CHAIR
Sri. Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
Chancellor, Amrita Vishwa
Vidyapeetham, India“Let us all proceed, with one mind and one goal, to work
selflessly for the world’s welfare. May our acts become anoble ideal for those who will come after us. May the treeof our life be firmly rooted in the soil of love. May our goodactions be its leaves. May our kind words be its flowers.
May peace be its fruits. May this world grow and prosper
as one family, united in love. May the ethos of vasudhaiva
kutumbakam ’The world is one family’ awaken, be put into
practise and bear fruit in everyone. May we realise a world
where there is endless peace and harmony. May Divine
Grace bless us all. “-Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi

SHERPA

Vijay K. Nambiar
Retired Ambassador of India &Under-Secretary General of theUnited Nations

SOUS-SHERPA

Dr. Swadesh Singh
Rambhau Mhalgi
Prabodhini, India

SECRETARIAT

Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe
Patron of the Secretariat,
India

Dr. Jayant Kulkarni
Executive Director, Rambhau
Mhalgi Prabodhini, India

CORE GROUP MEMBERS

Sri M
The Satsang Foundation,
India

Nivedita Bhide
Vivekananda Kendra,
India

Kiran DM
Youth For Seva,
India

TROIKA

Swami
Amritaswaroopananda Puri
President, Amrita Vishwa
Vidyapeetham, India

Ah Maftuchan
The Prakarsa, Indonesia

Alessandra Nilo
GESTOS, Brazil

STEERING COMMITTEE

Nivedita Bhide
Vivekananda Kendra,
India

Vasuki Kalyanasundaram
The Satsang Foundation,
India

Aoi Horiuchi
Japan NGO Center forInternational Cooperation(JANIC), Japan

Nidhi Goyal
Rising Flame, India

Martine Reicherts
Former European
Commissioner Of Justice,
LuxembourgINTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Ramu Damodaran
Senior Advisor, University ofPeace, United Nations

Naila Chowdhury
Global Advisor, Cure Violence
Global & Chairperson, Women
4 Empowerment

Joost Monks
Executive Director, Humanitarian
Quality Assurance Initiative,
Switzerland

Andy Carmone
Clinton Health Access
Initiative, USA

Jyotsna Mohan
Regional Coordinator (Asia),
Asian Development Alliance

Binny Buchori
The Prakarsa, Indonesia

Guillermina Alaniz
Director of Global Advocacy& Policy, Aids Healthcare
Foundation AHF

Riccardo Moro
Secretary General, LVIA,
Italy

Pedro Bocca
Abong, Brazil

Shyam Parande
Global Coordinator, Sewa
International, India

Virendra Gupta
President, Indian Council forInternational Cooperation, India

Dr. Shashi Bala
President, International Councilof Cultural Studies, India

INDEXAn Introduction

001

Special Committee on Financial Issues

015

Sustainable and Resilient Communities

031

River Revival and Water Management049

Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

065

Integrated Holistic Health079

Education and Digital Transformation

093

Technology, Security, and Transparency

109

Disability, Equity, and Justice125

SDG 16 Plus and Promoting Civic Space141

Human Rights as Human Values

151

Diversity, Inclusion, Mutual Respect

163

Traditional Arts, Crafts and Culture

173

Delivering Democracy

183

Special Mention

196

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

197

Sewa - Sense of Service, Philanthropy & Volunteerism

209

Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE)

223

Working Group’s
Policy Briefs
Civil-20 2023

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

An
Introduction
The C20 under India’s chair has had an
unprecedented degree of “Jan Bhagidaari” orpeople’s participation. More than 1000 meetings
will have been held by the time of the Jaipur
Summit in end-July. With the participationof more than 184,000 persons covering 74
nationalities, including mainly countries of the
Global South, its activities have comprised, bothin-person and online, conferences, workshops,
seminars, “chaupals”, “samaj-shalas” and youth
ambassador programmes. The number ofWorking Groups (WGs) set up under C20 auspices
this year have also been larger than ever before.
They cover both traditional themes of concern aswell as new themes1

Civil-20 Working Groups’ Policy Briefs

The policy pack prepared for theSummit is likely therefore to bevoluminous. If working papers,
white papers and other assorted
documentations are included, the C20
Working Group material would be quiteconsiderable.

