SRJIS/BIMONTHLY/DR.

BIKRAMJIT KAUR (2861-2872)

INDIA AND THE SDGS TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE OF ALL

Bikramjit Kaur, Ph. D.

Assistant Professor GCCBA 50, Chandigarh

Abstract
Development which meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.
-Brundtland commission on World Commission on Environment and
Development
India's success in sustaining high growth and poverty alleviation will substantially contribute to achieving the
ambitious Sustainable Development Goals. The year 2015 is a landmark year for global development - the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the world is set to adopt a new set of transformative and universal
sustainable development goals (SDGs). At this juncture, when the framework for the next phase of global
development is being formulated, it becomes critical to assess the achievements of the MDGs in India.
Improving the lives of 1.4 billion Indians would make a major dent in the goal of improving the lives of all
humanity. The process of doing so will bring forth technologies and pathways to progress that can be shared
with other developing countries to enable them to also share in the increased prosperity. The paper focuses on
strategies for sustainable development which are necessary for survival of our present generation as well as for
the coming generation. An attempt is also made to study Indias progress towards achieving the Millennium
Development Goals and the challenges that India faces in achieving sustainable development goals.
Keywords: Sustainable development goals, Present and Future Generation, Millennium
Development Goals.

Scholarly Research Journal's is licensed Based on a work at www.srjis.com

Introduction
An agreement by member states to establish a process to develop a set of Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) was one of the main outcomes of the United Nations Conference
on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), popularly known as the Rio+20, convened in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012. The idea of having SDGs was introduced in the run upto
Rio+20 by the Governments of Colombia and Guatemala, and later supported by many
countries. The new sustainable development agenda seeks to ensure that the momentum
generated by the millennium development goals (MDGs) is carried forward beyond 2015
to achieve not just substantial reductions in poverty, hunger and other deprivations but finally
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end them to provide a life of dignity to all. Sustainable development ensures the well-being of
individual by integrating social development, economic development, and environmental
conservation and protection. The most frequently used definition of sustainable development
is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs. The meaning of needs is something that is
necessary for the organism to live a healthy life. It is necessary for the sustainable
development that the policies and technologies should be green so that environmental ability
meets present and future generation in equal manner. It was coined in 1987 by the United
Nations-appointed World Commission on Environment and Development, also known as the
Brundtland Commission after its chair,former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem
Brundtland.
Definition of Sustainable Development
Development which meets the needs of current generations without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
-- Brundtland

commission

on

World

Commission

on

Environment

and

Development (1987)
Last month, 193 countries gathered together at the UN Summit on the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), to adopt an ambitious new global development agenda. Along
with other world leaders, Prime Minister Modi too expressed Indias commitment to work
towards achieving these goals by 2030. Comprising 17 goals and 169 targets the SDGs
expand on the millennium development goals (MDGs) adopted in 2000 which are due to
expire this year.

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The sustainable development goals (SDGs) are a new, universal set of goals, targets and
indicators that UN member states will be expected to use to frame their agendas and political
policies over the next 15 years. The SDGs follow and expand on the millennium development
goals (MDGs), which were agreed by governments in 2001 and are due to expire at the end of
this year.
Objectives of the Study
The main objectives of the study are delineated below as:

To focuses on strategies for sustainable development which are necessary for survival
of our present generation as well as for the coming generation.

To study Indias progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

To examine the challenges that India faces in achieving sustainable development goals.

Research Methodology
The research is a descriptive study based on secondary data collected from various books,
magazines, journals, newspapers, and various websites of internet etc.
Strategies for Sustainable Development
Sustainable development, at present time is a most concern phenomena. Globally every
country including most developing country like India and China thinks very much about it
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because they realise that their future generation must be suffer to lack of resources which is
obviously most central to survive. This phenomenon comes after Second World War. The
concept of sustainable development is not related only future generation but also with the
present generation. There are three sources of finance for the SDGs: domestic in-country
resources, traditional aid, and private finance. The main source of financing for the SDGs
will be resources from developing countries themselves, through domestic revenues like taxes
which should be applied towards development outcomes. Even assuming that they will grow,
these resources will not be enough to self-finance poverty reduction for the foreseeable future
in many countries.
SDGs need to:
- Be universally applicable
- Include common but differentiated responsibilities
- Include a proper implementation framework
- Have accountability mechanisms that define and clearly specify the roles of various
stakeholders
- Encourage democratic participation and transparency
Table 1: Possible Set Of Sustainable Development Goals (Sdgs) Table
Possible
Sustainable
Development
Goals
(SDGs)
Ensuring
sustainable
energy for all

