, they do not use pesticides and it is traditional, it is suitable to climate.  They do not use pesticides and they do not use fertilizers.  Nobody is growing Kaddu and Karela but is growing imported crops. We are importing foods and then we are putting pesticides by artificially creating that environment.  We have some great foods. I think we have lost.

On a travel abroad, I came across Chinese morning glory.  I got those seeds and I am growing them. My villagers said it is a weed that grows here and we had forgotten how to eat it and cook it.  Similarly,  Lengda in Himachal Pradesh, is a beautiful vegetable.  It is much more than broccoli.  We had forgotten that.  We have Agave which grows in Mexico. They make tequilas and all of which grows in Telangana.  Our grandfather used to eat the heart of it but we have forgotten how to eat that.  So, I think we need to promote some of these fruits.

          There are regional disparities.  We, as a country are very proud of our diversity but there are some regional disparities we need to be ashamed of.  If we compare even developed countries and very under-developed African countries, take for example United States, between California, the most advanced State, and the Louisiana, the most backward State, there will be a per capita difference of two times, one is about 40,000 dollars and the other is about 20,000 dollars per capita.  But in India, it is huge.  Let us say between Goa, Puducherry, Delhi, Bihar and UP, there is almost ten times difference.  But it is not just in the numbers and the revenues.  It is in every parameter of development - literacy, infant mortality, unemployment. States like Kerala differ greatly. There is 10 - 20 times difference from some of the backward States. 

But what was very shocking is this.  I just came from a conference. Sikkim is having a big population problem.   While rest of India has too much population - the hon. Member, Shri P.D. Rai educated me on this point -  in Sikkim, the population is declining to an unsustainable level.  So, there is great inequality more than any other.  It is more than the United States but what is more surprising is more than the African countries like Ethiopia whose per capita income is 1000 dollars.  There is a province called Afar and Oromia. These are two different Ethiopian provinces. The difference between the two different provinces is much less than the difference between States in India on all parameters. We are countries within countries and I think this is something we need to address very importantly.

          They say the SDGs as opposed to Millennium Development Goals, are more quality oriented whereas the MDGs aree more quantity oriented. It is relating to how many schools you will put up and things like that.  But quality also has a measure.  Unless you measure, you cannot manage.  So, we do not have enough data.  I was trying to research on various SDGs. We do not have too much data. On monitoring, this is the interaction between the two Ministries programme and all.  I think the NITI Aayog should take the responsibility but they are taking the responsibility of within coordination between the State Government programmes and the Central Government.  It is very very important.  Let some other organisation or maybe the Ministries themselves create a body to coordinate different yojanas and programmes.  That is very important.

          Lastly, we are a new State. Just as the SDG goals, we are aspirational in nature. We also have a lot of aspirations. So far, we have tried to reach and hopefully, we are reaching the expectations of the people.  Our hon. Chief Minister KCR garu has introduced ASARA Pension scheme.   It gives Rs. 1,000 per month for all the elderlies and Rs. 1,500 for the handicapped.     

          The Mission Bagiratha addresses SDG-6, that is, clean drinking water, and it promised that please do not vote us back to power unless we get tap in every household. We are spending Rs.40,000 crore on clean drinking water. Most politicians make false promises before the elections. We are making real promises after the elections.

          Haritha Haram, the world’s largest tree planting programme, non-forest, non-commercial tree planting programme, again is in Telangana. More than 100 crore trees are being planted now. The TS-iPASS addresses SDG-9. We have rapid growth of industrialisation. All these people like Google, Snapdeal have come to Telangana. The Mission Bagiratha is for the sustainable agriculture and irrigation projects. Instead of building huge dams, we are reviving our ancient Kakatiya period tanks and we are using the mud, which is nice silt, to fertilize the crops. We have Kalyana Lakshmi and Shadi Mubarak Schemes for the empowerment of women and gender equality.

          So, finally, the goals should be reached. The goals should not remain goals. So, let us be tough on ourselves. In the year 2030, let them not be goals. Let us make them achievements, and in the year 2030, let us hope we reach "The future we want". Thank you, Sir.

 

SHRI M.B. RAJESH (PALAKKAD): Thank you, Sir for giving me this opportunity to speak on this important debate on Sustainable Development Goals.

          Sir, I am proud to say that I am coming from a State, Kerala, which is far ahead in social and human development indicators. Almost all these targets have been achieved by our State. These social development targets have been achieved by our State much before, though during the last Assembly election campaign even our Prime Minister was confused our State, Kerala, with Somalia. So, that is not the case. I would like to clarify that. I would like to clear his confusion too using this opportunity.

          In September, the United Nations General Assembly is set to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals. Before that, a few months back, 193 countries came together at the UN Summit on Sustainable Development Goals. Our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji had attended and addressed that UN Summit on Sustainable Development Goals. He stressed on India’s commitment to work towards these goals by 2030. The Sustainable Development Goals comprises 17 goals and 169 targets. This is an improvement on Millennium Development Goals adopted in the year 2000.

          A major critique of Millennium Development Goals has been that the scope of Millennium Development Goals was limited and it was vague. So, that was the major criticism raised against the MDGs. These MDGs set such low bar targets leading to defining development down. The targets set under the MDGs were diluting the definition of development itself. While the MDGs were minimum standards, the Sustainable Development Goals integrating environmental, economic and social dimensions are considered as more comprehensive list of global goals the world has ever committed to. So, in that sense, it is a far better concept and it is an improvement on Millennium Development Goals.

          The process through which the SDGs were evolved is also more comprehensive and inclusive. The SDG is a result of a three-year long consultation from an open working group to consultative conversations across both teams and countries. The United Nations even launched an online ‘My World Survey’ portal asking people to vote to ascertain issues and goals that matter more. So, this is a result of a more inclusive, democratic and consultative process.

 I believe that Sustainable Development Goals can trigger a public discourse not only at the international level but also in our country. This can trigger a public debate in our country also forcing the Government to think about development from people’s perspective. This will bring some amount of accountability also to the working of the Government Departments and Ministries. We will be able to ask questions frequently to the Government about the targets set under the SDGs. We can also question what they have done to achieve these targets and what is their roadmap in achieving these targets through various means. The SDGs can be used as a weapon to bring the Government accountable to their social commitment.

What has been our experience in meeting the targets and goals under the Millennium Development Goals? Even in meeting low bar commitments of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), our results were not at all encouraging. According to a UNDP report, out of eight Millennium Development Goals and 12 targets, we were rated as slow on four; we were rated on track only on four; and in another four, we were rated as moderate. So, this is our experience of achieving the MDG targets. The Government described this as mixed results. Even these mixed results are misleading. I have got this UNDP report, and it says that a target of halving the proportion of people who suffered from hunger between 1990 and 2015, our progress is rated as slow. On maternal mortality ratio, our progress is slow. On sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation, we are rated as slow. So, this is the record of our achievements as far as MDGs are concerned.

Why I am saying even these mixed results are misleading because we were not successful in setting relevant indicators to measure the outcome. In the case of quality education, safe drinking water, the indicators to measure outcomes were not specific.

According to the Government’s official data, it suggests that 86 per cent of Indians have access to safe drinking water and we are on track with the MDGs as far as drinking water is concerned. This is not true. We all know this is not true. We know that 86 per cent of Indians do not have access to safe drinking water. According to the official notion, piped water, bore well water, etc., are considered as safe piped drinking water but this is not the case. Even the number of water borne diseases and deaths due to diarrhoea and cholera indicate that this is not the case. So, even after diluting the concept or notions of safe drinking water, quality education, etc., we are still not on track.

17.00 hours So, this is the reality.

          Sir, I am sorry but almost all the Members from Treasury Benches are not listening to this serious debate. I think they are not at all interested in listening to this. … (Interruptions)

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please continue your speech.

SHRI M.B. RAJESH: Sir, even after your intervention, they are not bothered about that.