debt crises affecting many developing
countries, but also instability in financial
markets and a structural slowdown ingrowth that could persist over at leasta decade. While post-pandemic risks
linger, climate-related extreme weather
events pose a growing threat. Public
protests are on the rise and violent
conflicts have escalated in intensityand breadth in Europe, Africa, andelsewhere. But these challenges havealso evoked imaginative and resilient
responses around the globe. The threatof COVID-19 resulted in the creationof a “unified platform for outbreaks
and emergencies,” and a complex
ecosystem of partnerships and alliances
emerged to tackle the design anddelivery of health responses. Climatechange has prompted significant
institutional innovations. The netzero movement has brought together
diverse ecosystems of alliances todrive international climate action more
purposively.

Coming to substantive issues, neverin its long history has the world been
as connected, interdependent andexposed to mutual vulnerabilities as
it is today. The salience of India’s G20
motto: “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, or“One Earth, One Family One Future”,
therefore remains of utmost relevanceand indeed must remain the abiding
leitmotif for our preoccupations, eveninto the future. While calling for the
inclusion of the African Union within
the G20 organisation, we look forward
to increased cooperation between
developed and developing nations,as well as among the countries of
Global South. Today, there is a major
financial and debt crisis across theworld. The pandemic has pushed 200
million people below the poverty line,
100 million people have lost their jobs
around the world and 75 countries arefacing major debt crises. We face not
only the fallout of the cost-of-living andSo, while the overall prospect remains
grim, there are also reasons for hopeand confidence. It is this hope that
motivates the C20 to speak out onsuch a wide range of issues affecting
the international family of nations. We

2

C20 India 2023 - Policy Packcall on G20 whose members command
formidable economic and political power
and influence to act at both national
and international levels to address thesefundamental questions and to work
steadfastly to strengthen and reformthe multilateral framework of theUnited Nations. In particular, sustained
recovery from the multi-dimensional
crisis facing the world today will require
fundamental changes to the roles andfunctions that financial capital and theglobal financial architecture performin the lives of humans and other living
beings on this planet. They must involve:

challenges such as climate change,
public health inadequacies andgrowing inequality.
c. Democratizing global tax governanceunder the auspices of the United
Nations instead of the OECD. It also
requires combating tax avoidance,base erosion, and profit shifting.
d. Reform of Multilateral Development
Banks and financial institutionsof their mission, incentives, andoperational approaches to better
address global challenges, reducepoverty and achieve SDGs.
e. G20 governments focusing on all
SDGs. The private sector must pay
for negative externalities that bringserious harm to people and theplanet.

a. Rethinking the global debt
architecture to create and support
better and new mechanisms that canhelp in fair and effective sovereign
debt restructuring.

f. Governments reducing theunsustainable debt burden ofindividuals, households, and small
entrepreneurs through legitimate
entrepreneurial efforts by creating
mechanisms for such dignified exit.

b. Expanding fiscal space to allow forsocial protections and investment inresources to help deal with multiple

Broadly, therefore, the C20 calls for ashift away from an economic growthmodel that uses people and the planet

as “extractable resources” to a global“reprograming of our economies towork for its people and planet.”

3

Civil-20 Working Groups’ Policy Briefs

I. Sustainable & Resilient Communities
This WG has done major work on
a range of environmental issues:
Enhancing regional climate resilienceand disaster management capabilities
by ensuring rights, access, andsustainability for food security, climateresilient agriculture by promoting
sustainable practices and knowledgetransfer; prioritising ecosystem
restoration, biodiversity protection,
sustainable water governance,and coastal conservation; climatesensitive planning for climate-induced
displacement; climate finance forinclusive and effective climate action;
focusing on lifestyle changes anddemand reduction, circular economy,
deep decarbonization; and fostering
peace, harmony, and compassion by
integrating cultural values as well as
rediscovering local traditions. It is clearthat not enough funding has gone into
adaptation. Multilateral institutions
must be incentivised to do direct
lending. New imaginative sourcesmust be located from both private
and public sectors. New structures areneeded for credit enhancements, firstloss guarantees and better de-risking
modalities. The resources needed are
not in billions but in trillions of US
dollars.

