Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed the United Nations summit on sustainable development at the UN General Assembly, calling for a world without poverty. The Prime Minister said that the need was to fight the menace of poverty globally.
The Prime Minister began his address with a reference to Mahatma Gandhi, saying, "Mahatma Gandhi had spoken about working for a future that we cannot see."
Asserting on the need to tackle poverty, PM Modi said, "Our challenge is not just how to eradicate poverty. We all want peace to endure and have sustainable progress, we cannot have that till we end poverty."
"It is our sacred responsibility to eradicate corruption globally," he said, adding that world peace, justice and development were key to sustainable progress.
"World peace, justice and development must be key...we should be concerned about things that affect our future generation," said the PM.
Addressing the UN General Assembly soon after it adopted the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, he also underlined the need for ensuring "climate justice" while pursuing these targets so as to ensure protection to the poor.
"70 years back, when the horrific second World War came to an end, this organisation came into being, raising hopes of people around the world. We have gathered here to decide a new direction," he told the gathering of world leaders.
The Prime Minister further pointed how India was already working towards the cause in a mission mode. "Very few people have pension services in India. To ensure that it reaches the poor people, we have worked towards the cause," said PM Modi.
"The Indian culture sees the world as a family...our campaigns are ambitious and aim towards contributing to the welfare of the world," he said.
Modi further said, "Women empowerment is important for us. We have made 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' a successful mission."
"I am happy that the path of progress that India has chosen is good...We have chosen to empower the poor to end poverty. We are working on financial inclusion for the poor...we have opened 180mn accounts for this purpose so that the government's aids reach them directly," said the PM.
He said that while people talk only about public and private sector, India had focused on personal sector, which caters to microfinance and start-ups.
The Prime Minister also used the opportunity to highlight the issue of climate change.
"When looking at climate change, we should also look at clean and renewable energy, for this we need to change our style of living," said PM Modi, adding, "If we worry about climate change, we should look at climate justice where the poor are also protected."
He further said that "the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities is the bedrock of our enterprise for a sustainable world".
The Prime Minister also urged the developed nations to explore the opportunity to start a global dialogue to cater to the issues, as it was the need of the future generation. "We need to start a global education programme to teach the future generation about the environment and its significance," said PM Modi.
In this context, he asked the developed nations to fulfill their responsibility of sharing technology, innovation and finances with the developing countries without having any "selfish interest".
"We should create a world where every living thing feels secure, gets opportunities and respect. We should leave for our future generations a climate in a better condition. There can be no better objective. But this is also true that nothing is more challenging than this," Modi said.
"Today, in the 70th year of the existence of the UN, there are expectations from all of us that through our wisdom, experience, generosity and expertise we will overcome these challenges," he said.
Meanwhile, in a bid to stake claim to permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council, Prime Minister Modi reiterated that the UNSC needed reform for its credibility to remain intact.
(With PTI Inputs)
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