New Delhi: Union home minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday that the rule of law, peace and harmony are essential for sustainable development.
“The right to a clean and healthy environment, as has been held by the Supreme Court, is not only a fundamental right but has been inculcated and understood to be one of the basic human rights. The judiciary and the executive play a major role in ensuring rule of law and sustainable development. In fact, rule of law and sustainable development are inseparable,” said Singh while delivering the valedictory address at a three-day international conference on ‘Rule of Law for Supporting 2030 Development Agenda’.
In September 2015, the United Nations adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like eradication of poverty, ensuring gender equality, affordable and clean energy and others to be achieved by year 2030. More than 190 nations pledged their support and expressed their commitment for attainment of these goals.
“The SDGs target of doubling the agricultural productivity and incomes of farmers specially the small scale producers by 2030 is challenging. Nevertheless, the Government of India has committed itself to double the income of all the farmers by 2022, much ahead of the timeframe set by the SDGs,” Singh said.
“In a world where prosperity and material wealth is held by a small minority, the SDGs should be more focused on reducing the gap between the haves and have-nots,” he added.
The home minister emphasised that the global community has noted the need to reduce violence in all forms and promote the rule of law at both the national and international level.
