Mission to make 1 lakh students aware of Sustainable Development Goals

Basheerbagh: Chairman of Gandhi Global Family and Gandhi Gnan Pratishtan organisations for Telangana and AP Dr Gunna Rajashekhar Reddy has said that they are striving to realise the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in India.

The SDGs were set by the United Nations for the countries to identify their priorities on their path to progress. He, along with organisation advisor Gona Reddy, was speaking at a press conference held here at Press Club on Tuesday.

Addressing media, Rajashekhar Reddy said the organizations would conduct awareness meetings and debate sessions with scholars and academicians on SDGs. As part of the initiative, Gandhi Gnana Mandirs and libraries will be established at every district and mandal headquarters in Telangana State, he said.

Awareness meetings on SGDs will be conducted for one-lakh NCC students from various schools and colleges in the state, as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, he said.

Also, along with the SDGs, students of high schools and colleges will be taught about 11 principles of Gandhi in the awareness sessions, he said. The 150th anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi to be held in Hyderabad is going to witness one-lakh students all dressed as Gandhi, he said.

Several prominent personalities, including the President of India, chief ministers, ministers, MLAs, MPs, government officials of various departments are expected to attend the event. Different state-level committees would be formed to conduct various programs to make the event a success, he said.

Emphasizing the need to implementing SGDs, he appealed to the central government to include SGDs in their manifesto and implement them across the nation.

He explained about each of the 17 SGDs: no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, justice and institutions and partnerships for the goals.

Rajashekhar Reddy said that the realisation of goals would not be possible only through the efforts put on by the governments, but public participation is also essential to achieve the goals by 2030.