Q: What are Millennium Development Goals and its objectives?
A: At the UN sessions held on January 1, 2016 world leaders agreed to formulate plans to achieve development targets in each country. We call them Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) or targets. As a country, we had achieved a number of goals. At the final phase a few new proposals were also added. Our President represented the country at different meetings. Following these meetings, new proposals and discussions, they agreed to implement 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Q: What do they mean by Sustainable Development Goals? (SDGs)
A: As I stated earlier, they had introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals. As most of the people are not conversant with them we tabulate them in the most simple terms as given below.
1. Elimination of ubiquitous poverty.
2. Food shortage, promotion of food security and nutrition and developing sustainable agriculture.
3. Ensuring healthy life and improving quality of life of all ages.
4. A quality education and improving life-long educational opportunities.
5. Ensure gender equality and empowerment of women.
6. Water and sanitation and its sustainable management.
7. Generation of sustainable & new energy sources.
8. Creating productive employment opportunities for all through sustainable economic development.
9. Development of sustainable industrialisation by providing comprehensive infrastructure facilities and modernisation strategies.
10. Reducing disparities within and between countries.
11. A sustainable policy on all constructions including people and environment-friendly urban development and housing projects.
12. Sustainability of all consumption and manufacturing systems.
13. Urgent action to fight climatic upheavals and their impact on the world.
14. Conservation of sea and oceanic resources and its productive exploits for sustainable development.
15. Fighting desertification and preventing land erosion and ensuring its rehabilitation via protection of natural environment and forests and its proper management.
16. Creation of a sustainable institutional framework for promotion of peace and internet, safeguarding human rights.
17. Activating global partnerships for sustainable development and strengthening ways and means of revitalisation.
These objectives seem to be more practical. For example, earlier it was the question of reducing poverty but now it is elimination of poverty. Accordingly, there are 17 basic objectives and 169 primary objectives. Methodologies have been introduced to ascertain whether action is being pursued to give practical effect to these objectives. These could be comprehensively studied by accessing the internet.
Q: Did the President pledge to implement these systems at the UN sessions?
A: Yes, The President took a decision having considered the salutary effect of these systems on the country. Accordingly the President summoned us in January 2017 and opened discussions on his stance that these activities need be prioritised. Many experts specialising in different disciplines took part in the discussions and a Committee of Experts was also set up with Prof. Mohan Munasinghe being appointed its head. He is an expert on environmental calamities and energy production and information technology.
We held a number of sessions under his chairmanship and appointed 08 committees on agriculture and food, education, energy, health, ocean-related activities, constructions, transport and so on. In addition, 19 common themes were introduced.
My specialised fields were novel creations, technology and industries such as agriculture, fisheries and those based on knowledge. Ten other themes such as gender equality, national security and so on were created. Eighteen leading experts made draft recommendations on what should be initiated in 2020, 2015 and 2030. We prepared a final draft running into 1000 pages which will be launched on the 10th as a Sustainable Development Project.
Q: How can we have sustainable development in agriculture which is most important?
A: This is meant to improve the agricultural productivity of the rural peasantry so that their living standards could be upgraded. This is of course, a must to eliminate poverty. We would advise them on modern technology and agricultural techniques on the use of fertiliser and other chemicals with least impact on the environment. We hope to improve agricultural productivity. Another important thing is transporting agricultural produce to the market with the minimum damage. These measures will eventually help strengthen the career of the small-holder farmers.
Q: Could you elaborate on new technology and industries which you have recomended?
A: The basic concept is to introduce a new quality product or service with minimum financial inputs. To give effect to this our team made four proposals. It is the market that decides consumer preference for the new product which is, of course difficult to ascertain. In this case, to fill the gap between the consumer and the new planner of consumer products, we need to seek foreign expertise. For example, take ‘Pick Me’ new hire service. The Google map technology to trace the shortest route to a passenger’s destination was found to be too expensive.
Later, it was discovered that the GPS technology which is free of charge was feasible and they could draw their own maps using this technology. The pilot project started with 50 drivers. Then they realised they could not figure out the maps. They added markers for where the journeys must begin and end.
This results in ease of payment for the customer and clarity for the drivers. As the app developed with time, the service also grew. This shows how important it is to have experts on your team who understand the market and its needs. Of course, if ever we come across high risk instances in the context of new products and services we need to seek foreign investment to minimise such risks.
We have made proposals on viable investment procedures to attract the foreign investors.