General Assembly General Assembly

76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

Second Committee

 

Joint consideration of Agenda Items 17 & 22:

ICTs for Sustainable Development and

Globalisation and Interdependence

 

INDIA STATEMENT

by

Ms. Sneha Dubey, First Secretary

 

5 October 2021

 

Thank you Madam Vice-Chair, we congratulate you and the members of the Bureau on assumption of charge of the Second Committee. India aligns itself with the statements delivered by Guinea on behalf of the Group of 77.

 

ICTs and Sustainable Development

 

2.      For almost two years now, the world has continued to battle with the global pandemic, leading to this new normal – where we have made efforts to adopt to this situation. Our shared experience of combating this crisis so far has shown that we are stronger when we work together. But a lot still remains to be done.

 

3.The  Secretary

General’s  latest  report under  this  agenda  item reaffirms that science, technology and innovation for sustainable development have been critical in addressing Covid response and recovery.

 

4.  During the pandemic, India undertook unparalleled social protection initiatives that were pro-poor and broad-based in outreach. Digital technology and the energies of the internet have been a force multiplier in this endeavour. A programme to supply free food to 800 million people and cash transfers to 400 million was streamlined by digitally-enabled technology, along with delivery of clean cooking-fuel to 80 million households. Financial inclusion has been accelerated and digital transactions have been stepped up, bringing over 200 million Indian women into the mainstream financial system and thereby ushering in economic empowerment.

 

5.   Our indigenous IT platform, Arogya-Setu facilitated effective Covid- contact tracing. India’s Co-WIN App - an open platform for managing vaccination - continues to facilitate vaccines to millions. ICT  tools  have been  deployed in an effective manner for  improving  access to quality   education   and   healthcare  services.

 

6.   India has thus created a strong, transparent and vibrant digital system which is inclusive and empowering, offering much needed solutions for tackling poverty, promoting economic growth and improving productivity during Covid times.

 

7.  However, we cannot deny that technologies are also creating unprecedented challenges that include invasion of privacy, promotion of misinformation and disinformation, infiltration of critical infrastructure through cyber-attacks, threat to human rights and accentuating the digital divide. Access to technology is not always uniform and this has led to widening disparities between the developed countries and the Global South. Keeping with the central premise of the Sustainable Development Goals of "leaving no one behind”, we believe it is imperative that the ongoing digital revolution  is inclusive.

 

Madam Vice Chair,

 

8.  Strengthened technological cooperation between member states through transfer of technology and capacity building is critical in achieving SDGs. India has been sharing its experience and expertise with development partners, especially under the framework of South-South cooperation. Prime Minister Modi has already offered Co-WIN platform for the global good. India has further strengthened its flagship developmental assistance program, Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation, to provide online training to healthcare personnel of several countries. We look forward to continue working with our partners in this field.

 

Globalisation and Interdependence

 

Madam Chair,

 

9.  The Covid-19 pandemic has deepened economic insecurity and inequalities. It has been devastating for countries that possess fewer capacities to respond; thus damaging prospects for achieving sustainable development targets.

 

10. Globalization and interdependence have been given a greater urgency in the new context. Global challenges like terrorism and climate change that are putting the current global governance structures to test, can also be more effectively addressed if we cooperate actively and purposefully.

 

11.  A reinvigorated and reformed multilateralism is required to better reflect the realities of today.

 

12.   The pandemic has made a convincing case for working together, in public health and R&D, but equally so, for secure supply chains. Many of us accept now that the establishment of resilient and reliable supply chains is essential to strengthen world economy for the benefit of all. There is a need to create greater global capacities so that pandemic-scale challenges are more effectively met.

 

Madam Chair,

 

13. As India has moved to deal with the pandemic itself, it has also strived to extend support to other countries. Whether  it  is  our  medical  assistance  and  humanitarian  relief  to over 150 nations, or sharing our vaccine production and   delivery capacities with  the  world, we remain  convinced that only a  collaborative approach can succeed in tackling such complex global threats.

 

14. Our initiatives  such  as  International  Solar  Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure  and the establishment of India-UN Development Partnership Fund are manifestations of our faith in collective action.

 

15. India continues  to  play  its  part  in  contributing  to  global  efforts  to meet sustainable development challenges, in keeping with the timeless Indian wisdom of seeing the world as one family.

 

I thank you.