G20 Presidency— Show Biz Or Big Leap
Several ideas have been mooted for India’s role as G20 President for 365 days. 0ne family one earth one planet and it’s healing was the leading thought echoed strongly ,along with a shift in global mindset towards this end. Another slogan is - One sun one world one grid to create energy security.
In the above context various action points like climate change financing, tackling terrorism, stable global supply chains bereft of politics use of digital systems worldwide,achievement of sustainable development goals especially in education health & literacy,ease of doing business etc, are prominently spoken about in media & officialdom.Other more difficult & intractable issues voiced are -
UN Reforms
Restructuring of world bank and
Debt relief for poorer nations
International migration & social security
And tackling corruption
India intends to take the path of show biz holding 200 odd meetings in 56 odd locations across 28 states and eight union territories to showcase India to the world.
No budget has yet been announced but evidently such theatrics are important even if they are expensive appears to be the current thinking.
From a different perspective, I present a few ideas heavy on content but short on propaganda as I believe the latter is ethereal while the former is the need of the hour.
International trade has suffered enormously due to the pandemic in last 2 years and its effects are still reverberating in many parts of the globe, accentuated by the Russia Ukraine war .Hence India has a unique opportunity to strategise through its huge diplomatic talent and local entrepreneurship , to coordinate & see that surplus nations supply to deficit states in the overall spirit of the earth being a global village.A digital mechanism needs to be put in place so that apart from fuel if there’s any shortage anywhere red flags are raised and surpluses get transferred there with ease in logistics and financing .Today no such mechanism exists as global supply chains r in deep distress with China flexing its territorial muscles widely.
But expansion of global trade will enable better access to goods and services in all continents and will incentivise better shipping, rail, air and road logistics. WTO has lost its sheen and G20 President needs to take a lead in this to restore world order.
Equally important is to correct another major disruption in the last two years of a massive slump in global tourism. While 56 carefully chosen locations will boost Indian tourism by way of exposure to its mountains seas, rivers, beaches, islands and adventure sports in terms of wild life sanctuaries etc, India also needs to initiate a global tourism plan for the first time ever.
Each country can highlight its 10 most scenically beautiful places for others to choose and select. Today no such system exists internationally and each country has to fend for itself with the richly diverse but poorly equipped developing world unable to effectively promote itself to the international target audience spread across all continents.
Pandemic has also punched holes in global medical innovations. Time has come for India to take a lead and invite the best medical minds to brainstorm on how to tackle and cure diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, dementia,
organ transplantation etc through stem cell research, medical devices innovations and cutting edge nano technologies and robotics available digitally to all and sundry.
At least 1 per cent of the world owns and controls 99 per cent of the world’s population and this acute disparity is widening daily. India has a tradition of charity in its roots as bhagwad Gita emphasises charity, austerity and sacrifice, as the three pillars of spirituality. Hence it must take a lead in exhorting trillionare MNCs and billionaire individuals, to make concrete plans to help their less fortunate brethren, if one family one earth concept is to really get activated. This will be the single big leap that G20 presidency can provide, and it can trigger a demonstration effect in each country to look after its destitutes.
At least 100 global universities in G20 have huge net surpluses while more than 100 nations have literally scant tertiary educational infrastructure.Let each such great university in G20 , be motivated by India ,to choose a developing country location and create its campuses ,to provide quality education at affordable prices and raise the mental trajectory of the developing world. One planet one future can emerge only then.
Another deprived global group is women and children in the underdeveloped world. G20 must think and act for their food, clothing, shelter, sanitation, health and education. Raising standards of living of earth requires special and enormous attention to this category especially by women world leaders be it Heads of state, corporations, universities, trusts, hospitals,or any other sizeable establishment.
All this will not only require bureaucratic meetings of G20 officials but a hot line or what’s app group of G20 leaders ,exchanging notes on a daily basis and transmitting worthwhile ideas that will come up automatically once the will to build the planet together is visible to one and all.
Rapid urbanisation is taking place in each country with flora and fauna being the first & the worst casualties.G20 must resolve that ,water & air are free public goods and cannot be frittered away like peanuts by anyone big or small. Strict vigil by Pollution Control Boards in each town on Mother Earth enforcement of polluters pays principle, is paramount in today’s world.
There are at least seven types of waste generated by humankind daily — solid, hazardous, electronic, biomedical construction and demolition, agricultural and household professional waste disposal is simply unknown to many countries and unavailable to many more.Best technological minds are required to create cost efficient and effective waste mgt techniques to reduce, reuse and recycle them as feasible. G20 has a monumental role to play in developing & disseminating such technologies worldwide.
Seven billion plus population on earth cannot survive at the rate at which trees are being felled all over. G20 must initiate a plan to plant & nurture one tree for one person ,in its total population annually so that supply never falls short of demand for oxygen, wood, firewood or forest produce
Rest of the world will follow once G20 takes the lead & also provides climate change financing for the underdeveloped countries.
India leads the world in conducting elections nationwide covering more than 500 million voters with electronic voting machines that have stood the test of time. With USA kind of situation that developed in their last presidential elections where President Trump refused to vacate White House on pretext of wrong counting of votes,it’s a great opportunity for India to demonstrate the ease of EVMs to G20 and the entire world. It’s a humongous godsend to export EVMs in bulk globally. I’m sure commerce ministry will multiply its exports with this new item.
At Bali, India coined the expression ‘this is not an era of war’ which won the day in its final declaration.As President, India must recall Gandhiji and his non violence strategy in every country ,since ,even at the height of British oppression, he believed it was not an era of war and peace is the only solution. All G20 leaders can’t afford to ignore his words that ‘an eye for an eye will make the whole world blind’. Hence India needs to bring all parties on the negotiating table ,which is like a psycho therapist’s couch,where nerves are calmed, confidence is built,egos are dimmed,communication begins and creative solutions can be found.
India has crossed the magic figure of 100 unicorns in last 2 years or less.For many countries it’s a pipe dream. India must present these 100 unicorns to the G20 leaders, and exchange ideas and cooperation on how to build on this collectively for the welfare of mankind at large. Indian entrepreneurs are world famous—they must be allowed to exchange ideas with G20 nations and all the 180 countries in existence.
Lastly, Sherpa by definition is a load handler for the mountaineer. In the context of earth’s planetary development ,it falls far short of its capacity to create change .Hence G 20 Sherpa has to be renamed a G20 coordinator with a large team to coordinate efficiently, effectively and resolve global issues with full support of the g20 leaders.
All this means a solid commitment to reform the troubled world and ease the pain of the global citizen, which again is an avowed objective of g20.
Only then Gandhiji’s dream of wiping the tear from every eye ,can find real traction and a Great Leap Forward is feasible.