Potential Sub-Goals

Example of Linkages with Cross-Cutting

Objectives

Universal access
modern energy

Enhancing
efficiency

Protecting
environment
increasing
share
renewable energy

the
by
of

Cleaning the fossil fuel

sources of energy

to

energy

Ensuring
universal
access
potable

to

Access to reliable clean

water supply to households
including safe drinking water
Improving
water
use

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Poverty eradication: Reduces time and

income poverty
Gender equality: Reduces the time and
physical burden on women and also
creates livelihood opportunities for
women
Employment
creation:
Facilitates
promotion
of
household
level
enterprises and creates livelihood
opportunities in
renewable energy sector
Environmental health: Reduces indoor
air
pollution
and
improves
environmental health
Human
health:
Improvement
in
environmental health also promotes
human health
Resource efficiency: Promotes energy
use efficiency
Poverty eradication: Reduces time and
income poverty, and is essential for
ensuring food and energy security
Gender equality: Reduces the time and

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water
and
sanitation

Ensuring
sustainable
cities and safe
and
secure human
settlements

Fostering
disaster risk
reduction and
creating
resilience

efficiency and reduce water

loss
Water resource conservation
and management
Access to safe drinking
water
and
improved
sanitation and hygiene
Addressing contamination
and pollution of surface
water and overuse of
groundwater
Managing wastewater based
on
concept
of
reduction/omission,
treatment, reuse/ discharge

Access to shelter for all

Promotion
of
green
buildings
Improvement
of
public
transport in the more
populous cities
Encouraging green cover and
open spaces in cities
Ensuring
resource
use
efficiency (water, energy,
materials) of construction
Improvement
of
road
infrastructure in cities
Improving infrastructure of
non-motorized transport
Reducing the number of
traffic accidents resulting in
death or serious injury
Promoting environmentally
sound
waste
disposal,
treatment, and recycling

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Having in place early

warning systems
Reducing the risk of
disasters
Improving rehabilitation
and resettlement for all
disasters
Arrangements for longterm disaster recovery
Disaster
resilient
infrastructure
Adopting
and
implementing
policies
and plans that integrate
comprehensive
and
multi-sectoral measures
to strengthen resilience

physical burden on women who collect

the water from source improving their
health and education outcomes
Environmental health: Proper sanitation,
particularly solid waste and wastewater
management, prevents contamination
of the environment and natural resources
Human health: Reduces the physical
burden on women and children, who
collect the water from source; proper
sanitation reduces other health risks
Employment creation: Water and
wastewater management can create
employment opportunities for local
inhabitants
Resource efficiency: Promotes water
use efficiency and management
Poverty eradication: Reduces urban
poverty and improves quality of living
Gender equality: Reduces the time and
physical burden on women in the
household, positive social impacts on
women with access to shelter and
transport infrastructure
Environmental health: Improved public
transport and use of renewable energy
reduces environmental pollution
Human health: Improved indoor climate
in buildings has a positive impact on
human health; increased share of nonmotorized transport and public transport
reduces air pollution and improves
human health
Employment creation: Well-managed
cities can provide an economic
environment capable of generating
employment opportunities
Resource efficiency: Promotes resource
use efficiency of different kinds by
improving
public
transport
and
promoting green buildings
Poverty eradication: Reducing the risk
of getting affected by disasters reduces
the chances of falling into poverty;
disaster
risk
reduction
protects
development investments and helps
societies to accumulate wealth in spite
of hazards
Gender equality: Promotes gender parity
in educational outcomes by reducing
negative impact on education (which is
higher for girls); reduces vulnerabilities
and helps build capacities of women and
girls placed at heightened risk of
disaster
Environmental
health:
Reduces
environmental
degradation
and
improves natural resource management

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-

Protecting
and managing
the
natural
resource
base
of
economic and
social
development

