Karnataka Governor calls for mutli-stakeholder cooperation to achieve SDGs
'To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), multi-stakeholder cooperation is essential. These goals remain a primary focus, and we in the government have been working assiduously to achieve them at the grassroots level through programmes like Make in India, Swachh Bharat, and others in water, health, farmer support, and State initiatives. Bengaluru, known as India's Silicon Valley and a centre of science and research, is facing many challenges and stress on its resources,' said Thawaarchand Gehlot, Governor of Karnataka, speaking at the Bengaluru Sustainability Conclave organised by O.P. Jindal Global University and RV University.
He added, 'It is important that knowledge sharing, cooperation, and information exchange help mitigate the challenges of climate change. The growing carbon footprint, pollution, deforestation, and other factors have led to a climate crisis, and it is imperative that we address these issues urgently. We need to inform and sensitise people about them. Our campaigns to save energy, water, and other resources are aimed at protecting the environment.'
O.P. Jindal Global University released its 'Sustainable Development Report 2025' at the conclave.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Hans India
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla highlights India's resilient growth at BRICS parliamentary forum
Brasilia: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday reiterated India's strong support for a fair and rule-based global trading system — one that genuinely addresses the needs and aspirations of the Global South — at 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Brasilia. Addressing the working session on 'BRICS Parliamentary Action in Search of New Paths for Economic Development', Birla appreciated the Parliament of Brazil for successfully organising the event and thanked them for their hospitality. "Today, the BRICS group has emerged as a formidable force in the global economic landscape. It represents nearly 45 per cent of the population and contributes 40 per cent to the global GDP based on the purchasing power parity. Despite global challenges, BRICS nations have made inspiring progress in the realm of economic development. India believes that to further strengthen this progress, we must enhance trade investment and financial cooperation," he said. "We are concerned that representation of developing countries in key international institutions, and such imbalances hinder global equity and sustainable development. Therefore, BRICS countries must collectively make concrete efforts to enhance participation in such institutions," Birla added. The Lok Sabha Speaker emphasised that Covid-19 and other global crisis have disproportionately affected the Global South, exacerbating existing challenges in health, food, and energy security. Birla stressed that without strong, coordinated global action, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will become increasingly difficult — if not impossible — for many nations. Highlighting India's economic growth Birla mentioned that despite global uncertainties and challenges, India's economic growth has been remarkable. India, he said, has consistently outperformed the global growth average as from 2014 to 2025, India's GDP has grown at an average of seven per cent, making it the fastest growing major economy in the world. "India is not only the world's largest and most vibrant democracy but also a nation with a stable government with strong institutions, based on the rule of law, and which is transparent and accountable. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has made remarkable progress across various sectors," he mentioned. Birla highlighted that India considers the BRICS Parliamentary Forum a highly important platform where, through joint efforts and dialogue, a new definition of economic development can be shaped. On the sidelines of the parliamentary forum, the Lok Sabha Speaker also engaged in a meaningful interaction with Hugo Motta, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil, conveying India's unwavering unified resolve to counter terrorism. "Held a warm and constructive bilateral meeting with Hugo Motta, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil on the sidelines of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum. Emphasising that terrorism is a global threat and all nations must unite to eliminate this scourge, underscored that the complete eradication of terrorism remains India's unwavering national resolve," Birla posted on X on Thursday. "Expressed India's gratitude to President Lula for Brazil's steadfast support in our fight against terrorism. Shared insights on how India is reshaping its parliamentary democracy through inclusive representation and cutting-edge reforms. Also highlighted our fast-paced digital transformation — Indian parliamentary processes are now largely paperless. Informed that through initiatives like Digital Sansad and the use of AI, we are preserving our democratic legacy while aligning Parliament with the needs of the 21st century," he wrote in his post. Earlier, the Lok Sabha Speaker and the visiting Indian delegation was received by Ambassador of India to Brazil Dinesh Bhatia on arrival in Brasília on Wednesday. The delegation comprises Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Surendra Singh Nagar, Lok Sabha MPs Vijay Baghel, Vivek Thakur, and Shabari Byreddy; Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh and Rajya Sabha Secretary General P.C. Mody. After its arrival, the delegation attended the inaugural ceremony of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Brasília, reaffirming the deep commitment of the nations to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation for an inclusive BRICS partnership. The 11th Brics Parliamentary Forum, scheduled from June 4- 5 in Brasilia, marked a significant step forward in consolidating inter-parliamentary cooperation between the member countries, reaffirming the commitment of the legislative branches to strengthening political dialogue, exchanging their best practices, and building a common agenda aimed at sustainable development, social justice and multilateral governance. The BRICS members include 11 nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia. Earlier this year, Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan were inducted as partner countries of the BRICS.