II. Integrated Holistic Health
The WG’s key policy recommendationsalign with G20 priorities: universal
health coverage with a guarantee of“access for all” for preventative care,therapy, and health system delivery
through public health institutions andprivate sector; reduction in the costof healthcare; management of mental
health conditions and promotionof mental well-being; sustainable
implementation of national mental

health program in all G20 countries;
creating and implementing policies
on One-Health, with emphasis on
antimicrobial resistance encompassing
surveillance, data sharing and alerts,
research and shared infrastructure
and management; as well as advancing
efforts to tackle communicable andnon-communicable diseases. Also,
they seek to promote digital healthstrategies to reduce healthcare costs.

4

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

III. Technology, Security & Transparency
This group has focused on cross-cutting
and thematic recommendations aimed
at creating a digital future that ismore accessible, secure, transparent,
and inclusive. A future that leverages
technology to create safer, more
equitable societies globally to deal withthe ever-evolving digital environment.

Pertaining to AI and data, the WGemphasises that both data collection
and AI technology deployment must be
ethical, fair, and safe. They portray theneed to generate high-quality datasetsand create international regulations
assigning liability for technology-related
harms.

In Technology for Empowerment, theWG calls for enhancing accessibility andinclusivity by setting up infrastructure
bridging the digital divide, promotinguser-centric design and subsidies
that increase access to assistive
technologies, establishing open-data
policies, and democratising e-commerce
platforms.

The Group also calls for tackling
disinformation by developing a sharedterminology and a comprehensive
strategy, establishing national
information networks and effective
legal infrastructure, and enhancing
transparency and trust within thetechnology supply chain.
A new “GLIDES” initiative has beenlaunched to create a global allianceof Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
as part of Civil20, working collectively
to enable an inclusive, open, nondiscriminatory, and fair digitalsociety. With CSOs from 22 countries
as members, GLIDES serves as aplatform to provide opportunities forpolicy recommendations, sharing
best practices, and collaborating on
issues such as digital access, internet
governance, online safety, net
neutrality, and data privacy.

Regarding cybersecurity, the need forenhanced cooperation is stressed, as
provided in the Budapest Convention
and an additional protocol to the
Geneva Convention pertaining to theprotection of critical infrastructure
against cyber-attacks. Moreover,the need for improved collaboration
between national and international
agencies to mitigate cybercrime and fornorms to be set to prevent AI misusein safety-critical applications was
highlighted.

5Civil-20 Working Groups’ Policy Briefs

IV. Education & Digital Transformation
access to education and ensuring
the fair allocation of resources
through learning equity audits
as well as promoting inclusion ofpeople from vulnerable populations
in decision-making processes. Other
recommendations include fostering
mutual recognition of online and onsite degrees and certificate courses,
developing inclusive curricula,and providing pedagogical skills,
inclusion, and technology training
for teachers.

The Education and Digital
Transformation Working Group(EDTWG) suggested key areas offocus to foster inclusive, accessible,
compassionate, and human-centerededucation and digital transformation
which include:♦ Education for Life and Global
Citizenship covering experiential
learning and community
involvement in rural villages,
promoting indigenous cultures andknowledge systems, and address
mental, emotional, and spiritual
dimensions of people.

♦ Skill Development covering
inclusive financing mechanisms forskill development as well as andEducation in Emergencies providing
localized emergency curriculum
models and for enhancementof teacher capacity for inclusive
education and invest in continuous
professional development; Digital
Transformation & Accessibility by
developing human-centered designprinciples, promoting digital public
goods and providing comprehensive
training on responsible technology
use. The recommendations
emphasize inclusive digital accessfor all, including marginalized andvulnerable populations.

♦ Education for persons withdisability which emphasizes early
identification and intervention for
persons with disabilities, awarenessabout inclusion and designingand implementing policies forearly detection of disabilities,
supporting research in disability
studies and building tools for early
identification, and provision of
low-cost assistive technology forinclusion.
♦ Learning Equity & The Future of
Education: Enhancing equitable

6

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

V. Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment
The thematic recommendations focusedon:This Group has underlined the focus on
women, transgender people, and otherpopulations that are marginalised atthe “base of the pyramid”, those whohave the least access, opportunities,
resources, and privilege, and yet
comprise a majority of the world’s
population. At current rates of progress,
the World Economic Forum’s Global
Gender Gap Index Report estimatesthat it will require 132 years to achieve
gender equality.