Addressing
water
pollution
Promoting
water
conservation
and
management
Managing
land
use
change Managing waste
Addressing
climate
change
through
moderating greenhouse
gas emission levels
Combating
desertification
Preserving
mountain
ecosystems
Conserving biodiversity
Promoting eco-tourism,
forests, and tree cover
Responsible mining
Promoting
sustainable
procurement

Encouraging sustainable
agriculture with focus on
increasing
small
landholder productivity
and income
Access to healthy and
adequate food for all
year round
Ending
malnutrition
amongst all sections of
society
Building
enduring
adequate infrastructure
for farming societies,
including improved
irrigation, storage, and
transport facilities, etc.
Preventing loss and
wastage of food
Risk
reduction
techniques to mitigate
the impacts of floods,
droughts, etc., on yield
Universal primary and
secondary education

Ensuring food
security

production,
access,
and nutrition

Promoting
human

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Human health: Reduces hazard impacts

on human health and well-being; safer,
better prepared, and resilient healthcare
facilities improve health outcomes
Employment creation: Reduction in
losses to economic infrastructure
prevents destruction of employment
opportunities
Resource efficiency: Prevents loss of
resources that comes with destruction
Poverty eradication: The poorest
sections of society are the closest to the
natural resource base, as their livelihood
and daily activities are linked to it; any
changes, positive or negative, would
affect them the most
Gender equality: Women are more
dependent on natural resources and
better quality of natural resources
enhances the well-being of women in
many ways
Environmental
health:
Reduces
degradation and contamination of
natural resources and the natural
environment
Human health: Improved environmental
quality impacts human health positively
Employment creation: Preservation and
conservation of natural resources
generates livelihoods
Resource efficiency: Prevents loss of
resources that comes about with
degradation
Poverty eradication: Increases income
of agricultural farmers, and those related
to the agricultural sector
Gender equality: Reduces malnutrition
among women, creates improved
opportunities for women farmers, etc.
Environmental
health:
Sustainable
agriculture prevents degradation of
natural resources and environmental
resilience
Human health: Helps reduce stunting
and infant/ child mortality related to
hunger and malnutrition
Employment: Creates incentive to work
in farming
Resource efficiency: Required to
promote
sustainable
agricultural
practices and to prevent wastage of
resources

Poverty reduction: Higher education in

many respects would mean income rise

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resource
development
focus on
education
and
skill
enhancement

Ensuring quality of
education (pupil-teacher
ratio,
trained,
and
professional teachers)
Reducing drop-out rates
Increasing the average
years of education
Enhancing
vocational
and/or skill training for
the youth

Protecting the
oceans
and marine
ecosystems

Protecting the oceans

and marine ecosystems
by banning/reducing the
use of practices that may
cause
irreversible
damage to the ecosystem
Restoring the damages
caused to the ecosystems
Ensuring
sustainable
livelihoods
and
sustainability of other
economic
activities
dependent
on
the
ecosystems
Reducing/preventing
ocean acidification
Preventing
overexploitation of the
coastal areas
Reducing the pollution
and the waste disposed
in coastal areas and the
oceans
Reversing the effects of
loss of habitat in the
oceans

as well as reduction in inequality

Gender equality: Sending girls to school
reduces gender inequality and enhances
the spill over on other aspects of life
such as health and awareness
Employment: Higher education and a
better skill set creates more capable
youth; this would lead to better
opportunities for the society as a whole
and increase their employability
Environmental health: Education and
spread of awareness and knowledge
reduces misuse of environment and
natural resources
Human health: Education and awareness
promotes healthy behaviour and
improves health outcomes.

