Article | SDGs Success Stories
The Road to 2030 Some SDG success stories from India Akshit Pushkarna Editorial Assistant
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hen the Sustainable Development Goals were envisioned by United Nations G e n e r a l Assembly in September 2015, they were set to transform the world by the year 2030. The 17 goals and 169 targets, which were set after 193 countries deliberated on them, are intended to stimulate universal action on issues critical to humanity and the planet comprehensively. But, for the plans to actually show positive on ground, it is imperative for countries and, in turn, local bodies across the world to work on the SDGs at a local level. India, being one of the signatory countries of the SDGs in 2015, had embedded the concept behind them in the nation’s policy framework. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said about SDGs, “These goals reflect our evolving understanding of the social, economic and environmental linkages that define our lives.” Now, the world counts on India, one of the most populous countries of the world, to work diligently towards the achievement of these goals. In view of this, various programs, implemented either by the authorities or independently by people
42 March 2020 | www.urbanupdate.in
themselves, and policies have come up in the past five years in the country which are incorporated in such a way that betterment of the population and the environment, in line with the SDGs, is achieved. Highlighted below are a few such stories:
Eradicating Open Defecation: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Open defecation is a problem that India has been dealing with for centuries. The problem creates multiple public health hazards as it compromises the hygienic and sanitary conditions of open spaces. Diseases like diarrhea, typhoid and cholera are just a few of the diseases that are caused by it. So, with the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA), the government of India had its job cut out. The Mission was implemented back in 2014 and targeted 100 per cent Open Defecation Free (ODF) India by October 2, 2019. At the end of the stipulated 5 years, the world’s largest sanitation campaign was hailed as a success as India managed to install over 10.4 crore individual household toilets in all the 5,99,963 villages of the country. The campaign can be called a big victory in the path towards the achievement of SDG 6 for India by 2030.
Angandwadi: Promoting community well-
being in remote parts of India for 45 years
The Angandwadi project was implemented across India back in 1975 as a part of the Integrated Child Development Services. Ever since they come up, the Angandwadi centers are working on providing remote areas of the nation with equal developmental opportunities. The project appoints professional volunteers who are sent in the Angandwadi centers to live and work with people of the surrounding areas and play an important role in combating malnutrition especially for children of weaker groups, provide immunization from various diseases, ensure adequate nutrition and preschool education. The government has been heavily focusing on these centers as is evidenced by the allocation of a fund exceeding Rs 20,000 crore in the Union Budget of 2020-21. There are 6,719 operational projects with 1,241,749 operational Angandwadi centers till date.
Community action saves biodiversity of India
India, with its rich biodiversity, has always been a home for rich flora and fauna. But, with the inevitable expansion of urbanisation, many such biodiversity hotspots have been compromised in the recent past. However, many stories of community getting together in an effort to preserve such spots have also surfaced. Some such cases include Bhalu Mondhe and his ‘Nature Volunteers’ working towards the rapidly degrading quality of the once rich biodiversity Sirpur River. Mondhe said that since the 1970s,
