Towards a new developmental framework

Save the Children has put forth an ambitious plan for a post MDG world
Souzeina Mushtaq Delhi 

With a focus on ending extreme poverty in the next 20 years, Save the Children came out with new reports highlighting the new development framework. Union Minister, Salman Khurshid released the reports at a function in India International Centre, in the Capital on Friday. 

The first report entitled, Ending Poverty in Our Generation proposed specific new targets to replace the MDGs adopted by United Nations in 2000 with commitments to tackle global injustices such as extreme poverty, child mortality and lack of free education. 

“Though some developing countries have been able to achieve some targets, others are still lagging behind. We have a historic opportunity to put an end to the devastating cycle of poverty,” said Harpal Singh, Chairperson, Save the Children foundation. Quoting Nelson Mandela, Singh said that “overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice and the report commits to end poverty in 2030.” 

“Though MDGs have lifted 600 million people out of poverty and helped 56 million more children to go to school. But there were gaps in that framework that must be addressed,” he added while specifying the several lacunae in the MDGs. According to him the loopholes that must be addressed in any post MDG framework include: 

::    Inequality. Eradicating poverty and preventable child deaths require a dedication to reaching the hardest to reach. Income inequality undermines long-term economic growth and inequalities between groups of people pose a barrier to further progress in human well-being.

::    Accountability. The MDGs lacked a robust accountability mechanism. We propose a global mechanism to ensure global cooperation for global development but ultimately citizens must hold their governments to account, so there must also be national accountability mechanisms in place.

::    Quality/ensuring access does not compromise outcomes. While the current MDGs have rapidly improved school enrolments, in many schools those students are not learning.

::    Systems strengthening. The framework should promote strong service delivery systems that deliver for those populations that need them most. The current MDGs prioritise particular diseases for example and have diverted resources away from bigger health problems in some countries. 

The second report entitled Reducing Inequality- India Case Study revealed the impact of inequality on long-term economic growth and progress in India. 

As per the report, inequalities in India are observed in terms of income, health, education and other dimensions of human development as well as between the states, and different social groups. And to overcome these issues is the biggest challenge. Highlighting the importance of the recommendations in the report, Khurshid said the “report is of immense use.” 

“It is a significant movement forward where India’s success story can be transmitted worldwide,” he said, adding, “It is the access and quality in education that changes the world.” He also said that problems of the world are intrinsically linked. “India is suffering because the world is suffering.” Khurshid also pressed for protecting juvenile rights in the country.