Young Sri Lankans, Indians more informed, more tech-savvy and more connected
India and Sri Lanka have a shared legacy of social, economic, political, intellectual, cultural, religious and linguistic connect while the Governments of both countries have deep engagements and friendly relations.
Thus, noted Prof. Dr. Mallika Kumar, Head of International Affairs and Commerce Department from the University of Delhi speaking at a recent event in Colombo, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer an opportunity for both the countries to work together, to connect, cooperate and collaborate to demonstrate their commitment to improving people’s lives and the overall wellbeing of the planet.
She was delivering the keynote speech at the annual research seminar titled “AGENDA 2030: Way Forward to Sri Lanka’s Sustainable Development” organised by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Colombo.
She said like many other countries, Sri Lanka’s development agenda too focuses on achieving the SDGs. “It is heartening to know that 83 per cent of adult males and females in Sri Lanka have bank accounts, maternal mortality rate is low and various several noteworthy measures have been taken to ensure its focus on rural development, social protection and an inclusive approach towards growth of the country.
Here are excerpts from her presentation:
“Before we set the context of the talk today, I would like to quote the Father of our Nation Mahatma Gandhi who once said: ‘One must care about the world one will not see’.Relating it to development, one must care about development for the future generation, development which is sustainable and inclusive.
AGENDA 2030
This includes a political declaration signed by 193 countries and is in essence, a set of 17 SDGs with their 169 targets which form the core of Agenda 2030.
These goals have been built upon the MDGs which covered the 15-year period (20002015). The SDGs, otherwise known as Global Goals constitute a universal agreement to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
SDGs are not only crucial to overall wellbeing of global humanity but also realistic and hence achievable as they have been developed through a series of long-drawn global consultative processes and focus on how the entire global community must work together. They are universal and galvanize people from across various sections of society to work towards these commonly defined goals. Another important facet of SDGs is that the SDGs provide a long-term approach to solving the world’s most pressing problems. This long-term approach outweighs the shortsightedness of government policies, regardless of the political context.
“Make in India, Start up India, Atal Innovation Mission” were all to promote entrepreneurship and innovation.
More than 500 Tinkering Laboratories are being set up in schools across the country. Further, the India Innovation Index Framework has been launched for tracking and identifying promising innovations in the country.
Even as it combats poverty, India remains committed to protecting the environment. India has taken vast strides on the path of clean energy and is currently running one of the world’s largest renewable capacity expansion programmes in the world.
With regards to the way forward, we can say a lot has been achieved in both India and Sri Lanka. But much more needs to be done .The pace has to be faster and the approach more inclusive so that the benefits of development trickle down to the lowest in the strata i.e. leaving no one behind.
While there are a number of challenges – data-related, financial, governance-related, technological, together, one by one, we can achieve all of them:
By improving access to financial products and digital enhancement.
By engaging and empowering all stakeholders - private sector, civil society and communities - as well as political parties and government.
By engaging international and local NGOs and mutual benefit service oriented institutions, viz: cooperatives and most importantly. By engaging youth.
Today’s generation of youth is the largest the world has ever known. One in every three persons living is under the age of 30 and around 90 per cent of young people are living in developing countries, mainly in Asia and Africa. India and Sri Lanka are no different. We represent the biggest demographic group, accounting for over 34.3 per cent of the youth population (15-24), in India and 23 per cent in Sri Lanka. Young Sri Lankans and Indians are more informed, more tech- savvy and more connected than any generation before. The SDGs are interwoven into the aspirations of the young people.
So how do we bring change and prosperity to our countries?
Any change, starts with an individual action and is shaped by our day-to-day behaviour. This includes choices about the way we live, behave, produce, consume and invest. Everyone can make a difference by slightly altering the behavior and attitudes.