THE MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR): I am listening to it.… (Interruptions)

SHRI M.B. RAJESH: I know that Shri Prakash Javadekar is always serious about discussions. But, unfortunately, most of his colleagues are not.… (Interruptions)

          Now, I come to the challenges in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. One major challenge is finance. How can we find sufficient resources to finance the SDGs? A new study has estimated that implementing SDGs will cost around 14.4 billion US Dollars. That amounts to roughly Rs.90,000 crore, that is, less than Rs.1 lakh crore.

          In the post liberalization era, there is a declining trend in social sector spending. The public spending on social sector has been showing a declining trend all through these 25 years of neo liberal polices except for four years when the Left supported UPA-I. It was just because of the pressure exerted by the Left on the Government that social sector spending showed some improvement. Apart from these four years, the trend in not encouraging as far as social sector spending is concerned.

          Sir, according to the UN Report of the Millennium Development Goals – 2014, one-thirds of the world’s extreme poor population, that is, 1.2 billion live in India alone. They are facing such a huge challenge. This shows that there is no shortcut to meet these goals; there is no shortcut to fulfil these Sustainable Development Goals but to enhance public investment in social sectors in a massive manner. The Left has always been advocating the need for massive investment in social sectors like health and education. 

          The sectors like health and education are crucial for achieving these Sustainable Development Goals. India is a country which has, according to various studies, highest out-of-pocket expenditure on health care. We should understand that India also has the fourth largest private health care system in the world. On the one hand, we are having the highest out-of-pocket expenditure on health care and, on the other, India has the fourth largest private health care system in the world. I have more facts with me. There are 60 million people who fall into poverty by just paying for health care expenditure. What does this mean? This means that there is an urgent need for enhancing public investment and public spending on health care. There is a need for provisioning, improving and strengthening public health care system in our country.

          We must understand that, despite all these facts, India still spends less than 2 per cent of our GDP on health. Even our National Health Policy, 2015 envisages spending of only 2.5 per cent of GDP on health. Despite these facts, despite this reality and despite our commitment to SDGs, we are not ready to enhance our public investment in health and education.

          Sir, so far as progress in the rate of reducing infant and maternal mortality is concerned, we are lagging far behind in it. The progress shows that the pace of reducing infant and maternal mortality is far less than that of Bangladesh and Nepal. They have surpassed us in this regard. But, we are close to Pakistan as far as pace of reducing infant and maternal mortality is concerned. Fahmida Riazas, a Pakistani poet has said that we are increasingly getting closed to Pakistan in many other aspects. So, this is the reality. Still we are not increasing our investment and spending on public health.

          Sir, on education, despite the famous Kothari Commission’s recommendation of spending 6 per cent of GDP on education, which came in 1968 and many decades have passed, we have not yet reached that mark. Still we are only at 4 per cent expenditure of GDP on education. If we compare ourselves with the tiny island country Cuba, which is spending 18 per cent of its GDP on education, we have reached up to 4 per cent only.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please conclude.

SHRI M.B. RAJESH: Sir, you have been generous to other Members. Please be generous to me also.… (Interruptions)

          Sir, this is my last point. In order to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, we must invest in our children; we must invest in our youth and we must invest in our future. The neglect of social sector has cost us dearly. Our poor ranking in human development indicators is the cost of this neglect.

          Sir, according to the UNDP Human Development Index ranking, our position is 136. According to FIFA, we are having a much worse ranking at 166 only in football and in HDI we are at 136. … (Interruptions)

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Please conclude.

SHRI M.B. RAJESH : My point is simple, in order to achieve these Sustainable Development Goals, we need to have a strong political will. We have a Prime Minister with 56 inch chest, inside this we need a broad and strong will to achieve these targets.

          With these words, I conclude.  

   

श्री रत्न लाल कटारिया (अम्बाला) : माननीय उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, मैं आज के दिन को एक बहुत महान दिन मानता हूं कि आज भारत के इस पवित्र मंदिर में एस.डी.जी. पर चर्चा हो रही है और इसके लिए मैं जननायक भारत माता के लाल माननीय प्रधान मंत्री नरेन्द्र मोदी जी को बधाई देना चाहता हूं। इसके साथ ही मैं आदरणीय स्पीकर महोदया श्रीमती सुमित्रा महाजन जी को भी बहुत बहुत बधाई देना चाहता हूं जिन्होंने आज इस महान प्रजातंत्र के मंदिर में एस.डी.जी. पर चर्चा कराने का निर्णय किया।

           उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, मैं इस सदन के उन भाग्यशाली कार्यकर्ताओं में से हूं, जब वर्ष 2000 में एम.डी.जी. को अपनाया गया, तब श्रद्धेय अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी जी के आशीर्वाद से मैं यू.एन. की जनरल एसम्बेली में भाग लेने के लिए गया था, तब एम.डी.जी. गोल को अपनाया गया था। एम.डी.जी. के प्रति भारत का जो रुख था, उसके बारे में जो वर्ल्ड ओपिनियन बन रही थी, उसका नजारा मैंने अपनी आंखों से देखा था। पिछले व­र्ष सितम्बर में, आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री जी ने यू.एन. जा कर एस.डी.जी. के लिए माहौल बनाया और भारत का कमिटमेंट, एस.डी.जी. के घो­िषत होने से पहले ही, प्रधानमंत्री जी ने एक विज़न सारे संसार को दिया - ’सबका साथ, सबका विकास’, जो इस बात को झलकाता है कि भारत एस.डी.जी. के बारे में पहले से ही गंभीर है।

          प्रधानमंत्री जी ने जब इस हाउस में कहा कि हिन्दुस्तान के जितने भी संसाधन हैं, उन सभी संसाधनों पर पहला हक गरीबों का होगा। यह एस.डी.जी. की उस कमिटमेंट को ही दर्शाता है कि सभी जगह से गरीबी का सभी रूप में अंत किया जाये, जो इसका पहला लक्ष्य है। एम.डी.जी. गोल्स में भी भारत ने उन्नति की थी। हमने कुछ गोल्स को हासिल करने में बहुत तरक्की की, लेकिन कुछ गोल्स ऐसे थे, जिनमें हम एम.डी.जी. में भी पिछड़े हुए थे। अब जो 17 गोल्स लिये गये हैं और 169 टारगेट्स रखे गये हैं, उनके बारे में भारत गंभीर है। नीति आयोग के नेतृत्व में केन्द्र सरकार, राज्य सरकारों और स्थानीय निकायों ने इस बारे में बीड़ा उठाया है कि जिस प्रकार एम.डी.जी. गोल्स के बारे में चाइना ने लीड ली, आज भारतव­ाऩ में एन.डी.ए. की सरकार है और एक ऐसे प्रधानमंत्री इस सरकार का नेतृत्व कर रहे हैं, जिन्होंने पूरे विश्व में जाकर भारत के बारे में एक ऐसा वातावरण बनाया कि भारत इन सब मुद्दों के प्रति गंभीर है।

          एस.डी.जी. में क्लाइमेंट चेंज के संबंध में भी एक गोल रखा गया है। आज हमारे इस महान सदन में आदरणीय जावड़ेकर जी बैठे हैं, ये पर्यावरण मंत्री थे, जब यह पेरिस में गये, वहां पर क्लाइमेंट चेंज के बारे में सैकड़ों देशों से वार्ता हुई, तो भारत की भूमिका को इन्होंने किस तरह से वहां पर रखा और प्रधानमंत्री जी ने स्वयं पेरिस जाकर उस काँफ्रेंस को सम्बोधित किया। उसका परिणाम यह निकला कि फ्रांस के राष्ट्रपति ओलांद भारत में आये और यहां गुरूग्राम में विश्व का सबसे बड़ा क्लाइमेट चेंज से संबंधित कार्यालय खुला। जिस प्रकार से यू.एन. काम करती है, जिस प्रकार से हेल्थ के क्षेत्र में डब्ल्यू.एच.ओ. काम करती है, उसी प्रकार से भारत में भी 121 देश मिल कर इस पर्यावरण के चैलेंज का मुकाबला करेंगे।

