PM Modi calls for reformed multilateralism with reformed United Nations at its centre

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a reformed multilateralism with a reformed United Nations at its centre. He said, the reformed multilateralism in a post-COVID-19 world should reflect the realities of the contemporary world. 

Mr Modi was delivering a virtual keynote address at this year’s High-Level Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) session last night. Prime Minister said, while celebrating 75 years of the United Nations, let us pledge to reform the global multilateral system to enhance its relevance, to improve its effectiveness to make it the basis for a new type of human-centric globalisation.

 

He said India contributed to shaping the ECOSOC agenda, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and through its domestic efforts. Mr Modi said, India is also supporting other developing countries in meeting their Sustainable Development Goals. Prime Minister said, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely tested the resilience of all nations. 

Mr Modi said, India's fight against COVID-19, the grass-roots health system is helping the country ensure one of the best recovery rates in the world. He said, in India, we have tried to make the fight against the pandemic a people's movement, by



combining the efforts of Government and society.

 

Mr Modi said in our joint fight against COVID, India has extended medical and other assistance to over 150 countries. PM Modi also outlined India's efforts towards inclusive development. As the world commemorated the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi last year, India achieved full sanitation coverage in its 6 lakh villages. He said, in five years, over 11 crore household toilets have been built which improved rural sanitation cover from 38 per cent to 100 per cent. Prime Minister said, in the last six years, the government has opened 40 crore bank accounts for the unbanked, out of which 22 crore are owned by women. 

 

Mr Modi said India's ‘Ayushmaan Bharat' scheme is the world's largest health protection programme, covering 50 crore individuals. He said that over the past few years, India has reduced 38 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. 'This was achieved by electrifying our villages, providing clean cooking fuel to 80 million poor households, and introduction of energy efficient measures,' he said. Mr Modi said India has set a target to install 450 Gigawatt of renewable energy and restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.