After discussing the G-20 agenda in the two-day meeting of Think-20 under G20 in Bhopal, more than 300 intellectuals from India and abroad released the Bhopal Declaration in Madhya Pradesh. The main appeal made by the Bhopal Declaration to all the stakeholders was to focus more on inclusive development and care for the welfare of every section of society. To give special attention to children, bridge the gap between North and South, encourage developmental models developed by women and work together to ensure the health of all.
The Bhopal Declaration also calls for investment in early childhood and adolescence. It will be a powerful driver of inclusive economic growth. As the Times of India mentions, the UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia, George Laryea-Adjei, said, “G20 vision of One Earth, One Family and One Future, should prioritise brain power or cognitive capacities of individuals and nations. The world needs to advance cognitive development, necessitating a new development model. We know with India in the lead of G20, this new model will emerge.”
To achieve the G-20 sustainable development goal, the importance of localisation has been acknowledged in the Bhopal Declaration. The triangular cooperation of private organisations, government and society is necessary to attain this goal. All the speakers in the forum praised India’s work in triangular cooperation and believed that the global scenario could be changed through it. The focus was also given to India’s contribution to the containment of COVID-19 and how India responded to the Russia-Ukraine war.
What is the main focus of the Bhopal Declaration?
- The Declaration emphasised promoting traditional medical systems such as AYUSH
- Care to be given to all sections of society, and it appealed for more inclusive development
- Value-oriented development in infrastructure was taken into focus and is encouraged by the forum
- Particular attention should be given to children and development, which women will lead
- The forum also focused on bridging the gap between North and South
- Localisation is considered important for achieving G-20 sustainable development goals
- Triangular cooperation among private organisations, society and government
Triangular cooperation is when three parties collaborate to achieve a common goal. These are typically civil society, private organisations and government. This is used to enhance the effectiveness of development cooperation by leveraging the strengths of each party. It fosters sustainable societal growth and can be used in education, health and poverty reduction sectors.
Think 20
Think 20 is an official Engagement Group of the G20, a forum developed for bringing together high-level experts and think tanks to discuss policy issues relevant to the G20. It serves as an idea bank for the G20. The recommendations made by Think 20 are synthesised into policy briefs and are presented to G20 working groups, leaders’ summits and ministerial meetings to help the G20 deliver concrete policy measures.
