In view of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s mantra of “One Earth, One Family, One Future” a two-day special Think-20 event of the G-20 held in Bhopal on “LiFE, Values and Global Good Governance” concluded.
Presiding over the closing ceremony, former Ambassador and Chairman Research Advisory Council of RIS (India) S.T. Devre said that the special Think-20 event before the G-20 summit has got off to a great start in Bhopal. Chief Secretary Madhya Pradesh Government Iqbal Singh Bains said that success is when one attains happiness. The word success needs to be redesigned in the dictionary.
Director General, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) and Vice Chairman Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi presented the conference report. Maartin Van den Bergh, Ambassador of the Netherlands, Head of the Development Corporation in India and Uwe Gehlen, Minister, German Embassy, Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow, Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Bangladesh, Chairman, Think-20 India Task Force 6 and Visiting Fellow RIS, New Delhi G.A. Tadas and Sandeep Chakraborty, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of External Affairs also addressed the gathering.
Former Ambassador Shri Devare said that the Think-20 event held in Bhopal was educational and inspiring. Eminent economists, policy makers and thinkers from G-20 countries took part in the programme. He said that we should emphasize on human-centric aspects for the well-being of all. Think-20 discussed the value of life and betterment of good governance. Innovations, suggestions and useful recommendations have been made. Ayurveda and Yoga for health exist in India for centuries with a culture that enriches life values.
Chief Secretary Shri Bains said that the intellectuals present here have been holding discussion for the welfare of all since two days. The recommendations of this event will definitely prove important for G-20. He said that Bhopal is a very suitable place for G-20 to start Think-20. The Ramsar Lake site here, the greenery all around and the presence of the National Park in the heart of Bhopal, the heartland of the country, are proof enough. He said that Madhya Pradesh is happy that we got the privilege of being the host.
Vice Chairman AIGGPA and Madhya Pradesh State Policy Commission Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi told while presenting the conference report that 80 scholars shared their research in the two-day event. The report will be known as Bhopal Declaration. It talks about inclusive development model. In this, emphasis has been laid on sustainable development, social, financial, health, child development, women-led development, climate change, tripartite cooperation with ‘One Earth-One Family’. The future of the children was discussed with concern. Returning to life values was considered to ensure good health of all. Lifestyle should be linked with the environment. It has been recommended that there is a need for change in the institutions present at the global level for coordinated cooperation for all. The report clearly states that South Asia and South African countries have to be interconnected for global prosperity.
Netherlands Ambassador Maartin Van den Bergh said that the Think-20 event has given us an opportunity to deliver better ideas to the G-20. This event has been very important for the G-20. It is our joint responsibility to live with the system and work to change the system. We must work to empower our voice. We have to move forward towards One Dream, One Dimension, One Future, One Family and One Earth.
Minister of the German Embassy in India Shri Uwe Gehlen said that public money should be put to better use. We have to see that the flow of finance is in the right direction. The participation and inclusiveness of the society, the power of the people should never be forgotten. Poverty and hunger still exist in the world.
Dr. Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow of the Center for Policy Dialogue, Bangladesh, said that it is necessary to prepare a framework to find solutions to problems at the global level. Praising the G-20, he said that there is no alternative to it. He said that we should not leave anyone behind in achieving the goals of sustainable development. We must take everyone along.
Dr. Sabyasachi Saha said that this event would not have been possible without the cooperation and support of Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan. He expressed his gratitude to Minister of Public Works Department of Madhya Pradesh Gopal Bhargava, Chief Co-ordinator G-20 Government of India Harshvardhan Shringla, Principal Secretary Tourism and Culture of Madhya Pradesh Sheo Shekhar Shukla, CEO AIGGPA Shri Prateek Hajela, Secretary Planning and Policy Commission Shri Swatantra Kumar Singh besides all the visitors and guests present.