          आज भारत वर्ष में इंक्लूसिव ग्रोथ को लेकर ’प्रधानमंत्री सुरक्षा बीमा योजना’ चलाई गई है। ’मुद्रा योजना’ के द्वारा छोटे बिजनेसमैन को लोन दे कर अपने पैरों के ऊपर खड़ा किया है। भारत की इंडस्ट्री में आठ कोर सेक्टर्स हैं। उन कोर सेक्टर्स ने जिस प्रकार की तरक्की की है, वह भी सराहनीय है।   

           आज डी.एस.पी. ब्लैक रोप, इंडिया इंवेस्टर्स प्लस सर्वे के बारे में कहता है कि भारत के निवेशकों में सकारात्मकता बढ़ी है, आशावादिता बढ़ी है, अर्थव्यवस्था में विश्वास बढ़ा है। आज ’उज्ज्वला योजना’ चल रही है, उसके तहत आने वाले पांच वर्षों में पांच करोड़ सिलेंडर्स गरीब गृहणियों को दिए जाएंगे, हम पर्यावरण के मामले में इस प्रकार से आगे बढ़ेंगे, यह सीख सकते हैं।

          पिछले तीन दशकों से चीन अर्थव्यवस्था के मामले में दुनिया में 10 प्रतिशत ग्रोथ के साथ सबसे आगे चल रहा था, लेकिन पिछले दो वर्षों में हमारी सरकार ने दिन-रात इतना काम किया, हर मंत्रालय ने गुड गवर्नैंस दिखाई, जिसका यह परिणाम रहा कि भारत ने चीन को पछाड़ते हुए 7.5 प्रतिशत की ग्रोथ रेट हासिल की। आज चीन का जी.डी.पी. ग्रोथ रेट 7.3 प्रतिशत है, जो हम से पीछे है। आज हमने दुनिया में सबसे तेज अर्थव्यवस्था होने का गौरव प्राप्त किया है। हमारी गरीबों के प्रति किस प्रकार की सोच है, आप उसका अंदाजा इस बात से लगा सकते हैं कि आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री जी विज्ञान भवन में गये और वहां दलित चैम्बर्स ऑफ कॉमर्स में दलित एन्टरप्रेन्योर्स से कहा कि मेरी सरकार आपके लिए ’स्टैंड-अप’ और ’स्टार्ट-अप’ की योजना शुरू करेगी, जिसके अंतर्गत महिलाओं, दलितों और आदिवासियों के लिए दस हजार करोड़ रुपये का प्रावधान किया जाएगा, ताकि आप अपने पैरों पर खड़ा होने के लिए जो कुछ भी करना चाहेंगे, वह कर सकेंगे। आज भारत में डिजीटल क्रांति आई है, जो हमारे सामने रोजगार के नए-नए अवसर खोल रही है। 

          महोदय, आज पेपरलैस की तरफ भारत बढ़ रहा है। जन-धन की योजना देश में शुरू की गई है, जिसने बीस करोड़ से ज्यादा लोगों को समावेश करके चालीस हजार करोड़ रुपया हिंदुस्तान के बैंकों में जमा कराने का काम किया है। मैं आपसे प्रार्थना करना चाहता हूं कि बीस सालों में पहली बार बिजली का उत्पादन, कोयले का उत्पादन डबल डिजिट के अंदर आया है। विनिर्माण के क्षेत्र को हमने किस तरह से बढ़ाया है, उद्योगों के लिए खुशियां हमारी सरकार लाई है। सेवा और विनिर्माण के क्षेत्र में हमने किस तरह से दुनिया के बड़े देशों को पीछे छोड़ा है और 52 परसेंट की ग्रोथ हासिल की है। विशे­षज्ञों ने भारत को उद्योग लगाने की दृ­िट से एक बेहतरीन जगह बताया है। यह विश्वास जताया है और वर्ल्ड रैंकिंग में हम आज सातवें स्थान पर ठहरते हैं। यूएनओ भी हमें 6.4 परसेंट के हिसाब से उन्नति के रास्ते पर आंक रहा है। चाहे अल्प संख्यक हों, चाहे दलित हों, चाहे पिछड़े हों, सभी वर्गों के लिए इस सरकार ने एक के बाद एक कदम उठाए हैं।

          उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, अंत में मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि जो क़दम भारत ने एस.डी.जी. के बारे में उठाए हैं, इसकी चर्चा कल अध्यक्ष महोदया ने वर्कशॉप में की थी। उस बैठक में यू.एन.ओ. से भी कुछ एक्सपर्ट्स आए थे। उन्होंने कहा था कि भारत के प्रधानमंत्री की चर्चा यू.एन.ओ. के अंदर हुई है।...(व्यवधान)

 

श्री जय प्रकाश नारायण यादव (बाँका) : उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, आपने मुझे बोलने का मौका दिया, इसके लिए आपका आभारी हूं। संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघ द्वारा अंगीकृत सतत विकास, 2030 के 17 लक्ष्य और 169 ध्येय प्रकाशित हुए हैं। कई विभागों के माननीय मंत्री सदन में बैठे हैं। सदन में गंभीर चर्चा हो रही है और सतत विकास की चर्चा हो रही है। विकास की सीढ़ियां हमेशा आगे बढ़ती हैं, लेकिन उतरती भी हैं। यह इस बात पर निर्भर करता है कि सरकार का मन कैसा है, सरकार की भावना कैसी है और सरकार की काम करने की इच्छा शक्ति कैसी है। एक होता है, शब्दों का जाल बिछाना, एक होता है बयानबाजी करना, एक होता है टीवी तथा मीडिया के माध्यम से प्रचार करना और एक होता है काम करना। सतत विकास के लिए पृथक आबंटन नहीं किया गया है। केंद्र प्रायोजित योजनाएं भी हैं। हम रा­ष्ट्रपिता महात्मा गांधी की जयन्ती मना रहे हैं। बाबासाहेब भीमराव अम्बेडकर जी की जयन्ती हमने मनाई है, उन्हें नमन किया है। हमारे संविधान ने गरीबों को, पिछड़ों को, दलितों को बहुत बड़ा अधिकार दिया है। यह कहा जाता था कि भारत सोने की चिड़िया है। कभी यहां दूध की नदियां भी बहती थीं और "सारे जहां से अच्छा हिंदुस्तान हमारा", यह तब है जब इसमें हम सभी भाई मिलकर हिंदू, मुस्लिम, सिख, ईसाई, हम सभी हैं भाई-भाई। एक होकर इस चमन को, इस बगिया को, इस फुलवाड़ी को सुगंधित बनाएंगे, तभी यहां अमन रहेगा और तभी हम विकास कर सकते हैं। हमारा यह ध्येय रहना चाहिए, तभी विकास हो सकेगा।

          महोदय, मैं इसके बाद शिक्षा की बात पर आता हूं। मैं जावेड़कर साहब को बधाई देता हूं। वे अच्छे काम कर रहे हैं और शिक्षा के मामले में ज्ञान की रोशनी सभी के दरवाजे पर जाए और सभी के घरों तक पहुंचे, इस प्रयास में लगे हैं। ज्ञान ही समाज को आगे बढ़ाता है। ज्ञानहीन समाज आगे नहीं बढ़ता है, बल्कि ज्ञानवान समाज आगे बढ़ता है, इसलिए बिहार में आदरणीय लालू जी ने कहा था - पढ़ो या मरो। "करो या मरो" का नारा नहीं दिया था, बल्कि "पढ़ो या मरो" का नारा दिया था। हमें पढ़कर आगे बढ़ना है, इसलिए ज्ञान उजाला है, ज्ञान रोशनी है। हमारा नालंदा विश्वविद्यालय, विक्रमशिला विश्वविद्यालय विश्व का अनोखा विश्वविद्यालय है। सर्व शिक्षा अभियान, मिड डे मील आदि योजनाओं पर हमारी निगाहें साफ-साफ होनी चाहिए। लालकिले की प्राचीर से माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी ने पहले कहा था और अब फिर पन्द्रह अगस्त आ रहा है, हम उनकी बातों को फिर से याद करेंगे। वह समय फिर आएगा, चक्का घूमेगा। कहा गया था कि स्वच्छ भारत योजना के तहत ग्रामीण विद्यालयों में, बल्कि सभी विद्यालयों में हम शौचालय देंगे और सौ दिन में इस काम को आगे बढ़ाने का काम होगा, लेकिन गांवों के स्कूलों में शौचालय नहीं बना। यह हमारा सवाल नहीं है, बल्कि सभी का सवाल है। इसके पीछे चाहे कोई भी कारण रहा हो, लेकिन हमें ध्यान देने की जरूरत है, इसलिए सर्व शिक्षा अभियान के मामले में, चाहे यूनिवर्सिटी हो, प्राइमरी स्कूल हो या माध्यमिक विद्यालय हो, कुछ भी हो, हमें स्वच्छता का पूरा ध्यान रखने की जरूरत है।

          उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, ग्रामीण क्षेत्र में हमें स्वास्थ्य सुविधाओं को पहुंचाना है। जो असाध्य रोग हैं, इनके लिए एम्स की व्यवस्था करने की जरूरत है। बिहार में माननीय मंत्री जी ने कहा कि बिहार के बांका जिले में हम एम्स खोलेंगे। बिहार सरकार लगातार कह रही है कि हमसे जमीन मांगेंगे तो हम जमीन देंगे। हम मांग करते हैं कि बांका में एम्स खोलने के लिए राज्य सरकार से जमीन लेने का काम किया जाए। इसके साथ-साथ मैं यह कहना चाहता हूं कि ग्रामीण विद्युतीकरण को बढ़ाया जाए। हमारे यहां 30 हजार करोड़ रुपए की लागत पर मेगा विद्युत प्रोजेक्ट बांका जिले में मंजूर हुआ है। उसके लिए जमीन भी मिल गयी है, कोयला भी पीरपैंती से मिल गया है। पानी की भी व्यवस्था हो गई है। इस पर जल्द से जल्द राज्य सरकार और केंद्र सरकार को बात करके आगे काम करना चाहिए।

          जातीय जनगणना की रिपोर्ट प्रकाशित होनी चाहिए। एससी, एसटी और ओबीसी के साथ इंसाफ होना चाहिए। क्रीमी लेयर के तहत इन पर जो अत्याचार किया गया, इस बारे में ध्यान देना चाहिए।

          पर्यटन के क्षेत्र में हमारे यहां नमामी गंगे श्रावणी मेला होता है। लाखों लोग यहां से झारखंड जाते हैं। इसके लिए कहा गया था कि विशे­ष पैकेज देंगे, लेकिन उसके लिए अभी तक कुछ नहीं किया गया। मंदार एक ऐतिहासिक जगह है, उसके लिए नहीं मिला। हमने बांका, भागलपुर, मुंगेर, लक्खीसराय आदि जगहों पर पेयजल की व्यवस्था के लिए पांच हजार चापाकल की मांग की थी। यह काम भी बांका जिले में नहीं किया गया है। सिंचाई के क्षेत्र में, पर्यावरण के क्षेत्र में, वन के क्षेत्र में, बाढ़ और सूखे के लिए इंतजाम किए जाने चाहिएं। नदी जोड़ो कार्यक्रम चलना चाहिए। नेशनल हाईवे सड़कों का जाल बिछना चाहिए। मुंगेर से भागलपुर के बीच काम होना चाहिए। जल मार्ग और पर्यावरण आदि कई वि­षय हैं। महात्मा गांधी रा­ट्रीय ग्रामीण गारंटी योजना है, यह ग्रामीण मंत्री जी का कार्यक्रम है। मंत्री जी रा­ट्रीय आजीविका मिशन, इंदिरा आवास योजना, प्रधानमंत्री सड़क योजना, रा­ष्ट्रीय सामाजिक सहायता कार्यक्रम और समेकित वॉटर प्रबंधन आदि वि­ाय माननीय ग्रामीण विकास मंत्री जी के अंतर्गत आते हैं। इससे विकास की धारा खुल सकती है। इस बारे में समुचित कार्रवाई की जाए, तभी अच्छे दिन आएंगे, तभी सबका साथ, सबका विकास कार्यक्रम चलेगा, तभी मेक इन इंडिया बनेगा, तभी स्टार्ट-अप इंडिया बनेगा।

          सांसद के आदर्श गांव योजना का ख्याल किया जाए। महंगाई पर रोक नहीं लगी है। आप बेरोजगारों को काम नही दे पाए। मन की बात की जगह देश की बात होनी चहिए। अंत में डिजीटल इंडिया और स्मार्ट सिटी की बात अच्छी है। हमें सतत विकास करना चाहिए। हम  सरकार से मांग करते हैं कि देश को आगे बढ़ाना है, देश को बनाना है और पिछड़े राज्यों को आगे दूसरे राज्यों के साथ मिलाना है।

 

SHRI TEJ PRATAP SINGH YADAV (MAINPURI): Thank you, hon. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, for giving me time to speak on Sustainable Development Goals.

          At the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit held on 25th September 2015, the world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with 169 targets to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change by 2030.

          The SDGs are a plan of action for the people, for the planet, for prosperity, and to strengthen universal peace. The SDGs focus on eradicating poverty in all forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty and to understand this to be the greatest global challenge, which is indispensable for Sustainable Development. They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development, that is, economic, social and environmental.

          The Sustainable Development Goals, otherwise known as the Global Goals, build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), that is, eight anti-poverty targets that the world committed to achieving by 2015. The MDGs, adopted in 2000, aimed at an array of issues that included slashing poverty, hunger, disease, gender inequality and access to water and sanitation. 

          The SDGs for People look at ending poverty and hunger globally while focussing on those countries and communities most disadvantaged by it. It looks at allowing all citizens of the globe to live without indignity and to be given equal opportunity to fulfil their potential.

          While talking of the Planet, the SDGs are determined to protect the Planet from degradation and call all people to urgent action on climate change. It urges all communities for sustainable consumption and production so as to allow Earth to fulfil the needs of both the present and future generations.

          Further, it focuses on prosperity of all and to create the possibility of each individual living a fulfilling and prosperous life and for socio-economic and technological progress to be in harmony with nature, so the Earth can prosper too. 

          Most importantly, it talks of peace and its correlation to Sustainable Development and the need to foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies free from fear and violence. To achieve Sustainable Development without peace is neither possible nor is it possible to achieve peace without Sustainable Development, which is the core belief of the SDGs.

          Our Government in UP under the leadership of our hon. Chief Minister Shri Akhilesh Yadav has for quite some time, now paid heed to the challenges of climate change, lack of education and health care and so on.

          The first point in the SDG was to eradicate poverty. Eradicating poverty in all its forms remains one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Globally, more than 800 million people are still living on less than Rs.100 a day; many lacking access to adequate food, clean drinking water and sanitation. The SDGs are a bold commitment to finish what we started and end poverty in all forms and dimensions by 2030. This involves targeting those living in vulnerable situations, increasing access to basic resources and services and supporting communities affected by conflict and climate-related disasters.

          Unfortunately, extreme hunger and malnutrition remains a huge barrier to development in many countries. Over 90 million children under the age of five are dangerously underweight. And one person in every four still goes hungry in Africa. The SDGs aim to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, making sure all people – especially children and the more vulnerable – have access to sufficient and nutritious food all the year round.

          The third point of the SDG was good health and well-being. Recognising the inter-dependence of health and development, the SDGs provide an ambitious, comprehensive plan of action for people, planet and prosperity and for ending the injustices that underpin poor health and development outcomes. It aspires to ensure health and well-being for all, including a bold commitment to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other vulnerable diseases and provide access to safe and effective medicines and vaccines for all. 

          One of the most important points and goals of SDGs is quality education. Achieving inclusive and quality education for all reaffirms the belief that education is one of the most powerful and proven vehicles for sustainable development. This goal ensures that all girls and boys complete free primary and secondary schooling by 2030. It also aims to provide equal access to affordable vocational training and to eliminate gender and wealth disparities with the aim of achieving universal access to a quality higher education.

