Artificial Intelligence for Social Justice: Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunities for All

3 PM to 4:30 PM; 14 April 2023

ECOSOC Chamber, United Nations

Statement by Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj

Permanent Representative of India to the UN

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Excellencies,

Esteemed Panelists,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Afternoon!

I am deeply privileged to welcome you to this special event, being organized on the occasion of the 132^nd birth anniversary of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, eminent jurist, India’s first Law Minister, Father of the Constitution of India, the strongest crusader of social equality and justice. And so much more! His legacy shall live on.

2. In this, we are pleased to partner with the Foundation for Human Horizon, a prominent NGO engaged in furthering the Sustainable Development Goals. Our thanks to the Foundation!

3. Dr. Ambedkar had stressed "We are Indians, firstly and lastly", emphasizing that all Indians, regardless of their caste, religion, or social status, should be treated equally, and enjoy equal rights and opportunities. And the Government of India’s motto: “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas”, emphasises just that, a society where everyone should have equal opportunities to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstance.

Colleagues,

4. Today’s topic for discussion is very relevant, the mid-term review of the SDGs beckons - September 2023 to be precise - and at a time when we need to turbo change the SDGs to ensure the social and economic development of one and all.

5. How then can AI power social justice? How can AI overcome barriers and unleash opportunities for all?

6. Let me turn to the India story, and what the world’s largest, and one of the oldest democracies, is doing to ensure that.

7. According to the Stanford AI Index Report 2023, India has the highest level of AI skill penetration worldwide. As we all know, any AI system needs data as its fundamental building ingredient. India creates enormous volumes of data every day as a result of its more than 700 million internet users, 1.21 billion phone users, and 1.26 billion Aadhar users. It boasts the largest customer base for some of the biggest international internet service providers, it also provides the most affordable internet services in the world, and our robust IT sector ensures the availability of qualified human resources. India is thus on the verge of the AI revolution that we often speak of, and as the Indian Prime Minister has put it: “New India is where everyone has equal opportunities and rights, free from oppression, and progressing through the strength of technology.

8. So, where has our focus been?

9. Well, our commitment to using AI for social empowerment has given us the idea to use it in the sectors of agriculture, healthcare, education etc, as just some examples.

Agriculture:

10. The Indian government has created AI algorithms to forecast agricultural yields, assisting farmers in making more informed decisions about their crops and lowering the chance of losses. This has aided in enhancing farmers' financial circumstances and advancing social justice in the agricultural industry.

11. The National Agricultural Market, or e-NAM, is an online marketplace for agricultural products that was established in 2016 and employs artificial intelligence and other technologies to create a unified national market. By eliminating middlemen and maintaining fair prices, it enables farmers to sell their produce directly to consumers across the nation.

On the Medical front:

12. AI is being employed to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of ailments in India's under-served regions. For instance, in rural sections of the nation where conventional diagnostic techniques are not widely accessible, AI-powered diagnostic tools are being utilized to diagnose tuberculosis. The eSanjeevani scheme was launched in 2019 by the GOI and aims to provide healthcare services to people in rural and remote areas of India, where access to healthcare is limited.

13. The service uses a web-based platform that enables patients to consult with doctors remotely through video conferencing. The service is free of cost for patients, and is available in Hindi, English and other regional languages. As of 2021, the eSanjeevani telemedicine service has been implemented in over 30 states and union territories of India, and has provided over 1.5 million tele-consultations to patients. This supports social fairness in these communities and increases access to healthcare.

14. The Ayushman Bharat healthcare programme of India is also the world’s largest government-funded programme. Almost 100 million poor and vulnerable households in India have access to health insurance through this Government of India flagship programme. In order to pinpoint high-risk populations, enhance healthcare delivery, and save healthcare costs, the plan makes use of AI and data analytics.

Let’s look at Education:

15. The Indian Government has started a number of programs to use AI to educate the marginalized populations: The Government has, for instance, developed the Diksha portal as a project to offer digital education to pupils in public schools all across the nation. Students' learning experiences are personalized on the platform, and they have access to tools and high-quality information.

16. And what about the most marginalized? Well, the Indian Government has revamped the Eklavya Model Residential Schools to offer individualized and flexible learning opportunities, AI-powered teaching aids and digital learning materials to our tribal kids. There are 598 EMRS in India.

17. A note of caution in this.

18. As true for any technology, there is a need to take required measures and put in place adequate safeguards to ensure that AI systems are not misused or guided by biases leading to discrimination. As said, the advance of digital super intelligence should be / must be symbiotic with humanity.

19. In this vein, the NITI Aayog of India has devised a strategy titled “Towards Responsible AI for All” which aims to establish broad ethics principles for the design, development and deployment of AI in India – drawing on similar global initiatives but grounded in the Indian legal and regulatory context.

20. Ladies and Gentlemen, the jury is out! If harnessed properly, AI can generate enormous prosperity and opportunity, leading to vastly more productive and efficient economies.

21. As I close, I will say that we are indeed fortunate that we have today an impressive panel of experts to reflect upon the use of AI systems for social justice. Importantly, we have diverse representation, from government to private sector to civil society, to inform our discussions from different perspectives.
 

22. I once again thank all of you for your participation and look forward to a fascinating discussion.

Thank you!

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