Informal Meeting Of The President Of The General Assembly And

Members Of The Alliance For Poverty Eradication

INDIA STATEMENT

By Ambassador Nagaraj Naidu, Deputy Permanent Representative

23 June 2020

Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

We thank you Mr. President for this timely initiative. Poverty is an issue that you had reflected in your vision statement. Somehow it appears that you had a premonition of COVID19 pandemic. 

We are happy to join the Alliance for Poverty Eradication as a founding member. 

Mr. President,

There are people in the world so hungry that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.

Global inequality is deeply entrenched. It’s shocking to note that just a little over 2000 billionaires have more wealth than 60% of the planet’s wealth.

Poverty is multi-dimensional in the forms it takes and its underlying causes. COVID19 has added a new dimension to poverty.

Poverty is like punishment for a crime that one did not commit. 

Ending poverty is not just about monetary compensation but guaranteeing access of the poor to quality education, healthcare, clean water, sanitation, decent housing and social security.

Mr. President, 

The alliance for poverty eradication should contribute to the policy discourse that seeks to analyze poverty from the perspective of multiple deprivations. 

For instance, people experience poverty differently even within the same household. While data is limited, there is evidence that women and children are disproportionately affected by poverty. Hence, gender mainstreaming is vital for policy design and implementation.

The alliance among others should call for inclusion and empowerment of those left behind as a priority, targeting those furthest behind.

The alliance should brainstorm about sectors where jobs could be generated in the age of digitization and automatization. 

The alliance should distribute successful case studies from member states that have successfully integrated economic, social and environmental policies that have helped in poverty alleviation. 

The alliance should also use the United Nations development system to enable it to bring together its special expertise and policy portfolios to focus on integrated system-wide action for poverty eradication. 

Mr. President, 

In India we are implementing a comprehensive development strategy based on a digital foundation to end poverty in all its forms, through accelerated economic growth and broader social safety nets. According to UNDP between 2006-2016 over 271 million people in India moved out of poverty, recording the fastest reductions in the multidimensional poverty index values during the period. 

Mr. President, 

Let’s join hands to make this alliance a leading voice for poverty eradication. 

Let’s work to bring dignity to life.  

I thank you.