The Role of NGOs in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in India

The Role of NGOs in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in India

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, consists of 17 global goals that aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030. India, as a UN member, has pledged to achieve these goals and has contributed to the global agenda.

India has about 17% of the world’s population and faces many challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, health, education, gender, and social justice. The country’s development is crucial for the world as well as for itself. The Government of India has taken various steps to align its policies and programs with its goals and to track and report its progress. NITI Aayog, the Government of India’s premier think tank, has been given the responsibility of coordinating the goals, mapping schemes related to the goals and their targets, and identifying lead and supporting ministries for each target.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has been leading discussions for developing national indicators for the goals. The  Sustainable Development Goal India Index, released by the NITI Aayog and the United Nations, shows that the country has a score of 58, a little beyond the halfway mark in meeting the target set for 2030.

The  Sustainable Development Goal India

However, the Government alone cannot achieve the goals without the active participation and collaboration of other stakeholders, such as civil society, private sector, academia, media, and international organizations. Among these, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play an important role of facilitator, catalyst, or partner in bringing social transformation. India has over three million NGOs that work across a range of arenas and sectors, such as health, education, environment, livelihood, human rights, gender, and governance. NGOs have the advantage of being closer to the grassroots, having a better understanding of the local context and needs, and being more flexible and innovative in their approaches. NGOs can also act as watchdogs, advocates, and intermediaries between the Government and the people, especially the marginalized and vulnerable groups.

Some of how NGOs can contribute to the achievement of the goals in India are:

• Raising awareness and mobilizing public support for the Sustainable Development goals and their relevance to the local issues and challenges.
• Providing technical expertise, data, and evidence to inform policy-making and implementation of the goals at the national, state, and local levels.
• Implementing projects and programs that directly or indirectly address the goals and their targets, and demonstrating good practices and models that can be scaled up or replicated. For example, My Abhinandan NGO is working on improving the quality of education and enhancing the skills development of youth in rural areas, which contributes to the goal of quality education and decent work.
• Building capacities and empowering communities, especially women, youth, and other disadvantaged groups, to participate in the goal process and to claim their rights and entitlements.
• Strengthening partnerships and networks among NGOs and with other stakeholders, such as the Government, private sector, academia, media, and international organizations, to leverage resources, share knowledge, and enhance coordination and collaboration for the goals.
• Monitoring and evaluating the progress and impact of the goals and holding the Government and other actors accountable for their commitments and actions.

Environment Conservation NGOs have a vital role to play in achieving the goals in India, as they have the potential to bridge the gaps, complement the efforts, and amplify the voices of the people. By working together with the Government and other stakeholders, NGOs can help build an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable India by 2030.