♦ Prioritising mental health andinvesting in accessible mental healthservices for women and girls bydeveloping comprehensive national
mental health education policies
and integrating such policies into
schools and workplaces.
♦ Expanding access to education,
particularly for rural andmarginalised women by addressing
barriers such as safety concerns,
inadequate sanitation facilities, andlack of digital infrastructure.

Cross-cutting recommendations include:♦ Improving gender-disaggregateddata collection to inform decisionmaking.

♦ Establishing gender-responsive
learning centres, ensuring accessfor marginalised groups, improving
existing infrastructure, andexpanding internet connectivity are
key goals.

♦ Integrating monitoring andevaluation into policy development
for transparency and accountability.
♦ Allocating sufficient resources
to gender equality policies andprogrammes.

♦ Engaging men and boys which isvital for achieving gender equality.
Harmful social norms contribute toissues like violence against women;
and gender sensitization andtransformative education should be
provided to various stakeholders.

♦ Prioritising safety and security forgirls and women in all aspects of
life.

7

Civil-20 Working Groups’ Policy Briefs♦ Ensuring disaster preparedness andmanagement includes women andgirls who are disproportionately
affected.

organisations are essential.
♦ Promoting women’s economic
empowerment and enhancing
financial inclusion and equal
financing opportunities (25%in green and blue economies
and priority procurement for
women entrepreneurs) throughcollaboration between relevant
institutions and organisations.

♦ Mandating their representationin decision-making bodies,
conducting gender and vulnerability
assessments, providing
gender-responsive training,and collaborating with local

VI. Disability, Equity & Justice
The policy suggestions cover a gamut ofissues from education and employment
to health, social protection andenvironment-related needs.

facilities is also underscored.
Employment: SDG Target 4.5 requires
enabling policies and strategies tosupport access to Technical andVocational Education and Training(TVET) programmes for persons
with disabilities consistent with ILO
standards, as also to ILO Violenceand Harassment Convention norms(No. 190) and (No. 206) to address
discrimination, harassment, andviolence against persons withdisabilities in the workplace.

Education: They ask for a greater
understanding of the needs ofchildren across disabilities, material
in local languages, understanding theneeds of diverse learning styles andrequirements and addressing barriers
to inclusion not limited to inaccessible
transport and physical infrastructure.
Their need for equitable access todigital infrastructure as well as support
services communication aids and other8C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Health: They call for acknowledgment
and design of disability inclusion asa necessary component of publichealth initiatives. There is a need to
implement a strong health policy andresearch agenda on disability inclusion
to develop interventions; address thevast inequities in health care access for
persons with disabilities, and ensurethat healthcare providers are welltrained and WASH programmes areaccessible.
Social Protection: They call for action tocreate an adaptive Universal Framework
for Social Protection of Persons with
Disabilities.

VII. Life Style for Environment (LiFE)
The LiFE WG has tried to prepare avalue-based sustainability framework
to guide and assess the progressof countries. Global well-being i.e.,
Sumangalam will be the universal
principle of this framework which
will include a set of values, concepts,
instruments, and actionables forindividuals and communities. This brings
a much-required holistic perspective
to the subject of sustainability andstresses values like compassion,
gratitude, respecting diversity, a senseof responsibility, decentralization,
harmony, using local resources (andnot drawing from far-off places) etc.
Behavioural indicators, goals, andlevels of progress can be definedfrom these sets of values. LiFE alongwith the value-based sustainability
framework will bring in a paradigm
shift from right based approach toa responsibility-based approach inglobal environmental governance.
LiFE is a set of good, desirable
practices rooted in cultural traditions,customary practices, grassroot
innovations, and environmentallyconscious contemporary actions. LiFE
can complement scientific, political,
and economic measures of global
environmental governance. However,
it would require close cooperation
between the government and society inwhich societal responsibility would be alittle higher than the government.