          There are still gross inequalities in access to paid employment in some regions and significant gaps between men and women in the labour market. Sexual violence and exploitation, the unequal division of unpaid care and domestic work and discrimination in public decision-making, all remain huge barriers. Ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and affording women equal rights to economic resources such as land and property, are vital targets to realising this goal. There are now more women in public office than ever before, but encouraging more women leaders across all regions will help strengthen policies and legislation for greater gender equality.

          By 2050, it is projected that at least one in four people are likely to be affected by recurring water shortages. Ensuring universal access to safe and affordable drinking water by 2030 requires that we must in adequate infrastructure, provide sanitation facilities and encourage hygiene at every level. Protecting and restoring water-related eco-systems such as forests, mountains, wetlands and rivers is essential if we are to mitigate water scarcity.

          One of the important points is the affordable and clean energy. Ensuring universal access to affordable electricity by 2030 means investing in clean energy sources such as solar, wind and thermal. Adopting cost-effective standards for a wider range of technologies could also reduce the global electricity consumption by buildings and industry by 14 per cent. 

          It is well-documented that income inequality is on the rise, with the richest ten per cent earning up to 40 per cent of total global income. The poorest ten per cent earn only between two and seven per cent of total global income. In developing countries, inequality has increased by 11 per cent if we take into account the growth of population. These widening disparities are a call for action that requires the adoption of sound policies to empower the bottom percentile of income earners and promote economic inclusion of all regardless of sex, race or ethnicity.

          More than half of the world’s population now live in urban areas. By 2050, that figure will have risen to 6.5 billion people which come to two-thirds of humanity. Sustainable development cannot be achieved without significantly transforming the way we build and manage our urban spaces.  The rapid growth of cities in the developing world, coupled with increasing rural to urban migration, has led to a boom in mega-cities. In 1990, there were ten mega cities with ten million inhabitants or more. In 2014, there are 28 mega cities, home to a total 453 million people. Extreme poverty is often concentrated in urban spaces and national and city governments struggle to accommodate the rising population in these areas. Making cities safe and sustainable means ensuring access to safe and affordable housing and upgrading slum settlements. It also involves investment in public transport, creating green public spaces, and improving urban planning and management in a way that is both participatory and inclusive.

          There is no country in the world that is not seeing the first-hand drastic effects of climate change. Green house gas emissions continue to rise and are now more than 50 per cent higher than their 1990 level. Further, global warming is causing long-lasting changes to our climate system, which threatens irreversible consequences if we do not take action now. The annual average losses from just earthquakes, Tsunamis, tropical cyclones and flooding count in the hundreds of billions of dollars. The goal aims to mobilize 100 billion dollars annually by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries and help mitigate climate-related disasters. Strengthening the resilience and adaptive capacity of more vulnerable regions, such as land-locked countries and Island States must go hand in hand with efforts to raise awareness and integrate measures into national policies and strategies. It is still possible, with the political will and a wide array of technological measures to limit the increase in global mean temperature to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial level. This requires urgent collective action.

          The most important point for the SDGs is the peace, justice and strong institutions. Peace, stability, human rights and effective governance based on the rule of law are important conduits for sustainable development. We are living in a world that is increasingly divided. Some regions enjoy sustained levels of peace, security and prosperity while others fall into seemingly endless cycles of conflict and violence. This is by no means inevitable and must be addressed. High levels of armed violence and insecurity have a destructive impact on a country’s development, affecting economic growth and often resulting in long standing grievances among communities that can last for generations. Sexual violence, crime, exploitation and torture are also prevalent where there is a conflict or no rule of law and countries must take measures to protect those who are the most at risk.

 

पर्यावरण, वन और जलवायु परिवर्तन मंत्रालय के राज्य मंत्री (श्री अनिल माधव दवे): सम्माननीयउपाध्यक्ष महोदय जी, हमने जिसे एसडीजी (सस्टेनेबल डवलपमेंट गोल) कहा है, यह वस्तुतः विश्व के सभ्य समाज द्वारा, सभ्य देशों द्वारा, सारे विश्व को अच्छा करने के लिए कौन-से लक्ष्य होने चाहिए और उन लक्ष्यों को कैसे प्राप्त करना है, उसके लिए जो नीति-नियम बनाये गये, वह सस्टेनेबल गोल है।

          लेकिन अपनी बात की शुरुआत करने से पहले, मैं आपके माध्यम से कहना चाहता हूँ कि जो लोग अंग्रेजी का हिन्दी करते हैं और हिन्दी का अंग्रेजी करते हैं, ऐसे लोगों से निवेदन करना चाहता हूँ क्योंकि लोहिया से सावरकर तक और गोलवलकर से गांधी तक हरेक ने अगर कोई बात कही है, तो कहा है कि हिन्दी सहज-सरल होनी चाहिए।

सस्टेनेबल के लिए सही हिन्दी शब्द भारत की वर्तमान विदेश मंत्री सम्माननीय सु­षमा जी ने बहुत ही अच्छा शब्द दिया था और उसे सार्वजनिक रूप में भी रखा था।यहां लिखा गया है - संधारणीय वि­षयों के बारे में एक चर्चा उठाएंगे। मुझे ही संधारणीय शब्द को समझने में तकलीफ हो रही है। सम्माननीय सु­षमा जी ने कहा था- टिकाऊ विकास। इतना सहज, इतना सरल शब्द प्रचलन में क्यों नहीं आता है और हम इतने कठिन शब्दों का प्रयोग क्यों करते हैं, इस संबंध में थोड़ा ध्यान देने की जरूरत है। भाषायी विकास, देश की प्रादेशिक भा­षाएं, देश की राजभा­षा हिन्दी और अंग्रेजी का भी विकास होना चाहिए। लेकिन क्लि­ट शब्दों से बचा जाना चाहिए।

          महोदय, जहां तक सस्टैनेबल गोल का सवाल है तो मैं सारे गोल्स पर चर्चा नहीं करूंगा, केवल एक ही गोल पर चर्चा करना चाहूंगा और वह गोल क्रमांक एक है- गरीबी उन्मूलन। मुझे लगता है कि अगर गरीबी हट जाएगी तो बाकी सारे गोल अपने आप ठीक हो जाएंगे। लेकिन इसमें विश्व का समाज तीन हिस्सों में बंटा है। कुछ विकसित देश हैं, विकासशील देश हैं, अर्द्ध विकसित देश हैं और आईलैंड कंट्रीज हैं। हर एक की दुनिया अलग है, हर एक की थाली में भोजन अलग है, हर एक के पकवान अलग हैं, भा­षा वह एक जैसी बोलना चाहते हैं, लेकिन सबके संदर्भ अलग-अलग हैं।...(व्यवधान) भा­ाा एक ही है, लेकिन उनकी शैली अलग-अलग है।

          अंततोगत्वा गरीबी विश्व के पटल से हटनी चाहिए। इसमें कोई राजनीति नहीं होनी चाहिए। कुछ वि­षय ऐसे होते हैं जो राजनीति से ऊपर होते हैं, यह भी ऐसा ही वि­षय है। इसमें कहीं कांग्रेस, भाजपा या अन्य दलों का इसमें कोई विवाद नहीं है। इन 17 गोल्स और 169 टारगेट्स को पाने के लिए हम कोई कोर-कसर नहीं छोड़ेंगे। इन पर जब हस्ताक्षर हुए थे तो तत्कालीन और तात्कालिक प्रधानमंत्री कह रहे हैं कि हम इस गोल के लिए प्रतिबद्ध हैं। लेकिन हमें कहीं न कहीं गोल पर विचार करना होगा।