Mint
9 hours ago
- Mint
Health insurance vs medical corpus: What should senior citizens prioritize?
Mumbai-based Sarita Aggarwal, 62, has had an ₹8 lakh health insurance policy from a national insurer for nearly two decades. But in recent years, the annual premium has shot up—from ₹25,000 in 2022 to ₹35,000 in 2023, and then ₹52,500 in 2024. She's bracing for yet another hike in 2025. She has been considering discontinuing the policy and building a medical emergency fund instead. 'Even as I am paying such a huge premium, I had to sue my insurer thrice to get my claim settled. I won twice," she said. 'Damned if you do and damned if you don't,"she says. Yet, she suspects she'll keep renewing it, simply because there seems to be no alternative. Thane-based Sameer Deshpande, 58, took a different path. After early retirement, he converted his employer-provided insurance into a private plan covering himself, his wife, and son. When the insurer hiked the premium from ₹18,000 to ₹35,000 in just a year—owing to his age slab change—he dropped himself from the policy. 'I was uncomfortable with this hike. I decided to exclude myself from the policy and renewed it only for my wife and son which cost me ₹21,000. I feel it's smarter to pay cash on demand than to shell out ever‑rising premiums for uncertain coverage," said Deshpande. Also read: Senior healthcare crisis: Why insurance must cover more than just hospital stays Insurance vs investment Rising premiums are forcing many seniors to reconsider the value of insurance versus building a medical emergency corpus. "Hospitalisation is an uncertain event - difficult to quantify the medical bill and just how many times one may get hospitalised. Insurance will surely offer better risk protection against medical corpus, but if the premium amount becomes more than 33% of the total coverage, it is wise to look for alternatives," said Kumar. Vaibhav Aggarwal, CFA, a behavioural finance professor at O.P. Jindal Global University, ran some calculations for a relative who had been hospitalized three times in the past 10 years. 'I assumed eight hospitalisations in the next 10 years, with the super top-up coverage being used a couple of times and only the base policy for the rest. The total internal rate of return for cumulative inflows and outflows came to 18%. This simulation helped me convince her to continue with the policy," said Aggarwal. There's also a chance you may end up paying more in medical costs if you opt to pay in cash. 'Insurance companies negotiate fixed packages, often reducing treatment costs by around 20%. In contrast, individuals without coverage may face inflated bills or unnecessary procedures, as there is no insurer to audit the charges. You're at the mercy of the hospital," Aggarwal cautioned. 'If you can't afford the insurance," he noted, 'you can never afford the hospitalization." Also Read: Your EPF makes you eligible for ₹7 lakh life insurance. Here's what you need to know How to make insurance affordable While rising premiums can feel unsustainable, consider the share of premiums in your overall expenses. 'As long as your annual premium is equal to or lower than your two months of expenses, it should be fine. It should not exceed 15-20% of your annual expenses, as data from OECD countries shows," said Kumar. What should you do if it reaches that level? To maintain decent coverage, you may consider pairing a low-coverage base health plan with a super top-up policy. A super top-up plan comes with a deductible, which means the policyholder will have to pay the amount up to deductible from her own pockets or from the base policy before the super top-up coverage kicks in. The deductible makes the premium of super top-up plans much lower than a regular health plan. "Keeping a base plan of ₹5-10 lakh and layering it with a super top-up significantly improves affordability. Having both from the same insurer can simplify claims, but it isn't mandatory," said a spokesperson from Ditto. If this too is unaffordable, simply maintain a super top-up without a base policy and keep the emergency fund ready to meet expenses equivalent to the deductible threshold. The premium hike in super top-up is relatively slower. Few people buy a top-up plan which works exactly like the super top-up with a difference that one can only use it for a single claim or hospitalization within the policy period. Mohan Govindrajan, a 66-year-old living in Chennai paid ₹50,000 to 54,000 annually for himself and her wife separately for their 10-lakh policy. Govindrajan noted that 10 years ago, the premium was significantly lower, around ₹10,000 to 20,000. They also have a top-up plan that covers them with ₹20 lakhs sum insured with a 10 lakh deductible. 'The premium hike in the top-up plan has been much slower than my base policy," he said. If insurers do not sell you a super top-up due to health or any other reason, there are ways to lower your premium of the existing policy. "Some insurers offer discounts if you pay premiums upfront for two to five years. This can help save money and protect against future premium hikes," said Ditto. Dropping non-essential add-ons is another option. "Riders such as critical illness, hospital cash, and OPD cover can push premiums up. If you have sufficient savings to handle smaller expenses, consider removing them and focusing purely on hospitalization cover," Ditto said. Use wellness programmes efficiently."Insurers such as Aditya Birla, Niva Bupa, and Care offer wellness programmes that reward you for meeting health goals such as discounts or reward points if you stay active or go for regular health checkups. These aren't huge savings, but they can help a little with the overall cost," said Ditto. Also Read: How corporate India is quietly becoming the health insurer for your parents Alternatively, if your children are employed, they should consider adding parents in employer-sponsored group plans as dependents. If you qualify, this can provide decent coverage at a lower cost. Last but not least, opt for government schemes. If you are over 70, you can enrol in the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which will make you eligible for ₹5 lakh insurance cover. While dropping the insurance policy to invest the premium equivalent in an investment product seems viable, one should look for other alternatives to keep the policy running without burning a hole in the pocket.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Time of India
