Civil society report on SDGs released
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 05 2017: Civil Society report on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) organised by Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and UN (CSCHR) with the support of Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (WNTA) was released today at Manipur Press Club ahead of a high level UN forum on SDGs to be held from July 10 to 20 .

The release function was attended amongst others by Director, Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, Prof (Dr) Elangbam Bijoykumar Singh; Co-convener of Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and UN, Phulindro Konsam and Convenor of CSCHR in Manipur and UN Dr Debabrata Roy Laifungbam .

Prof (Dr) Elangbam Bijoykumar Singh released the report titled, ‘Leave no one behind’ while Dr Debabrata Roy Laifungbam moderated a discussion session .

Speaking at the occasion, CSCHR member Jiten Yumnam said CSCHR appreciates the first National Voluntary Review (NVR) submitted by the Govt of India for review at the upcoming UN forum on sustainable development .

Civil society report on SDGs released

India’s VNR has critical areas of lapses and misrepresentations concerning development realities in armed conflict situations like Manipur and across large areas of India’s NE region, he pointed out .

Ignoring a key SDG goal on the promotion of social justice and peace that prioritises the rule of law is a very serious and deliberate omission, he said while adding that India negates its commitment and obligations regarding human rights standards .

The sustainable development agenda 2030 is the culmination of a decades-long process undertaken by States together at the UN.

The agenda is based on years of bitter experience and the recognition of critical crisis that everyone on earth faces now, he said .

He further highlighted that ever since India’s endorsement of the adoption of the SDGs, the development policies and processes introduced and pursued in Manipur have never changed which will only lead to unsustainable development.

The formulation of the NE Hydrocarbon vision 2030, the Manipur Hydro-Power Policy 2012 will only lead to expropriation of land and natural resources of Manipur by building dams all over the rivers of Manipur and mining and drilling for irreparable fossil fuel (oil and gas) from Manipur .

Although India claims to achieve strides in ending poverty, ensuring food security and sustainable agriculture, the increased acquisition and conversion of agriculture land and destruction of forest and wetlands of Manipur for development and infrastructure projects has only deepened the impoverishment and agrarian crisis in Manipur, Jiten said .

India’s development agenda of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ is a deliberated deceit as the persisting reality is of a continued lack of accountability of corporate bodies and their non-adherence to human rights, such as lack of accountability of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) for submerging more than 50,000 hectares of agriculture land in Manipur and the violations by Jubilant Energy which commenced oil exploration works without recognising the rights and consent of indigenous people of Manipur, he pointed out .

Also, India’s claim of sustainable industrialisation and resilient infrastructure for sustainable development has little relevance in Manipur as the push for mega infrastructure projects like the Trans-Asian Highway in Tamenglong district is marred with widespread social impacts, destruction of forest and agriculture land and annihilation of livelihood and survival sources of communities .

Govt of India needs to adopt a participatory and environment friendly development processes in the integration and implementation of SDGs in India respectful of human rights and the people’s rights to a self-determined destiny, he added.