The first phase of Two Weeks Research Capacity Building Programme on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was conducted under the flagship of Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) and North East Training, Research and Advocacy Foundation (NETRA) for young north eastern research scholar during 14-18 march, 2022 at RIS, New Delhi. Total 15 research scholars join the programme from eight different north eastern states.
Dr. Rajesh Tandon, Chairman of FIDC and President of PRIA in his inaugural speech discussed about the Localization of SDGs: Perspectives from North Eastern States of India. He emphasized that vision of SDG can be fulfilled when one can connect with the indigenous people and work with them to amalgamate the indigenous knowledge and the modern technique by keeping originality and nature safe to become compatible to each other. He urged the participants to contribute their research work to the people or to the community they belong.
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Professor Milindo Chakraborty, Visiting Fellow, RIS commenced the programme by a short addressing speech on Sustainable Development Goals and by pronouncing the significance of two Weeks Research Capacity Building Programme on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He also mentioned the importance of collaboration of RIS and NETRA and how they will work hand in hand to bring or to achieve all the 17 SDGs in north eastern states of India. In his presentation, Prof. Chakraboty also raised the issues of localizing SDGs in North East India.
Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs also interacted with the participants. He listened the queries and suggestions provided by the participants to attain SDGs in north east India. While addressing he pointed out that SDGs should be achieved by integrating the local knowledge and practices with modern knowledge without harming the originality of the region. Prof. S. K Mohanty, Senior Professor, RIS and Dr. Sumit Seth, Joint Secretary, Policy Planning and Research, Ministry of External Affairs also joined during the interaction.
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While interacting, Dr. Rajeev Kumar, Vice-Chairman of NITI AAYOG urges all the participants to go to the ground level and find out the real facts and data about the north east region of the country. He also asked to connect with the local people and try to understand the need of the local people which will help different policymakers to frame suitable policies for the local people.
Professor Sachin Chaturvedi, Director General, RIS discussed the India’s Development Cooperation: A Cross Border Spectrum by in relation to 17 SDGs. He pointed that a researcher need to find basic problems that are existed in their region and try to find out the best possible alternatives which suited them. He stressed on, to explore the ways to remove the problems associated with the local community and most importantly one need to find why the problems are there.
Among the speakers, Mr. Shubhamay Bhahattacharaya, Fellow RIS, discussed on Energy Security (SDG-7) and essentiality to understand the risk and benefit factor of the energy transition from conventional to renewable energy source. He further pointed out the need for identification of the alternatives specific to North eastern region.
Dr. Priyadarshi Dash, Associate Professor, RIS enlighten the participants about different aspects of the Financing SDGs. The importance of effectively mobilizing domestic and foreign resources was further stressed upon by him.
By addressing the issues in sustainable health for all (SDG-3), Prof. T.C. James, RIS and President of NIPOvery well explained about the terms health, health for all and sustainable healthcare. In his presentation, he emphasized that the political commitment, community participation and support of health related sectors are the requisites of sustainable health for all.
Dr. Purva, Sr. Researcher, NIUA, in her delivery pointed out that it is not simple to align all the goals and objectives to the global framework therefore we need to get down at the city level (SDG-11) and develop these indicators and understand what are those indicators.
Professor Amitabh Kundu, RIS brought out how SDG11 questions the present structure of urbanization, as in the present settlement hierarchy everything is concentrated in big cities, which is one major issue discussed in the framework. He emphasized on the need to have an urban migration strategy and settlement strategy that we have to have a settlement structure that can integrate the whole region.
Expatiating on Gender Equality, SDG5, Dr. Beena Pandey, RIS asserted that the women empowerment is the precondition to achieve the targets of several other SDGs like poverty eradication, inequality, access to good health and education for all, decent work and economic growth among others.
Dr. Kaustuv Bandyopadhyay, Director of PRIA highlighted the roles played by a Civil Society organization in a community or a nation. The CSOs help reach the services meant for the marginalized and underprivileged. He underlined the reason for having partnerships and the factors contributing to a successful partnership, including having relatively equivalent power organizations, clearly defined organizational structure, and capacity enhancement of all the partners to work with each other.
Dr. Jayanta Choudhury, Asst. Professor, Tripura University, Founder of NETRA, discussed how to localize SDGs in North East India. Dr. Choudhury emphasized on importance of capacity building of different stakeholders, strengthening of existing local level institutes in the North East India. He also put importance of CSOs at different levels to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
All the participants also participated in International discussion on Indigenous People and India organized by RIS. At the end of the programme, participants presented their thoughts on issues related to north East India under the mentorship of Prof. Kesang Degi, Board Member of NETRA and Professor, Department of Education, RGU, Arunachal Pradesh. The next phase of programme will be conducted in the month of April at Regional Centre, IGNTU, Manipur.