9

Civil-20 Working Groups’ Policy Briefs

VIII. SDG16 Plus and Enhancing Civic SpaceNotwithstanding the current
geopolitical challenges, urgent action isneeded to reduce the gap between thepolarized viewpoints across the world.
While governments have committed
to building effective, accountable, andinclusive institutions, many of theseare still weak and ineffective. Without
the support of all G20 countries, theinternational community’s collective
commitment to fostering peaceful,just, and inclusive societies cannot
succeed. As we reach the halfway point
to the implementation of the 2030
Agenda, civil society calls on the G20
to intervene and take bold actions including through substantial financial
commitments. Steps taken by the Indian
G20 Presidency in its Action Plan 2023
would assist in planning the next steps
for achieving the 2030 Agenda.

collectively, progress on SDG16 Plus
goals will not be possible. This means
protecting fundamental freedoms,
addressing systemic barriers, andpromoting civic space. It also means
promoting greater transparency andaccountability, strengthening anticorruption laws, and policies andinternational cooperation to prevent
illicit financial flows, stolen assets,
and organized crime. The G20 Indian
Presidency has included asset recovery,
information sharing and integrity andeffectiveness of public bodies under
its anti-corruption priorities for 2023.
Equally noteworthy is its scaling up of
public digital platforms like Aadhar,
Unified Payment Interface (UPI), digital
signature, etc., and adoption of AI infintech and high-speed internet services
which are a model for emulation tomeet the global need for better public
goods. An annual review of the SDG16
Plus is well warranted.

Unless member states, UN bodies,
multilateral agencies, donors, theprivate sector, CSOs, and others work10

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

IX. Diversity, Inclusion and Mutual Respect
The WG underlined the urgency ofinclusion of those left behind in thedevelopment process due to want,disability, disease, or neglect. This
comprised inclusion policies for
LGBTQAI, indigenous communities,
and support for traditional practices.

The WG’s recommendations focusedon avoiding fixed binaries, preserving
cultural diversity, building knowledge
bases, and incorporating traditional
knowledge into policy-making andeducation systems.

X. “Sewa”, Philanthropy & Volunteerism
2. Utilizing the experiences and talentsof the elderly and retirees towards
for nation-building purposes andmentoring of youth.

The concept of “Sewa” embodies
voluntarism based on selflessness
and the desire to create positivechange in the world on the basis of thefundamental value of giving back tosociety, fostering empathy, and making
a positive impact on the lives of others.
The WG called for:3. Establishing a global networkof civil societies and voluntaryorganizations practising Sewa in
different countries, and

1. The creation of a global allianceof individuals and civil society
organizations to facilitate Sewa on a
global scale.

4. Developing a compendium of
exemplary Sewa practices fromG20 and other countries to foster
cross-country learning, inspire
new initiatives, and promotecollaboration among nations.

11Civil-20 Working Groups’ Policy Briefs

XI. Delivering Democracy
This WG’s report calls for founding
democracy on native models ofgovernance, native values, and ethos,and best practices and learning. It callsfor engagement of young people indemocratic processes and to inculcate
respect for democratic processes andinstitutions at the school and university
levels.
It also emphasises practisinggrassroots democracy at village levelby respecting the individual as thecornerstone of democratic process. It
speaks of adapting digital democracy
by expanding digital and internet
footprints countrywide and usingsocial media intelligently. It also
speaks of responsible citizenry andresponsive governance; and direct orindirect participation by the people ingovernance as well as in the assertionof their rights of self-governance.

XII. River Revival and Water Management
This WG proposes several
recommendations for river revival andwater management that emphasize
the importance of maintaining thenatural flow and self-purification
capacity of rivers, as well as protecting
water resources as commons. They
call for government stewardship,including respecting citizens’ rights andrelationships with water, preventing
environmentally costly projects, andimplementing pollution prevention
laws. The involvement of diverse
stakeholders, such as indigenous
communities, NGOs, and experts, isalso highlighted. The G20 is urged toleverage technology, strengthen crossborder cooperation, and consider
environmental factors in valuing water
resources. The approach should be
integrated, scalable, participatory, andsupported by sustainable financing

12

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

XIII. Other Working Groups
Similarly the Working Groups on
Human Rights and Human Values
as well as the one on Preservationof Traditional Arts and Crafts andProtection of Livelihoods have laboured
hard and presented meaningful policy
recommendations that are detailed
in their respective presentations.
Globalisation, industrialisation, andchanging lifestyles have all posed
problems for traditional art, crafts,
and culture recently and G20 nations
need to take measures to promote andmaintain traditional art, crafts, andculture in order to solve these issues
and further their preservation andconservation.

