The Research and Information System (RIS) for Developing Counties of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi and the North East Training, Research and Advocacy (NETRA) Foundation, Guwahati in collaboration with the Rajeev Gandhi University (RGU), Arunachal Pradesh as knowledge partner organised its 7th Webinar on the “Issues and Challenges of Localising Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Perspective of North East India with special reference to Arunachal Pradesh” on August 14, 2020.
The introduction to the 7th webinar and welcome address to the panellist and the participants are given by Professor Kanak Haloi, President of NETRA Foundation. While introducing the webinar theme, he welcomed the Chairperson of the webinar sessions Ambasadar Amar Sinha, distinguished Fellow, RIS. Also he introduces the panelists of different sessions namely; Professor Saket Kushwaha, Vice Chancellor, RGU, Arunachal Pradesh, Himanshu Gupta, IAS, Secretary, Planning Department, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Professor Kesang Degi, Department of Education, RGU, Arunachal Pradesh, Dr. Niranjan Sahoo, Associate Professor, National Institute of Rural Development, NE Regional Centre, Guwahati, Pradeep Kumar Behera, Senior Journalist, Arunachal Pradesh and Dr. Jayanta Choudhury, General Secretary, NETRA Foundation. Also he welcomes all participants for their keen interest exhibited by way of taking part in the webinar.
Professor Saket Kushwaha in his presentation on inclusive development issues in the localisation of SDGs in Arunachal Pradesh highlighted various confronting aspects of development. While speaking about the measures that are required to address the issues, he enlisted number of actions starting with the mapping of livelihoods at district level first followed by Planning and implementation of prospective resources and livelihood opportunities, livelihood strategy prioritisation for two or three income generating activities adding techno managerial and marketing support to them and to put in place a system of agro-industrial linkage towards attaining inclusive growth.
Shri Himanshu Gupta presented and discussed about the implementation status of SDGs in the state. He enlisted thoroughly tasks accomplished in the state so far. The tasks that merit highlights are vision and mission setting, hosting of CM’s dashboard on SDGs, awareness generation among the departments, local institutions and general public, finalisation of indicators framework numbering 145, conduct of comprehensive base line survey, initiatives towards improving nutritional status like kitchen garden and adoption of performance monitoring system at district level.
On gender issues related to localisation of SDGs, Professor Kesang Degi presented the scenario of women participation in the state. Women in various tribal societies although looks empowered in general, she highlighted the areas in which the state still need to work hard are polygamy system, political participation, gender participation in higher education and lack of gender sensitivity at the family level while grooming. These challenges according to her are far from removed inviting necessary initiatives to address them.
Dr. Narayan Sahoo in his presentation on local government and localisation issues of SDGs in Arunachal Pradesh outlined the system of local governments in vogue in the state along with the system that prevails in some of the states of NE India. Also he presented about the preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) which is linked to the SDGs. The involvement of local government system although has lot to do towards attainment of SDGs, the problems are far from over related to decentralisation which the state is due course is to take care effectively.
On the role of civil societies organisation in the localisation of SDGs in the state, Shri Pradeep Kumar Behera made a very brief but pin-pointed presentation. The civil societies organisation being closer to the people, he highlighted the need of involving them in awareness campaign. Also he highlighted another challenging aspect necessitating prompt and seriously intervention on the part of the state. Towards making full utilisation of the various natural resources of the state, according to him the state should effort to change it present constitutional status from fifth to sixth schedule of the constitution of India.
Ambasadar Amar Sinha in his concluding remark as session Chairperson focussed for the need of realisation of SDG agenda for the larger benefit of the humanity. The decisions of the state governments are the key considering the available ways and means, the level of development in the state and the knowledge and information systems that are available in hand. The problem like data gap, unemployment, drinking water, road connectivity and the gender inequality in health, education, employment, political participation although are of common in nature in most of the Indian state, there are leading states at the same time to emulate and to make progress. The strength that state has with the kind of local government, there are ample scope for decentralisation process for attainment of higher level of inclusive growth.
In the question & answer session, few questions came up on the part of the participants and also across the line of panellist in the areas gender participation, data gap, livelihoods, drinking water, health etc which concerned panelist aptly clarified. At the end, DR. Jayanta Choudhury, General Secretary of NETRA offers the formal vote of thanks to all panellists, participants and to RIS for making the event a successful one.
