GUWAHATI, June 8 - A daylong conclave on Sustainable Development Goals 1 (No Poverty) and 2 (No Hunger) was held at the Assam Administrative Staff College here today.
The conclave was held under the aegis of the panchayat & rural development department and the agriculture department in collaboration with Centre for Sustainable development Goals (SDGs), where representatives from many of the supporting departments like animal husbandry, fisheries, handloom & textile, sericulture, etc., participated.
The conclave was conducted for finalising the department�s seven-and-three-year strategy plan in achieving the goals the department is associated with.
Dr RM Dubey, head of Centre for SDGs, Assam delivered the welcome address.
In his keynote address, Dr Shiladitya Chatterjee, Adviser, Centre for SDGs, Assam, stressed the need for inclusive growth for achieving the targeted goals. He said inclusive growth is possible through promotion of rural and agricultural growth, productive employment in secondary and territory sectors and development of poor regions.
Addressing the gathering, KK Mittal, Addl Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam, Agriculture, said that though the departments were allocated one or two goals each, actually all the departments are associated with most of the goals. He urged all to take up the challenge as teamwork.
John Borgoyary, regional head, UNDP, asked all concerned to take individual responsibility and work sincerely to achieve the goals.
Dr JB Ekka, Commissioner & Secretary, Panchayat and Rural Development and Amlan Baruah, Commissioner& Secretary, Agriculture, briefed the gathering on the strategy and the obstacles for achieving the associated goals and SDGs as a whole.
After the inaugural session, a technical session for two goals was held separately for both the departments, where all the associated departments presented recommendations and the panelists elaborately made presentations on the theme.
State Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia attended the valedictory session of the conclave and interacted with all participants regarding achievement of the goals set.
It may be mentioned here that 17 goals of SDGs were universally adopted in January 2016 as a call of action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
The Government of Assam is striving to take forward the SDGs in Assam under the guidelines structured in the vision document �Assam 2030: Our Dreams Our Commitment�.
