“1.3 billion individuals are dwelling in poverty on the planet”.
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His pitch for making the UNSC broad-based comes amidst India’s strong bid for a permanent seat in the expanded five-member world body. In this context, he asked the developed nations to fulfil their responsibility of sharing technology, innovation and finances with the developing countries without having any “selfish interest”. “At a time when we need to focus instead on the imperatives of the environmental issues facing us all, these actions serve merely as a distraction and raise serious questions about your government’s commitment to democracy and to addressing environmental issues”, the letter, written by Greenpeace India’s Interim Executive Director Vinuta Gopal and Greenpeace US’s Executive Director Annie Leonard, said. “We should create a world where every living thing feels secure, gets opportunities and respect”.
“Today, in the 70th year of the existence of the United Nations, there are expectations from all of us that through our wisdom, experience, generosity and expertise we will overcome these challenges”, he said.
In his speech he while stressing that the world should be looked at as one family, prime minister said all countries need to keep development of humankind at the centre of worldwide policy.
He also proposed a global education programme to prepare future generations about the need for sustainable development. India is also working towards making agriculture more productive and helping farmers who are suffering due to natural disasters that are a result of climate change.
Modi said while India has been the largest contributor to worldwide peacekeeping operations, it along with other troop contributing countries is not consulted adequately enough before peacekeeping operations are authorised.
“There was support and appreciation expressed for the Make in India program, the Skill India program and the work related to Smart Cities, the focus on renewable energy”. For the people of India, it is a matter of satisfaction that there are many similarities between the path India has chosen for development and the United Nations goals for sustainable development, Modi said.
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Briefing reporters about the day-long interactions that Modi had with the corporate world, Indian Ambassador to the US Arun K Singh said there were some suggestions made about “additional steps that can be taken in terms of ease of doing business”. “The world must be free from poverty and development must be sustainable”, he said.