          गरीबी के लिए जो इंटरनेशनल गरीबी रेखा खींची गयी, वह मालूम नहीं कहां से आयी। लोग कहते हैं कि भारत की बातों को ग्रहण करने से लोगों को परहेज़ होता है, लेकिन उसको उन्होंने सवा डॉलर आईपीएल कहा। अगर किसी व्यक्ति की आय सवा डॉलर हो जाएगी यानी करीब 80 रुपये हो जाएगी तो फिर उस परिवार में बच्चे, बड़े और वृद्ध भी हैं। मुझे नहीं मालूम कि हम 80 रुपये पर कैसे गरीबी रेखा तक जाएंगे। इसको अगर लाना है तो हमें कम से कम 25 से 30 साल लगेंगे। अगर हम इसको 5 डॉलर कर लेते हैं तो इसको दो सौ साल लगेंगे। कहीं न कहीं पॉलिसी मेकर्स और नीति निर्धारण करने वालों को, ब्यूरोक्रेट्स और पॉलीटिशियन्स को बहुत गम्भीरता से सोचकर यह बात निश्चित करनी होगी कि अगर हमें गरीबी को दूर करना है तो उसके लिए क्या करने की जरूरत है।

          इस विश्व से गरीबी तब तक दूर नहीं हो सकती, जब तक इल्लीसिट फाइनैंसिंग बंद नहीं होगी। बड़ी-बड़ी कम्पनियां, विकासशील देशों में, अर्द्धविकसित देशों में, गरीब देशों में व्यापार करती हैं जिससे उसको तीन प्रकार से आय होती है। एक टैक्स प्लानिंग से, दूसरा नेट प्रोफिट से और तीसरी, जो उसकी दो नंबर की आय है। वह आय जब उन देशों से निकलकर बड़े देशों में चली जाती है तो इसको हम इल्लीसिट फाइनैंशियल ट्रांसमिशन कहते हैं। अगर यह नहीं रुकता है तो गरीबी हटाने का केवल नारा ही रहेगा। यह माइक्रो लेवल पर होने वाला प्ले है, जो समझ में नहीं आता है कि जब हम एक टूथब्रश या टूथपेस्ट यूज़ करते हैं तो उसका पैसा कैसे कहीं चला गया। हमने दीवाली के दिन पटाखे, दिये और सुंदर गणपति खरीदते हैं तो किसी दूसरे देश में पचास रुपये या सौ रुपये चले जाते हैं। यह जो इल्लीसिट माइक्रो फाइनैंसिंग है, इसके आने-जाने के संबंध में यूएन और एसडीजी कंट्रीज को...(व्यवधान)

SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN (KOLLAM): You may kindly enlighten us regarding goals 13, 14 and 15 which come within the purview of your Ministry regarding environment and climate change.

श्री अनिल माधव दवे : मैं इस संबंध में बहुत लम्बे समय तक बोल सकता हूं। लेकिन मैं यह इसलिए बोल रहा हूं कि एनवायरमेंट से पहले पेट है। स्वामी विवेकानंद कहते थे कि भूखे पेट गीता नहीं पढ़ानी चाहिए। यह सारी बातें सही हैं। मैं एनवायरमेंट मिनिस्टर हूं...(व्यवधान) मैंने कहा है कि यह वि­षय राजनीति से ऊपर है और जब तक हम इसको उससे ऊपर नहीं रखेंगे तब तक यह सब चलता रहेगा। आप जिस चार, पांच और छः नंबर गोल के बारे में कह रहे हैं। मैं तब तक बोल सकता हूं, जब तक उपाध्यक्ष जी मुझे बैठने के लिए नहीं कहते हैं। आप सुनते हुए थक जाएंगे, मैं बोलते हुए नहीं थकूंगा। मैं पॉलीटिशियन हूं इसलिए एनवायरमेंट पर काम नहीं करता हूं। मैं जब राजनीति में नहीं आया था, तब से मैं रिवर कंजर्वेशन पर काम कर रहा हूं और दिल्ली से जब अपना बोरिया-बिस्तर उठाकर जाऊंगा, तब भी नदियों और रिवर बॉडीज़ पर काम करता रहूंगा। मेरे द्वारा वॉटर बॉडीज और एनवायरमेंट पर काम करने का राजनीति से कोई संबंध नहीं है। आपने जिन चार, पांच और छः नंबर गोल्स के बारे में कहा है, उस पर मैं बोलूंगा, लेकिन मैं गरीबी से इसको शुरू करना चाहता हूं।

       इंटर गवर्नमेंटल टैक्स स्ट्रक्चर को आप लोग समझिए। यह मैं इस सम्मानित सदन के माध्यम से पूरे विश्व को बताना चाहता हूं। मैं यह कहना चाहता हूं कि यह सारी चीजें भारत के संदर्भ में ठीक करने की जरूरत हैं। इसका संबंध किसी सीमित स्थान तक नहीं है। यह हमें ग्लोबल प्लेटफार्म पर कहना होगा और टैक्स स्ट्रक्चर पर हमें बात करनी होगी, क्योंकि हम विकासशील देश हैं। विकसित देशों को कहीं न कहीं विकासशील देशों को रियायतें देनी होंगी।

          महोदय, गरीबी का रोल फाइनैंस से संबंधित है, ऐसा कहा गया है। लेकिन हमने कहा कि वह शिक्षा से भी संबंधित है, वह रोजगार से भी संबंधित है, वह स्वास्थ्य से भी संबंधित है। किसी व्यक्ति की जेब में पांच सौ रुपये रख देने से वह व्यक्ति अमीर नहीं हो रहा है। उसको कैसी शिक्षा मिल रही है, उसको कैसा आवास मिल रहा है, उसको चिकित्सा सुविधा कैसी मिल रही है। सारे पैरामीटर्स को एक साथ लेकर हम कहेंगे कि गरीबी दूर हुई या नहीं। इसलिए गरीबी के संबंध में भारतीय दर्शन, जिसको प्रधानमंत्री जी विश्व के हर मंच पर कह रहे हैं और वह इसलिए नहीं कह रहे हैं कि वह भारतीय दर्शन का हिस्सा हैं। एसडीजी के लक्ष्यों को प्राप्त करने के लिए हम प्रतिबद्ध हैं, लेकिन यह भी सही है कि जो बाइंडिंग्स हमारे ऊपर हैं, वह सब पर लागू होनी चाहिए।

