India in it's SDG Pledge is somehow lagging : The Reasons & Mitigative measures

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

The 17 SDGs are integrated they recognize that action in one area will affect outcomes in others and that development must balance Social, Economic, and Environmental Sustainability.

Reasons why India is Lagging:-

1. Hard to cater 1.4 billion population in a shorter interval of time i.e. 15 Years as SDG Goals were adopted in the year of 2015.

2. Trickle-down has not worked properly in the last 3 decades.

3. There is a rise in economic inequality.

4. Regional disparity

5. Conflicts between Environmental Protection V/S Economic Development

6. Poor Governance

7. Federal Conflicts

8. Limited private sector participation in PPP Model.

According to a recent survey India has performed well in SDG Goal 1&2 as compared to other South Asian countries but is somehow struggling in SDG 3 i.e. Good health and well-being.

The mitigative measure we can learn from COVID Preparedness:-

1. Decision Making: Decisive leadership and coordinated governance across levels were key to the vaccination/relief rollout.

2. Adaptability: Learn, and adapt in real time.

3. Information: integrated data system required for population health management.

4. Funding: Massive relief package.

Way Ahead:-

1. Innovative governance at an unprecedented scale.

2. Competing priorities

3. Filling Institutional gaps

4. Entrenching inequalities across caste, and location.

5. Partnerships, participation, and critical to inform policies.

A blog by Jitisha Shashi Hiremath