India highlights rights-based, people-centric development at UN forum
64th Session of the UN Commission for Social Development
United Nations. India on February 4, highlighted its rights-based, inclusive and people-centric development approach at the 64th session of the UN Commission for Social Development being held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Addressing the Ministerial Forum on the theme “Leveraging the outcomes of the Second World Summit for Social Development from Copenhagen to Doha: Mobilizing National Action towards 2030 and beyond”, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur said social justice remains central to India’s national vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
The Minister recalled that the Copenhagen Declaration placed people at the core of development, while the Doha Political Declaration reaffirmed this commitment amid emerging global challenges. She said India’s governance philosophy of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” reflects a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach aimed at ensuring dignity, equity and opportunity for all citizens.
Highlighting India’s social protection and inclusion measures, she said over 800 million people are covered under food security programmes, while more than 550 million citizens have access to free healthcare through an extensive network of health and wellness centres. Affordable medicines and medical devices are being provided through over 16,000 Jan Arogya Kendras, she added.
The Minister noted that more than 1.45 million elected women representatives are serving in local bodies, reflecting India’s commitment to grassroots democracy. She also referred to initiatives such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, which aim to strengthen education and financial security for girls.
Labour reforms promoting equal pay, workplace safety and women’s participation in the workforce were also highlighted. She said large-scale collateral-free loans have enabled millions of women, entrepreneurs and street vendors to enter the formal economy, while targeted schemes such as SMILE are supporting the rehabilitation and inclusion of transgender persons and other vulnerable groups.
Thakur said India’s development journey integrates digital public infrastructure, direct benefit transfers and citizen participation to ensure transparency and last-mile delivery of welfare benefits.
Reaffirming India’s civilisational ethos of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” — the world is one family — the Minister expressed India’s readiness to strengthen global partnerships and share its development experience to advance social justice globally.
The session saw participation from a majority of UN member states.
Following the meeting, the Minister also held a courtesy meeting with Camilla Waltersson Grónvall, Minister for Social Services of Sweden.