अब आपने मुझे कहा कि गोल नम्बर 3, 4 और 5 पर भी मैं कुछ कहूं, लेकिन समय का अभाव है, मुझे 15 मिनट में अपनी बात को खत्म करना है। लेकिन अगर कोई भी यह चाहेगा तो मैं अलग से समय निकालकर कह सकता हूं कि गोल नम्बर तीन, चार  और पांच के संबंध में क्या जवाब है, क्या होना चाहिए और क्या वि­षय है। लेकिन समय के अभाव के कारण मैं केवल गोल क्रमांक 16 और 17 पर आना चाहता हूं। जो गोल क्रमांक 16 है, वह इनक्लूसिव एंड पीसफुल सोसाइटी की बात करता है। यह एक ऐसा क्लाज है कि अगर हमने अफगानिस्तान से कहा कि आपको मदद इसलिए नहीं दी जायेगी, क्योंकि आपके यहां शांति नहीं है, जबकि उसमें उसका कोई रोल ही नहीं है। लोग उसके यहां आकर अशांति फैलाते हैं, उसमें अफगानिस्तान की आम जनता की कोई भूमिका ही नहीं है। इस प्रकार के गोल्स का प्रयोग विकसित होने वाले देशों की इन बातों पर नहीं होना चाहिए, जिनमें उसकी भूमिका नहीं है। भारत विश्व के रंगमंच पर इन सारे देशों का नेतृत्व करता है। हम वहां लीड एंड फॉलो में लीड करते हैं और आवश्यकता होती है तो फॉलो भी करते हैं। लेकिन मुझे लगता है कि इसे देखने की जरूरत है और एक शब्द जो 12वां गोल है, उसमें कहा गया है कि रिस्पांसिबल कंजम्पशन एंड प्रोडक्शन। जब तक इस ग्लोब में रिस्पांसिबल कंजम्पशन खड़ा नहीं होगा, अकेला वाशिंगटन जितना जूठा खाना थाली में छोड़ देता है, उससे किसी अफ्रीकन कंट्री का पेट भर सकता है और अगर उन आंकड़ों को आप इस रूप में नहीं देखना चाहते हैं तो 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year while almost one billion people go unnourished and other one billion remain hungry. एक बिलियन लोग भूखे सोते हैं और वह भोजन कहां से आ रहा है, केवल थाली में इसलिए छोड़ दिया, क्योंकि मेरा स्टेटस है, मैं एलीट पर्सन हूं, मेरी एक डिश आई, मैंने उसका 30 परसैन्ट खाया, 70 परसैन्ट छोड़ दिया। कहीं न कहीं भारत की लाइफस्टाइल को विश्व को स्वीकार करना पड़ेगा। This is the Indian way of life. उसका एक उदाहरण देकर अपनी बात खत्म करूंगा कि महात्मा गांधी भोजन करने के लिए आनंद भवन गये, तब जवाहर लाल जी छोटे थे, युवा रहे होंगे। हाथ धोकर भोजन करना चाहिए, यह सरकारों ने नहीं सिखाया, यह समाज अनादिकाल से करता आया है। गांधी जी हाथ धोने के लिए बगीचे की तरफ बढ़े, शायद उस जमाने में वाश बेसिन जैसी कोई चीज नहीं होती होगी। हमारे यहां जो घर का बच्चा होता है या युवा होता है, वह अतिथि के हाथ धुलवाता है। नेहरू जी लोटा लेकर हाथ धुलवाने के लिए गये। गांधी जी ने आधा लोटा पानी में हाथ धो लिये, जवाहर लाल जी यंग थे तो जो आधा लोटा बचा हुआ पानी थी, वह उन्होंने बगीचे में डाल दिया। गांधी जी तो गांधी जी थे, उन्होंने कहा कि जवाहर लाल तुमने यह क्या किया? वह बोले, जी बापू। वे बोले, आधा लोटा पानी तुमने क्यों डाला? मैंने आधे लोटे से हाथ धो लिये थे, तुमने बाकी आधे लोटे का पानी बगीचे में क्यों डाला? जैसा युवावस्था में जवाब देने का स्वभाव होता है, उन्होंने कहा कि बापू आप क्यों चिंता करते हो, गंगा में बहुत पानी है। यहां से इस गोल क्रमांक 12 और सारे गोल्स का जवाब है। गांधी जी ने यह जो वाक्य बोला, इसके अंदर इस विश्व की ग्लोबल वार्मिंग और क्लाइमेट चेंज का जवाब है। गांधी जी ने कहा कि जवाहर लाल गंगा का सारा पानी तेरे और मेरे लिए नहीं है। इस पर लाखों लोगों का अधिकार है, जो गंगा के किनारे बसते हैं। हमें यह समझना होगा कि इन पर इस पीढ़ी और इस समाज का तो अधिकार है, लेकिन आने वाली पीढ़ियों का भी उस पर अधिकार है और वे भी उसे ठीक से यूज कर सकें, इसकी चिंता करने की आवश्यकता है। अगर वे आउट है और अगर लाइफस्टाइल के अंदर विश्व परिवर्तन नहीं करेगा तो हम गोल सैट करेंगे, हम चीजें चलायेंगे, लेकिन हम उस पर पहुंच नहीं पायेंगे। क्योंकि, इवेन्चुअली जो अनडिसिप्लन कंजम्पशन है, गाड़ी चाहिए, नहीं चाहिए, कुछ होना है, नहीं होना है, उस पर विचार है।

          मैं अंतिम बात कहना चाहता हूं कि इन सब गोल्स को प्राप्त करने के लिए क्या करने की जरूरत होगी और वह रास्ता कौन सा है, यह 17वें गोल के अंदर निश्चित किया है। लेकिन अभी उसमें बहुत स्पष्टता खड़ी करने की जरूरत है, क्योंकि वे लक्ष्य कैसे प्राप्त होंगे, हम उन लक्ष्यों तक कैसे पहुंचेंगे। 2030 तक हमें उन तक पहुंचना है। संस्कृत में जो शब्द है - नान्यहं पंथा, इसके अलावा कोई मार्ग नहीं है। हम दो प्लेनेट, तीन प्लेनेट खड़े नहीं कर सकते। इसी प्लेनेट से, जितनी भी जनसंख्या होगी, उसका पेट भी भरना पड़ेगा, उसका स्वास्थ्य भी अच्छा रखना पड़ेगा, उसे शिक्षा भी देनी पड़ेगी, जिसे एक सम्माननीय जीवन- स्तर कहते हैं, वह उपलब्ध कराना पड़ेगा। यह बहुत पवित्र उद्देश्य है, जो एस.डी.जी. के गोल्स हैं, ये बहुत अच्छे हैं। लेकिन दीनदयाल जी कहा करते थे - ‘पवित्र लक्ष्यों को अपवित्र माध्यमों से नहीं प्राप्त किया जा सकता।’ यह केवल उन्होंने सामने वाले को भा­ाण देने के लिए नहीं कहा, यह उन्होंने अपने लोगों के लिए कहा था।

          इसी के साथ मैं अपनी बात समाप्त करता हूं। बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद।

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE (KALYAN): Hon. Deputy Speaker Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity to participate in the discussion on Sustainable Development Goals.  I would like to congratulate Madam Speaker on behalf of this august House for taking initiative to sensitize all of us about this important topic.  As we all know, there are 17 Sustainable Development Goals in all which 193 countries have agreed upon.  India is also a signatory to these goals.  Poverty eradication, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, decent work and economic growth are some of the goals that have been emphasized as Sustainable Development Goals by the UN. 

          I would like to stress upon some of these goals which I consider of prime importance.  One example is poverty eradication.  Majority of our resources are directed towards this one goal.  There are many schemes from various Ministries.  Lakhs of crores of rupees are spent every year.  There have been major strides taken by India in the last few years to bring people out of the abject poverty due to sustained efforts taken by the successive Governments.  I would also like to congratulate the NDA Government for its efforts to plug the loopholes in subsidies, thereby saving crores of rupees which again are used for social sector schemes and infrastructure building.  However, it is unfortunate that even today we have not been able to determine the official poverty line.  This issue is lingering for almost a decade now.  The UN says that people living on less than USD 1.25 per day are poor.  The Tendulkar Committee had also agreed upon this definition and had recommended that persons earning less than Rs. 33 should be considered poor.  The recommendation of that Committee was rejected by the UPA Government.  Even the subsequent Rangrajan Committee report was not accepted by the present NDA Government.  Now the NITI Aayog has set up a task force on elimination of poverty last year.  One of its many mandates is to define the working definition of poverty.  There have been reports that soon a Committee would be set up to determine the poverty line.  However, whatever indications we are getting so far is that the NITI Aayog is said to be favouring the poverty line recommended by the Tendulkar Committee by saying that the sole purpose of the poverty line is to track whether and at what speed we are bringing the population out of extreme poverty and not to identify specific households or individuals as poor for the purpose of benefits.  

Frankly, I would like to have some clarity on what the NITI Aayog is trying to say here.  Unless we identify the number of people who exactly are qualified to be poor, how are we going to direct our responses to help those very people come out of poverty?  According to the 2012 official data, 21.9 per cent of India’s population was officially living below poverty line.  

18.00 hours           If we do not have the official poverty line on what basis this figure was arrived at?  There are two states of poverty, urban poverty and rural poverty.  There are many schemes for poverty alleviation in rural areas, such as Integrated Rural Development Programme, Employment Guarantee Schemes, various pension schemes, health schemes and housing schemes but are we ignoring urban poverty in this process?  I would like the Government to throw some light on this. 

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: It is already 6.00 o’clock.  Let the hon. Member complete his speech and after him one more hon. Member wishes to speak today, after which we will adjourn the House.

          You may continue, Shri Shinde.

