Supporting Integration of SDGs into Gram Panchayat Development Plan Dr. Abdhesh Kumar Gangwar, RCE Srinagar 13th Asia-Pacific RCE Regional Meeting 5 October, 2021

1. Supporting Integration of SDGs into Gram Panchayat Development Plan
13th Asia-Pacific RCE Regional Meeting – Part 2 (virtual)
“SDGs and ESD for 2030 Framework: Local actions during COVID-19 Pandemic”
Local actions on advancing policy
Dr. Abdhesh Kumar Gangwar
Coordinator & Focal Point, RCE Srinagar
+91-9415104125
abdhesh.gangwar@gmail.com

2. We are NOT on track to achieve the SDGs…
Source: UNESCAP, Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2019, p.3

3. When India grows, the world grows.
When India reforms, the world transforms.
- Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India at UNGA
“World won’t meet its Sustainable Development Goals
with out India making progress. And India is absolutely
poised to make this progress”.
-Melinda Gates
Sustainable Development Goals
Change starts with us
17 Goals to transform our world
Pick up one of the 170 actions and act towards the global goals.
Gram Panchayats/ Urban Local Bodies are key units for achieving SDGs
“To think small is unbecoming of an Indian”
- Dhirubhai Ambani

4. Uttar Pradesh (UP)
Population, 204.2 million
about one fifth of India’s total population
828 people per sq km highest population density
Poverty, hunger, malnutrition, anaemia,
high infant mortality, gender inequality,
violence against women, female foeticide,
illiteracy, poor sanitation, health, hygiene,
all kinds of pollution including poor air quality.
Highly prone to disasters,
both natural and manmade,
suffers huge loss every year
A large proportion of India’s vulnerable population.
Eight districts are ‘aspirational districts’
About 70% population lives in rural area, engaged in agriculture and animal
husbandry which are susceptible to climate change and thus making rural
population insecure.
Srinagar

5. Uttar Pradesh (UP)
SDG Progress UP score
▪ 42 2018
▪ 55 2019
▪ 60 2020
(28 States + 8 Union Territories = 36 entities)
UP
Bihar
Jharkhand
Assam
Gram Panchayats 58,218 (Gram Pradhans)
Urban Local Bodies 915
Development Blocks 822 (Block Pramukh)
Districts 75 (Zila Pramukh)
Population 204.2 million | one fifth of India’s total population
Population density 828 people per sq km, highest; national average 464

6. Three-tier Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI)
Village (Gram), Development Block (Kshetra), District (Zila)
Gram Panchayats Election held in 4 phases
15 April
19 April
26 April
29 April
Vote counting and declaration of results
2 May
25 & 26 May Oath taking virtual
28 May CM and Governor addressed the GPs
Zila Panchayat Election (District Level)
3 July, result declared the same day
Block Pramukh Election (Block Level)
10 July, result declared the same day

7. RCE Srinagar’s ‘Outstanding Flagship Projects’
▪ 2016 “Climate Smart and Disaster Resilient Communities in
the Indian Himalayan Region”
▪ 2019 “Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction Making India
Climate Smart, Disaster Resilient and Sustainable”
▪ 2020 “Empowering Community for Combating COVID-19
Pandemic”

8. ▪ Orient elected PRI members in managing their panchayats
smartly, making their development plans participatory, inclusive,
reaching out to last mile, the marginalized people.
▪ Apprise PRI members of various schemes of Central and State
governments that they can avail of to generate resources for the
development of their panchayats.
▪ Motivate PRI members in making their panchayats self-financed,
generating their own income and reducing their dependence on
government money.
▪ Integrate SDGs and other global targets into the development
plans PRIs prepare for their constituency, involve all concerned
departments, agencies realizing convergence while
implementing their development plans making most efficient
utilization of resources.
Capacity Building PRIs: The Objectives

9. ▪ NIRDPR in collaboration with DDU SIRD trained over 150 Master
Trainers in two batches of 75 each, first batch from 16-19 March
2021 and the second batch from 22-25 March 2021.
▪ Directorate of Panchayati Raj also trained some MTs having their
own MTs resource pool.
▪ Directorate of Panchayati Raj oriented 303 MTs from 24-29 June,
1-day training done in different batches. MTs were oriented with
the functioning of PRIs, provided training materials & modules.
▪ MTs were allocated to different divisions (18 divisions). Office of
the Deputy Directors of all the 18 Divisions with support of MTs
conducted 1-day on line orientation of the Gram Pradhans in
batches of 500 each between 15-28 July 2021.
▪ Further, 1-day contact trainings held at Block level. More capacity
building events are being planned.
Capacity Building PRIs: The Methodology

10. Lesson learned:
▪ What are the main lessons the RCEs learned during the COVID-19?
Disasters, problems are the testing times, help us revisit our preparedness, SOPs, systems, capacities.
They enhance our resilience and preparedness. RCE Srinagar joined the following initiatives.
• International Alliance for COVID-19 Community Response (IACCR)
http://www.iaccr2020.net | http://www.facebook.com/IACCR/
• COVID-19 Academy (Sphere India)
http://sphereindiacovid19academy.org|www.sphereindia.org.in
▪ What is the key to realize a fundamental transformation of education from pre and post COVID-19
towards achieving the SDGs?
Integration of SDGs into GPDP
Digital divide, digital infrastructure, literacy, new normal, hybrid system
Approach:
▪ What has been an effective approach(es) to address issues caused or exacerbated by the
pandemic in each strategic priority action area of ESD for 2030?
Advancing policy, Transforming learning environments,
Building capacities of educators and trainers, Empowering and mobilizing youth,
Accelerating local level actions
Knowledge sharing and outreach among RCEs:
▪ How have regional and global network contributed to RCE activities at local level during the
pandemic?

11. Cheers
ThankYou