Local self Governments play a crucial role in realizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), however, capacity building of Local government in planning and other related issues is a major challenge. Speaking at a Webinar series, Associate Professor of NIRDPR-NERC, Assam Dr Jayanta Choudhury said this today. The Webinar series focused on ‘Localizing SDGs: Perspectives from North East India. In Webinar series, total of 10 sessions will cover all the NE states and outcome of the webinar series will be shared to all state governments, NEC, DoNER, Niti Aayog.
“Local Self Government is run by ‘local people’ concerned with ‘local issues’ on which local people can give opinions and check the activities of the Local Government”, Dr Choudhury said and added, in Tripura, Gram Sabha provides a platform for common people to express their opinions.
Highlighting the role of Local Governments in implementing SDGs, he said, it can ensure local economic development and social justices. Notably, these two are major components of SDGs. In this connection, he also referred to various flagship programmes of the State and Central Government.
Dr Choudhury analyzed the system of local Government in Tripura in details and pointed out that presently, local Governments – Urban Local bodies, Rural Local bodies and ADC – around 12 functions and so. But it is imperative that they are entrusted with the responsibility of more functioning to ensure speedy implementation of SDGs.
While stressing on Local Government’s role in attaining SDGs, he also pointed out challenges lying ahead and said, people of Local Government need to be upskilled to for planning, fund absorption and improving service delivery towards achieving SDGs.
“It is important that common people and the local Government ‘Deconstruct’ SDGs with the perspective of the local situation”, he said.
The Webinar series was organized by Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), India and North Eastern Training, Research and Advocacy Foundation, (NETRA), India. NETRA has been set up with the participation of young researchers working in Universities from across the eight North-Eastern states to carry out policy linked to research and contribute to sustainable development in the states of North-East Indian region against the backdrop of Act East Policy.
Among others, Prof Chandrika Basu Majumder of Tripura University stressed on reducing gender inequalities in different sectors of the State. She, however, said that the State had initiated steps to attain SDGs.
Visiting Fellow of RIS, Krishna Kumar, ISS, Joint Director of Planning, GoT, AK Chanda, Dr VY Darlong of M L Christian Univ Meghalaya, Executive Director VHAT Dr Sreelekha Roy also discussed various aspects of localizing the SDGs.
