Poverty eradication: Developed nations must give extra funds, says Indian government

NAIROBI: Terming as "stark" the wide gap in per capita incomes of developed and developing nations, India has asked the West to pledge "additional and predictable" funding to developing nations for eradication of poverty. Speaking at the first UN Environment Assembly, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar also said that the developed countries need to "urgently" fulfill their commitment of providing a certain percentage of gross national income (GNI) as official development assistance (ODA) for developing countries.

"Sustained and inclusive economic growth is a key enabler for achieving poverty eradication. The developing countries requiring assistance to implement poverty eradication policies and programmes have to be assured of predictable, additional and adequate international financing," he said.

"The developed countries need to not only urgently fulfill their commitment to provide 0.7 per cent of GNI as ODA for developing countries but also pledge additional and predictable funding considering the ambition levels for post- 2015 development agenda," he said.

Noting that eradication of poverty requires much more "proactive and concerted" action, the Environment minister reiterated his earlier remarks that efforts to put the global economy on a sustainable path "cannot be and must not" be on the backs of the poor.

Javadekar, who also interacted with key principals and stakeholders on the sidelines of the First United Nations Environment Assembly at Nairobi, said that India will remain committed to energy and resource efficient development. Javadekar had bilateral meetings with European Commissioner for Environment Janez Potocnik and Executive Director, UNEP Achim Steiner. Javadekar also met with BRICS Environment Ministers during an informal dialogue hosted by the Chinese Environment Minister Zhou Shengxian.

The minister emphasised that the developing countries ought to be assisted in technology needs assessment, adaptation, rollout and human and institutional capacity building in order to meet the vast requirements of sustainable development.