In response to escalating global challenges, India has actively worked to tackle issues, especially those affecting vulnerable communities, noted External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar in his address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 28.
Jaishankar detailed various initiatives that demonstrate India's dedication to enhancing the lives of women, farmers, and youth. He highlighted the progress made in narrowing the gender gap across health, education, and the workplace, alongside improved financial support for food producers and a strong emphasis on youth skill development.
"Assured access to piped water, to electricity, to cooking gas and new homes are changing millions of lives. The gender gap has started to close, be it in health, in education or in the work place. Our food producers, thrice a year, get financial support at the click of a button" he remarked.
The minister also focused on the expansion of employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, revealing that over the past decade, 495 million Mudra loans have been disbursed to small businesses, with 67 percent allocated to women.
"By expanding opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship, including through stronger training and large-scale financial incentives. 495 million Mudra loans have been given to small businesses in the last decade. 67 percent of them are to women," noted the EAM.
Mudra, or the Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency, serves as a conduit for a government credit scheme aimed at supporting entrepreneurs by providing loans of up to Rs 10 lakh. The scheme is categorized into three tiers: Shishu, which offers loans up to Rs 50,000; Kishore, which encompasses loans ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh; and Tarun, which covers loans from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
According to microlenders, this suggests that a significant portion of Mudra loans is utilised for various business activities, including purchasing cattle, launching vegetable shops, operating kirana (neighbourhood) stores, and establishing flour mills, among other ventures.
"Equally telling, 6.56 million street vendors have availed 8.85 million Svanidhi loans. This is just in the last 4 years. 45 percent of the beneficiaries are again women," he also added.
The PM SVANidhi, or PM Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi, is a targeted micro-credit scheme designed to assist over 5 million urban, peri-urban, and rural street vendors who were operating on or before March 24, 2020. This initiative aims to help them revive their livelihoods that were impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown.
Jaishankar also underlined the importance of developing replicable models for effective governance and public service delivery, citing innovations like digital public infrastructure and a people’s pharmacy as examples of India’s potential contributions to global solutions.
"A digital public infrastructure and a people’s pharmacy are today examples of what India can readily offer to the world. It is also an alternative vision where technology is used to empower, not to dominate," he stated.
In addition, India has sought to unite the Global South by convening three Global South Summits, the latest held in August 2024, said the EAM. Jaishankar reiterated India's commitment to global well-being, mentioning projects across 78 nations, resource support to neighbouring countries, and responses to humanitarian crises.
"We have convened three Global South Summits, the most recent in August of 2024..........contributing to the well-being of the global commons and responding to the pressing needs of those in distress", said the EAM.
In his address at the UNGA, Jaishankar stressed the need for hope and optimism amid current challenges. He highlighted the transformative impact of digital technology, particularly in efficiently delivering public benefits and financial support. He pointed out that when services function smoothly, fewer people are left behind.
"Given the scale of transformation underway in India, each of these dimensions underlines that the world’s problems can indeed be tackled. And that by working together, we can surely create a larger lifting tide.....In these troubled times, it is necessary to provide hope and rekindle optimism. We have to demonstrate that big changes are possible, and not over a long period. Nothing is more powerful in this regard than the transformative potential of the digital, remarked Jaishankar.
He pointed out that the impact of digital solutions has been evident in India's daily life over the past decade. This progress is particularly noticeable in the efficient delivery of public benefits, such as nutritional support, housing, energy, and healthcare, all provided on a large scale.
"We have to demonstrate that big changes are possible, and not over a long period. Nothing is more powerful in this regard than the transformative potential of the digital. We have seen its impact in India over the last decade. It is visible when public benefits, from nutritional support and housing to energy and health, are delivered efficiently and on a vast scale. Or when small business loans and farmers’ support are extended without using intermediaries" he said.
Jaishankar asserted that the possibilities for leapfrogging in technology, combined with people-centric policies and visionary leadership, could bring about real change. He pointed to India's achievements, such as landing on the moon, launching its own 5G infrastructure, distributing vaccines globally, and establishing numerous Global Capability Centres, as messages of progress.
'When street vendors and expat workforce confidently use fintech....When services, delivery and benefits move seamlessly and transparently, less people will be left behind", he noted.
"Such leapfrogging possibilities, coupled with people-centric policies and visionary leadership, can be real gamechangers," stated the Union Minister.
Furthermore, he noted that the world's eyes will be closely watching India’s pursuit of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ or developed India, signaling a strong commitment to advancing the nation's growth and development.
"When India lands on the moon, rolls out its own 5G stack, dispatches vaccines worldwide, embraces fintech or houses so many Global Capability Centres, there is a message here. Our quest for a ‘Viksit Bharat’ or developed India will understandably be followed closely", stated Jaishankar.
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