UNEP and ILO, under PAGE India, held a consultation, on 8 December, with the Ministry of Rural Development to establish a policy approach document including a time-bound strategy for integrating principles of environmental sustainability and inclusive green economy in rural development planning. The project is aligned with the vision of the Ministry of Rural Development of India that aims to strengthen local level planning to ensure an inclusive, integrated, and sustainable rural development.
The main objectives of the gathering were:
- to seek inputs on relevant ongoing work & best practices for green and sustainable rural development and;
- to seek suggestions on priority areas to be included in a policy approach for ‘integrating principles of environmental sustainability and inclusive green economy, in rural development planning (Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs), Village Poverty Reduction Plans (VPRPs) and e-governance systems (e- gram Swarajya).
The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Rural Development, UN agencies, Bilateral organizations, workers associations, think tanks and technical expert, including the UN Resident Coordinator in India Mr. Shimbi Sharp, who addressed the gathering with his special remarks.
Mr. Shimbi Sharp evoked the impact of triple planetary crisis especially on vulnerable rural communities and stressed on the need for efficient use of resources to ensure green & circular economic growth, with focus on green and just transition. He also highlighted the importance of cross sharing of best practices emerging in India and the potential role of UN mechanisms such as South-South cooperation.
The next meeting is being planned to happen in January 2023 to finalize concrete thematic areas for developing a policy approach paper for integrating principles of environmental sustainability and inclusive green economy, in local level rural development planning.
Rural Indian population accounts for almost 1/4th of the world’s rural population. The Indian economy continues to be heavily dependent on rural India. Therefore, the objective of inclusive development in India cannot be realized without the development of rural sector.
PAGE is a joint initiative of UNIDO, ILO, UNEP, UNDP and UNITAR that supports 22 countries in shaping inclusive and green economy policy and practice. India joined PAGE in 2018.
Sources: PAGE
Credit Photo: ILO