PM’s Address in ECOSOC commemoration of UN's 75th Anniversary

July 17, 2020

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

This year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the UN. This is an occasion to acknowledge the UN's numerous contributions to human progress. This is also an opportunity to appreciate the role and importance of the UN in today's world and to shape a better future for it.

Your Excellencies,

India was among the 50 founding countries of the UN immediately after World War II. A lot has changed since then. Today the UN unites 193 Member States. Together with his membership, expectations from the organization grew. At the same time, multilaterality today faces many challenges.

Your Excellencies,

Since the beginning, India has actively supported the UN's work in the development of ECOSOC. The first president of ECOSOC was Indian. India also contributed to shaping the ECOSOC program including its sustainable development goals. Today, through our internal efforts, we are again playing a significant role in implementing Program 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. We also support other developing countries in achieving their sustainable development goals.

Your Excellencies,

India is home to one sixth of humanity. We are mindful of our importance and responsibility. We know that if India succeeds in achieving its development goals, it will go a long way in achieving global goals. So, we have taken a comprehensive approach by engaging our states, our local governments, our civil society, our communities and our people.

Our motto is ′′ Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas, Sabka Vishwas ′′ - which means ′′ Together, for everyone's growth, with everyone's trust ". This is resonance with the basic principle of SDG not to leave anyone behind. Whether it's access to nutrition, health education, electricity or housing - we're making great progress through our inclusive programs.

Your Excellencies,

Last year we celebrated the 150th birth anniversary of the father of our people Mahatma Gandhi, achieving full sanitary coverage in our six hundred thousand villages. In five years we have built over 110 million household toilets that have improved our sanitary coverage from 38 % to 100 %. Our massive awareness generation programs enable our women. We have achieved gender equality in primary and secondary education. Nearly 70 million women in rural India are part of the self-help groups within our livelihood mission. They transform life and livelihoods on a large scale. Over a million women have been elected representatives of our local authorities leading the development process. In the last six years we have found 400 million bank accounts for the population without a bank account, of which 220 million of them are women. We used the power of technology for financial inclusion. This is based on the triunity of unique identification number, bank account and mobile contact for all. This allowed us to make $ 150 billion direct benefits translations for over 700 million citizens Our food security programs reach 813 million citizens.

Our ′′ Home for All ′′ program will ensure that every Indian has a secure and secure roof over their head by 2022, when India will turn 75 as an independent nation. Until then, this program will build 40 million new homes - more than the total number of households in many countries. Today our Ayushman Bharat scheme is the world's largest health protection program covering 500 million people. In the fight against COVID 19, our health system helps India guarantee one of the best rates of recovery in the world. Also on our way to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025 Other developing countries can learn from the scale and success of India's development programs, as well as the technologies and innovations we have implemented. It is this realization that supports India's development partnership with the global South.

Your Excellencies,

As we move forward on the path to development, we do not forget our responsibility to our planet. Over the past few years we have achieved a reduction in carbon emissions by 38 million tonnes per year. This was achieved by electrifying our villages, providing clean fuel for cooking 80 million poor households and implementing energy efficient measures. We set a goal to install 450 gigawatts of renewable energy and restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 We have a centuries-old tradition of living in harmony with nature. We launched one of the biggest campaigns for cleanliness and declared ourselves against using disposable plastic. Internationally, our initiative to create the International Solar Alliance was a practical manifestation of our climate improvement goal.

Similarly, the Disaster Sustainability Infrastructure Coalition brings all stakeholders together for a holistic approach. We have always been proud as the first responder in our region - a friend in need. Whether it is earthquakes, cyclones or other natural or human-made crisis, India responded with speed and solidarity. In our joint fight against COVID 19, we have expanded medical and other aid to over 150 countries. We also helped create SAARC COVID emergency fund on our territory.

Your Excellencies,

The COVID-19 pandemic seriously put the sustainability of all nations to an exam. In India, we tried to turn the fight against the pandemic into a folk movement by combining the efforts of government and society. We have given the highest priority to providing goods for poor households. We have announced a package of over $ 300 billion. This will bring the economy back into operation, build modern infrastructure and implement a technology-driven system. We presented the vision for Atmanirhar Bharat, for a solo and sustainable India integrated with the global economy.

Your Excellencies,

India firmly believes that the path to achieving sustainable peace and prosperity is through multilaterality. As children of planet earth, we must join our common challenges and achieve our common goals. However, multilateralism should reflect the reality of the modern world. Only reformed multilaterality with reformed UN at its centre can respond to humanity's aspirations. Today, as we celebrate 75 years of the United Nations, let's make a promise to reform the global multilateral system. Let's increase our importance, improve its efficiency and turn it into the basis of a new type of human centric globalization. The United Nations was originally born out of the rage of World War II. Today the rage of the pandemic provides the context for its rebirth and reform. Let's not lose this chance.

Your Excellencies,

India was elected to the UN Security Council at this very important time. With our deep commitment to maintaining global harmony, improving socioeconomic justice and preserving natural balance, India will play its part in full support of the UN program.

Namaskar,

Thank you. Thank you.
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