Poverty reduction: As a link to

sustaining livelihoods of the fishing
community
Gender equality: Women are highly
involved in fishing activities and this
would reduce their vulnerability
Environmental health: Helps preserve
biodiversity and a multitude of
environmental/ecosystem services
Human health: Pollution of coastal areas
increases health burdens on the
communities living close to the
coastal region

* The term completed is used because enrollment may not necessarily imply that they have
finished their education.
Source: Based on stakeholder consultations.
Indias Overall Performance on the Mdgs
The MDGs originated from the Millennium Declaration adopted by the General Assembly of
the United Nations in September 2000. The MDGs consists of eight goals, and these eight
goals address myriad development issues. The eight (8) Goals are as under:
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Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger

Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education
Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality
Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB
Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability
Goal 8: Develop Global Partnership for Development
Eighteen (18) targets were set as quantitative benchmarks for attaining the goals. The United
Nations Development Group (UNDG) in 2003 provided a framework of 53 indicators (48
basic + 5 alternatives) which are categorized according to targets, for measuring the progress
towards individual targets. A revised indicator-framework drawn up by the Inter-Agency and
Expert Group (IAEG) on MDGs came into effect in 2008. This framework had 8 Goals, 21
targets and 60 indicators. India has not endorsed this revised framework.

Source: UNDP
One of the most common critiques of the MDGs has been their limited and vague scope and
the fact that they set such low bar targets leading to defining development down. Lant
Pritchett and Charles Kenny have argued that having poverty targets set at just halving the
proportion of people with income less than $1.25 per day, or ensuring universal enrolment
etc. meant that even if targets were met, billions could still be living on less than $2 a day,
with only the most basic literacy and numeracy, lacking access to basic medical care, living
in houses without indoor sanitation, working in subsistence agriculture or hawking on the
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street to make money.

If MDGs were minimum standards, the SDGs- integrating

environment, social and economic dimensions are one the most comprehensive list of global
goals the world has ever committed to. While the number of indicators will be finalized by
March 2016, it is expected that there will be 100s if not 1000s of indicators accompanying
the goals.
Another significant critique of the MDGs was the process of developing them. As the story
goes, MDGs were drawn up by a group of men in the basement of the UN headquarters so
much so- that they almost forgot to include the 7th goal on environment sustainability. The
SDGs, on the other hand, are the consequence of 3-year long consultation programmes. From
establishing an Open Working Group, to consultative conversations across both themes and
countries, the UN even launched an online My World Survey portal asking people to vote to
ascertain issues/goals that matter most. Further, while the MDGs were seen much more as
applying to the developing world and measured progress via averages, the SDGs make the
promise of universality and leaving no one behind.
Looking at these comparisons, at least in both process and target setting, the SDGs definitely
appear to be a significant step up from the MDGs.
Challenges That India Faces In Achieving Sustainable Development Goals
The challenges of sustainable development and its consequences are clearly visible. Its only
invisible if we not want to see.
Population is a major challenge for the sustainable development. In the beginning of the
21st century the population of the Earth reached 6 billion, and is expected to level out
between 10 and 11 billion over the next 50 years. The basic challenges will be shortages of
drinking water and arable land for food production.
Poverty is another major challenge because almost 25% of the worlds population lives on
less than USD 1 per day.
Inequality continues to be a serious obstacle to sustainable development with the number of
people suffering from undernourishment. The fall of food prices over the past 30 years may
have contributed to increases in consumption, but in many regions of the world arable
terrains are limited, and the creation of new ones has a destructive effect on the remaining
ecosystems. In the future, the growth of food production should not come at the expense of
nature. By 2010 the current step of biodiversity loss should be significantly slowed.

