United Nations: India as a democracy is conscious of the need to prioritise institution building, in particular, governance structures to strengthen institutional capacity and rule of law and these need to be building blocks on which peace-building should rest, a top diplomat has told the UN General Assembly.
India has always been known for its unflinching commitment to peace-keeping, Counsellor in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Pratik Mathur said on Thursday.
“We are convinced that nation-building activities will be strengthened even more if the road ahead includes strong support for peacebuilding as well,” Mathur said.
Addressing the UN General Assembly debate on peacebuilding and sustaining peace, Mathur said “as a democracy, we are conscious of the need to prioritize institution building, in particular, governance structures to strengthen institutional capacity and the rule of law, taking into account the views of the host government. Consequently, these need to be the building blocks on which peace-building should rest.”
Mathur highlighted that India, through its extensive development partnership with developing countries, particularly in Africa and Asia, has always played a constructive and significant role in the context of peacebuilding.
“In our neighbourhood, for instance in Afghanistan, India is also contributing to peace-building efforts,” he said, adding that India’s development partnership, including more than 550 Community Development Projects covering all 34 provinces of the country, is aimed at strengthening Afghanistan.
Mathur also pointed out that the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, which was established in 2017, has developed a portfolio of 64 development projects in partnership with 48 developing countries, including 17 countries in Africa, focusing on South-led, demand-driven development and transformational projects.
“Through these funds, it has been our endeavour to focus on, inter alia, climate resilience, environmental sustainability, gender equality, renewable energy, improving maternal health, water and sanitation, education, employment and livelihoods, disaster recovery and risk management, agricultural development and infrastructure,” he said.
Mathur told the General Assembly that India has and continues to assist countries bilaterally in post-conflict situations by providing substantial grants and soft loans.
Citing the example of training for countries emerging out of conflict situations in Africa, he said India’s focused training in areas of electoral administration and good governance has been deeply valued by these countries.
India voiced appreciation that as part of its 2020-24 strategy, the Peacebuilding Fund has put forth a comprehensive scenario, covering a horizon of five years.
Mathur however noted that in the middle of the pandemic, as funds are increasingly being programmed away to humanitarian assistance other than peace-building activities, it is necessary to reaffirm commitment and efforts to realise Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development Goals, so as to not falter in the context of COVID-19. —PTI

Press Trust of India