Madurai was host to a symposium on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) recently. The Initiative had to come in from a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) working in the Field of Development, though this is very much the responsibility of the Government Establishment.
In the year 2000, the World Nations including India have jointly adopted Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) – A set of time bend and quantified Targets for Social Development to be achieved by 2015. The MDGs comprised of the following goals;
1. Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
2. Achieve Universal Primary Education
3. Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
4. Reduce Child Mortality
5. Improve Maternal Health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases
7. Ensure Environmental Sustainability
8. Develop a Global Partnership for Development.
The talk of development is ironically attributed as the ‘Business of the NGOs’, since it is perceived that the Government has other serious business to take care off. One would wonder as to what the serious business amounts to? Even the Madurai Symposium had its share of abject neglect by the Government Authorities, as the Important Government officials listed to participate in this program were not present on the occasion, deputing someone else to represent them.
Social Development is a much clichéd word today in public domain, that Everyone speaks of Social Development in whatever forum that they manage to get hold off, but actual impact of the work that they have done is yet to see the light of the day, except for few committed and Dedicated Individuals and NGOs.
As a Social Work Professional engaged in the Field of Developmental Administration, I should be honest to say that I am anxious to see the concept of ‘Social Development’ become a ‘People’s Movement’, so that it could percolate right down to the bottom ends of the community life where the issues that are listed under the MDGs come in play at various levels. The message that this is something all people should be involved in, particularly the Youth Population, so that the results are far more progressive, vibrant and quantifiable.
Unless this happens, we have to accept the fact that there is truth in the statement that we often hear from various quarters ‘Indians are Individually Rich’….and ‘Socially Very Poor’!
In the year 2000, the World Nations including India have jointly adopted Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) – A set of time bend and quantified Targets for Social Development to be achieved by 2015. The MDGs comprised of the following goals;
1. Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
2. Achieve Universal Primary Education
3. Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
4. Reduce Child Mortality
5. Improve Maternal Health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases
7. Ensure Environmental Sustainability
8. Develop a Global Partnership for Development.
The talk of development is ironically attributed as the ‘Business of the NGOs’, since it is perceived that the Government has other serious business to take care off. One would wonder as to what the serious business amounts to? Even the Madurai Symposium had its share of abject neglect by the Government Authorities, as the Important Government officials listed to participate in this program were not present on the occasion, deputing someone else to represent them.
Social Development is a much clichéd word today in public domain, that Everyone speaks of Social Development in whatever forum that they manage to get hold off, but actual impact of the work that they have done is yet to see the light of the day, except for few committed and Dedicated Individuals and NGOs.
As a Social Work Professional engaged in the Field of Developmental Administration, I should be honest to say that I am anxious to see the concept of ‘Social Development’ become a ‘People’s Movement’, so that it could percolate right down to the bottom ends of the community life where the issues that are listed under the MDGs come in play at various levels. The message that this is something all people should be involved in, particularly the Youth Population, so that the results are far more progressive, vibrant and quantifiable.
Unless this happens, we have to accept the fact that there is truth in the statement that we often hear from various quarters ‘Indians are Individually Rich’….and ‘Socially Very Poor’!
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