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The shortage of drinking water in many regions of the world is a major barrier to
sustainable development. It is expected that, at the current rate of development, every second
person will suffer from water shortage by the year 2025.
Human health is also an obstacle in sustainable development. In many cases, deaths in
developing countries are avoidable. Humanity should direct more attention and money in the
coming years to the struggle against diseases. The imminent task is to reduce the death rate
among children under five years of age by two-thirds, and the death rate of young mothers by
75% by 2015.
Consumption of energy is a major challenge for the sustainable development. Consumption
of all forms of energy is continually rising. The improvement of access to reliable,
sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources and services, as well as the creation
of national programmes for energy effectiveness, is a particularly important task for the next
10-15.
Challenges for India in Attaining Sdgs
The SDG proposals will ensure momentum generated by MDGs is carried through to 2030 to
end deprivations. SDGs include four sets of challenges for India namely (i) completing the
unfinished MDG agenda with a higher level of ambition of ending not just reducing all
deprivations; (ii) strengthening critical development drivers such as economic growth,
industrialization, employment creation and reduction of inequality within and between
countries, basic infrastructure including energy, and governance and institutions, without
which many social and environmental objectives would not be easy to reach; (iii)
strengthening the sustainability dimension to address new and emerging challenges such as
deteriorating environment, unsustainable consumption and production patterns that are
rapidly depleting natural resources, the need to effectively mitigate and adapt to climate
change, and develop livable urban areas; and (iv) accessing the means of implementation
including transfer of advanced sustainable technologies from developed countries and
harnessing Indias frugal engineering capabilities for pursuing low carbon development
pathways.
1. Defining Indicators: Past record indicates that we have been not very successful in setting
relevant indicators to measure outcomes. Quality education has not successfully been
defined. Indias myopic definition of safe drinking water (with hand pumps and tube wells
considered as safe as piped water supply) means that official data suggests 86% of Indians
have access to safe drinking water and, as a result, we are on track for the MDG goal on
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drinking water. However, the number of waterborne diseases and deaths due to diarrhoea
clearly indicate, this is not the case.
2. Financing Sdgs: A new study estimates that implementing SDGs in India by 2030 will
cost around US$14.4 billion. Given the recent cut in social sector schemes by the Union
government, unless states devote a significant portion of their resources on the social sector,
there is likely to be a significant funding gap. High growth and redistribution itself are also
not enough. According to the United Nations MDG 2014 report, despite high economic
growth, in 2010, one-third of the worlds 1.2 billion extreme poor lived in India alone. Given
these constraints, it is likely that domestic revenues aside, private finance could be a crucial
source for financing the SDGs.
3. Monitoring And Ownership: Relatedly, a third significant challenge is going to be with
respect to ownership. Reports suggest that NITI Aayog will play a significant role in tracking
progress. However, members at the Aayog have expressed reservations on being able to take
on this mammoth task. Moreover, if states are expected to play a pivotal role (giving the
devolution post 14th Finance Commission), it will require ownership not just nationally, but
also at the state and local level.
4. Measuring Progress: Lastly but most importantly is the question of measuring progress or
achievement. By the governments own admission, non-availability of data (particularly in
respect to sub-national levels), periodicity issues and incomplete coverage of administrative
data, made accurate measuring progress of even MDGs virtually impossible.
SDGs provide broad goals and targets, it will be up to the national, and state governments to
identify priorities, decide appropriate locally relevant policies, harness innovation and ensure
that an implementation and monitoring plan is in place. Only then we will have any chance in
ensuring that the S in SDGs, also stand for successful.
SConclusion
For the achievement of sustainable development in the long run, it is essential to have the
right type of goals and indicators that, in addition to being global in nature, should not ignore
the national context. There should be convergence of the SDGs and the MDGs beyond 2015.
All pillars of sustainable development should be integrated in every SDG that is framed. The
role of civil society will be very important for the success of such goals, and therefore, it is
important to mainstream them into the planning process. It is also necessary to have clear
means of implementation for the SDGs, which can be the building blocks including
financing, governance, and availability of technology.
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References
Kapoor, R. (2013). Inequality Matters, Economic and Political Weekly.vol. XLVIII, No. 02. For
evidence on impact of inequality on growth-poverty reduction rates in a cross country
context, see UNESCAP (2010) Financing An Inclusive and Green Future, Bangkok: United
Nations, ST/ESCAP/2575.
UNESCAP-SSWA (2012). Regional Cooperation for Inclusive and Sustainable Development: SSWA
Development Report 2012-13, New Delhi and New York: UN Publications and Routledge;
also see Aggarwal,A. and Kumar,N. (2012) Structural change, industrialization and poverty
reduction: The case of India, ESCAP-SSWA DP#1206.
Kumar, N. (2013). Trade, capital flows and the balance of payments: Trends, Challenges and Policy
Options for India UNESCAP-SSWA DP#1303.
www.undp.org/content/undp/en/.../post-2015-development-agenda.html
www.theguardian.com ... Sustainable development goals
www.sustainabledevelopment2015.org/
www.hindustantimes.com/.../india...sustainable-development-goals.../
www.undp.org/content/undp/en/.../post-2015-development-agenda.html
mospi.nic.in/Mospi_New/upload/mdg_26feb15.pdf
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