Odisha Govt Deliberates To Achieve Sustainable Development Goals

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government on Tuesday deliberated on the mapping of various goals, targets and resources for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A high-level meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi here on Tuesday wherein Development Commissioner R. Balakrishnan along with secretaries of various departments participated in deliberation.

Chief Secretary directed the Planning & Co-ordination Department to circulate a specific format including the suggestions received from the meeting. The departments were asked to submit the required information against each goal and targets.  Chief Secretary Padhi further directed to set the targets with measurable indicators indicating the present status. Development Commissioner Balakrishnan advised mapping the existing schemes and programmes as per the goals.

Discussions were held along the lines suggested by NITI Ayog. In general 17 SDGs and 169 targets were suggested and deliberated. These included the issues relating to poverty reduction, food, health, education, women development, water availability, energy for all, inclusive economic  growth, resilient infrastructure,  reduction of inequality,  development of human habitations and actions to deal with climate change.

The conservation & sustainable use of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, developing the accountable institutional framework for faster implementation of SDGs also figured in the meeting.

Sources said NITI Ayog had proposed to hold one interactive session with Chief Secretaries of various  States and Union  Territories on  SDGs. The session was likely to be held during the month of May.