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: I would like the Government to throw some light on this.  We would like to know the efforts being taken by the Government to reduce the urban poverty.  Today, the urbanization in India has increased tremendously.  Nearly 33 per cent of our population is living in urban areas.  India is among top nations in the world in terms of migration from rural to urban areas.

          Lakhs of people are living in slums, in the most unhygienic conditions in our cities.  So, we have a big challenge.  However, as far as urban poverty alleviation is concerned, our primary focus seems to be on construction sector, housing for all scheme in particular.  It is true that the construction sector is one of the largest employer, there is much more we can do.  According to the estimates there are about two crore construction workers at present.  Every State collects one per cent cess on cost of construction to be used for the welfare of construction workers.  Till date, a whopping Rs.24,000 crore were collected by all States collectively but a miniscule amount is actually spent for the purpose for which it was collected.  Maharashtra has spent just three per cent of its share, Karnataka has spent five per cent.  The numbers are more or less of all the States except Kerala which has spent nearly 95 per cent.  We can use these resources to improve the conditions of these workers who are mainly residing in cities.  This could go a long way to tackle the urban poverty.

          As far as the health sector is concerned, high medical expenses continue to be a major reason for pushing lakhs of people below poverty line.  Hence, it becomes imperative for the Government to invest heavily in the health sector.  Primary Health Centers are the major source of relief for the rural population.  Therefore, every effort will have to be made to build a proper infrastructure around the PHCs.  Today, doctors are not willing to go to rural areas mainly because of inadequate infrastructure provided by the Government.  There is no proper housing, no sufficient paramedic staff. 

Of late, more and more Governments are vacating health space for private players.  India is no exception.  However, a country like India cannot afford this as most of its population is not in a position to shoulder the burden of high cost of medical expenditure.

The same is the case with education.  Privatisation in education has gained momentum in India.  It has improved the quality but it has also led to higher cost of education.  We are investing very less in our education sector.  Today we rank 143rd in the list of nations by spending on education as percentage of GDP.  We are still hovering around four per cent.  This is certainly not the sign of global super power or an aspiring super power.  We cannot afford to ignore education sector.  Countries which are part of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development which is essentially a group of developed countries, the average spending of the Group countries on education is 6.7 per cent while the US tops the list with more than seven per cent.

It was almost 50 years back when the Kothari Commission, set up in 1964-65, had recommended that India must invest six per cent of its GDP in education.  National Education Policy of 1968 as well as 1986 recommended the same.  Yet, we are far short of this target.   Though we have made significant progress on access to schooling and enrollment rates in primary education in the last few years, dropout rates and low levels of learning remain challenges.

According to Pratham’s Annual Status of Education 2013 Report, close to 78 per cent of children in Standard-III and about 50 per cent of children in Standard-V cannot yet read Standard-II textbooks.  Also, 75 per cent of the teachers failed the teachers’ eligibility test.  So, we need to focus on our primary education.  There are many global studies which show that spending on early childhood interventions produce significant economic gains.  Three of the most rigorous long-term studies conducted by the Harvard University found a range of returns between 4 dollars and 9 dollars for every dollar invested in early learning programmes for low-income children.

I would also like to congratulate the hon. Prime Minister on his emphasis on hygiene and cleanliness through Swachh Bharat Mission, a massive programme to stop open defecation by building lakhs of toilets, undertaken at the national level.  Crores of rupees are spent on it and rightly so.  The only suggestion I want to make is that we must adopt an integrated approach.  In the past also there were many programmes for building toilets in every village.  However, today these toilets are rendered useless due to lack of water.  In many places they are the most unhygienic places.  Therefore, we must ensure the availability of water through measures such as rain water harvesting and emphasis on maintenance of these toilets should be made.

With this, I support the Government’s effort to reach the Sustainable Development Goals.  Thank you.

   

SHRIMATI BUTTA RENUKA (KURNOOL):  Thank you Deputy Speaker, Sir for extending the time of the House and giving me an opportunity to speak on an important subject of Sustainable Development Goals. This critical subject raises the fundamental question whether we are living for today or for future and how much are we concerned with future generation keeping in view that the humanity will sustain forever.

          Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

          On September 2015, the United Nations General Assembly formally adopted the Universal Integrated and Transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a set of 16 sustainable development goals.  There are 169 targets under the goals and it shall be the endeavour of all of us to achieve these goals by 2030.  These goals aim to address issues of economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection.  These SDGs are global in nature and universally applicable.  We need to customize these goals for our own requirements while pursuing the overall objective of achieving the sustainable development goals.

          Fundamental human needs such as the availability and quality of air, water, food and shelter are the ecological foundations for sustainable developments.  Since natural resources are derived from the environment, the state of air, water and the climate are of particular concern.

          The nature’s resources, especially minerals are being used indiscriminately without having any concern for the future generations and these resources cannot be replenished.  Sustainability requires that human activity only uses nature’s resources at a rate at which they can be replenished naturally.  We are really saddened when we see the indiscriminate mining of sand which affects the river flow.  The hillocks are being made flat beds with indiscriminate digging and exploitation of minerals.  If this goes on our future generations may not even see what a typical mountain looks like.  I would request the Government to bring out a Bill banning any mining in hills and mountains.  We must leave them for ever to our future generations.

          Individuals tend to do what is best for them and not what is good for the people.  If this is not addressed properly the development of the commonly owned resources will become impossible to achieve in a sustainable way.  The Government must come out with strict laws and regulations in respect of management of the public resources that are used for personal use. It may be possible to find ways to replace some natural resources, but it is very unlikely that we will ever be able to replace eco-system as such.

We have to focus more on renewable resources and lessen our dependence on natural resources which cannot be replenished. We need to focus on development which is less environmentally destructive.

Poverty is the main stumbling block of sustainable development. We need to eradicate poverty to progress towards sustainable development. This is one of the goals to be achieved by 2030. Many of the 17 goals of sustainable development are aimed at removing poverty and improving quality of life.

Many of those who live in rural areas and in forests are dependent on traditional occupations which are contrary to sustainable development goals. We need to pull them out of those occupations and bring them into mainstream by providing education and livelihood through alternate employment methods.

In this context, we need to develop backward areas with special focus. I represent a constituency which is the most backward and rich in mineral resources falling in backward region of Rayalaseema. In the recent Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, special focus has been given for the development of this region. I would request this government to take special interest in developing Rayalaseema region.

HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: The House stands adjourned to meet tomorrow, the 4th August, 2016 at 11.00 a.m. 18.12 hours The Lok Sabha then adjourned till Eleven of the Clock on Thursday, August 4, 2016/Shravana 13, 1938 (Saka).       

                             

*ण्ड्ढ म्श्र्द अ र्ठ्ठद्धत्ड्ढड्ड ठ्ठडदृध्ड्ढ ण्ड्ढ दठ्ठर्ड्ढ दृढ ठ्ठ ग्ड्ढथ्र्डड्ढद्ध त्दड्डत्हठ्ठय्ड्ढद्म् ण्ठ्ठद्य् ण्ड्ढ र्द्वड्ढद्य्त्दृद र्ठ्ठद्म् ठ्ठहय्द्वठ्ठथ्न्र् ठ्ठत्ड्ढड्ड दृद ण्ड्ढ ढथ्दृदृद्ध दृढ ण्ड्ढ Hदृद्वम्ड्ढ डन्र् ण्ठ्ठद्य् ग्ड्ढथ्र्डड्ढद्ध.

     

*ग़्दृद्य् द्धड्ढहदृद्धड्डड्ढड्ड.

 

*Eदर्थ्त्द्म्ण् य्द्धठ्ठदथ्ठ्ठत्दृद दृढ ण्ड्ढ म्द्रड्ढड्ढहण् दृद्धश्र्त्दठ्ठथ्न्र् ड्डड्ढथ्त्ध्ड्ढद्धड्ढड्ड त्द व्ठ्ठदथ्ठ्ठ.

*Eन्द्रद्वदर्ड्ढड्ड ठ्ठद्म् दृद्धड्डड्ढद्धड्ढड्ड डन्र् ण्ड्ढ ण़्ठ्ठत्द्ध.