It's still the fields as toilets in Nandurbar's tribal communities remain on paper
Nandurbar: Ranjana Sonawane, the first Aadhaar card holder, has got her Ladki Bahin dues that were held up over a mix-up in the bank last week, but she still has to battle the ordeal of not having a toilet facility and is forced to resort to open defecation. Other women from Tembhli in Nandurbar district still trek to the open fields before dawn for their ablutions. Bricks lined up for an unconstructed toilet block stand as a silent testament to unfulfilled government promises. "In the monsoon, it gets very difficult," Ranjana said with resignation in her voice. She points to a wall with small shrubs with thorns where the women are forced to go. Community toilets are non-functional and water nowhere to be found. Despite govt's ambitious Swachh Bharat Abhiyan which promised toilets for all, many tribal communities across Nandurbar district remain without sanitation facilities. Under the Swachh Bharat initiative, govt provides a financial incentive of Rs 12,000 per household for toilet construction, shared between central (Rs 7,200) and state governments (Rs 4,800). But there's a catch—the money is disbursed only after construction is complete. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Hyped Tecno Pova Curve 5G Starts at 15,999 TECNO Mobile Book Now Undo This reimbursement-based model has created a paradox for the district's poorest residents. They don't have the money to start building toilets before govt funds arrive. "We do not have money to meet our ends. Govt can give us money to construct the toilets," Ranjana said. Bharati, another resident from the village, said, "We do not have enough money to meet ends. How can we spend money on constructing a toilet?" The situation worsens in tribal hamlets in Dhadgaon and Akkulkuwa talukas in the district. Tribal women there have no clue about the scheme. "We are not aware of this govt scheme. We do not have water. How can we construct toilets?" says Shekhu Pawra, her weathered face reflecting years of hardship. Pulsingh Pawra said that their village Sawra Digar has no electricity, roads or even adequate water supply. "During summers, we have to queue up at the nearest lake which too dries up," he explains, highlighting the more fundamental infrastructural issues plaguing the region. Official data shows about 2.90 lakh households in Nandurbar district have benefited from the scheme, but thousands of applications remain "under assessment." A field officer from Nandurbar, who requested anonymity, said over 11,000 households in these areas have approached them saying that they do not have funds to construct toilet blocks. "The target is high and we have not been able to bridge this gap," he added. He explained that many beneficiaries are covered under PMAY (rural) where they have to construct their houses with toilets, and the state govt grants them a subsidy of around Rs 2 lakh for constructing their houses. In the district until last month, a little more than 1 lakh beneficiaries are listed under the scheme. Ranjana says she is not a direct beneficiary under PMAY rural scheme, but her son's name is on the list. However, they have no clue how and when they can start construction of a pucca house. Local administration officials said that Tembhli village with a population of over 3,000 has 275 independent toilets. A survey is going on, and the rest will be constructed, they added. District collector Mitali Sethi said that a survey is underway to determine how many toilets are constructed and how many are still awaiting construction. "Details are being mapped and I will look into it," she added. Villages across Dhadgaon and Akkalkuwa tehsils present a peculiar mix of homes without toilets and others with half-built structures abandoned due to insufficient funds. Even where toilets have been constructed, practical problems prevent their use. "There is no water. We travel long distances to get drinking water. It is unthinkable for us to use it for toilets," a resident of Dhadgaon taluka said, highlighting the interconnected nature of infrastructural challenges. BOX Promised Infrastructure A Long Way Off Throughout Nandurbar district, many completed toilet blocks stand repurposed as storerooms for firewood, fodder, or cooking utensils—a practical adaptation to an impractical solution. In January, under Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Phase 2, the central government declared 95% of India's villages as ODF Plus (Open Defecation Free Plus), claiming a 460% surge from December 2022 to December 2024. For Maharashtra, official figures show about 60% of villages (24,746 of 40,247) have been verified as ODF Plus models, with another 6,305 categorized as "aspiring villages." Yet the ground reality in Nandurbar's remote hamlets tells a different story—one where the lack of upfront funding, water scarcity, and practical challenges continue to keep Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2014 sanitation promise out of reach for the most vulnerable communities, leaving women to continue their daily trek to the fields in search of privacy and dignity