XIV. Compassion: Desideratum for a
Harmonious and Flourishing Future
The world is witnessing an alarming

It helps people take decisions and actions

rise in violence against both humanitywith spontaneity, power and effect.

and the environment. Interpersonal

As a foundational element, it will needviolence affects millions of people,

to be integrated into our educationalwith a staggering number of annual

curriculum. It must instill a sense of

fatalities globally. While efforts areoneness among individuals, amplifying

being made to address its causes, that

their power to fight against odds andalone is inadequate to restore peace

enabling them to live in harmony withand harmony in society and nature. As

nature for not just a sustainable but

the C20 Chair, Mata Amritanandamayi

a flourishing future. We must strive

Devi says: “People experience two types

to foster peace and harmony acrossof poverty in this world – poverty ofcontinents, integrating cultural values

material goods and poverty of love andand rediscovering local traditions.

compassion.” Compassion is the mostimportant factor that can transform lives.

13

Civil-20 Working Groups’ Policy Briefs

An exemplary compassion practice

In conclusion, it may be observed

developed recently is the geo-enabledthat the world views of civil society

software platform titled: “Sustainability

organisations of various countries

and Resilience for Community

evolve along with the ethos of theirEngagement and Empowerment

respective countries. They naturally(SREE)” integrated with a crowd-

reflect the civilisational values andsourced mobile application titledprinciples of the respective countries“Empower Community.” This integrated

more prominently. It may be noted,

platform is capable of measuring,in this backdrop, that three of the

mapping, analysing, and proposing

sixteen policy briefs prepared by therecommendations for community-level

Working Groups, namely those on

sustainability and resilience indicators.

Sewa, Lifestyle for Environment or

SREE operates on community-driven

LiFE, and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam aredata that is aggregated according toreflective of the world view as well asthematic layers which can be assessed

the ethos essentially of the civil society

on a multi-scale approach bringing

organisations from India, the hostmultiple stakeholders on to a common

country. Notwithstanding reservations

knowledge acquisition level to makeof CSOs of some other countries, briefs

informed community decisions andon these themes have been included

resolve community-level sustainability

in this policy pack with a view toand resilience assessment challenges.

generating a larger conversation in

It has already been implemented in

the larger interest of the global

several countries in a participatorycommunity.

manner.

14

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

SpecialCommittee on
Financial Issues
Making Finance Work for People and Planet
A sustained recovery from the multidimensional
crises experienced by nations across the world today
will require financial and economic systems that arestrongly aligned to solving its core issues meaningfully.
The creation and smooth running of state-supported
machineries and global economic processes that
can achieve just, equitable growth, and sustainable
development for its people while also caring for its
natural heritage and contributing to the sustenance of ourplanetary ecosystem, is instrumental to achieving the goalof Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. This will require fundamental
changes to the roles and functions that financial capitaland the global financial architecture perform in the livesof the planet’s citizens and other living beings.

15

Special Committee of C20 on Financial Issues

better address global challenges, reducepoverty and achieve SDGs. C20 calls forG20 nation governments to focus on all
SDGs through their national strategies,
without cherry-picking some SDGs overothers.

The C20 calls upon the G20 to place
an urgent need, in these conditions,
to rethink the global debt architecture
and to create and support betterand new mechanisms that can help
in fair and effective sovereign debt
restructuring. In addition, the G20
should develop ways to support the
expansion of fiscal space to allow forcountries to maintain social protections
and invest in resources that may limit
the multiple overlapping emergencies
such as climate change, public healthinadequacies and growing inequality.

CSO must be co-opted as serious
economic actors with non-trivial
decision-making powers across allstages of implementation of the
SDG Agenda by MDBs and national
governments. G20 nations must also
focus on the crux of the issue withthe private sector, which is to haveindustries pay for negative externalities
that bring serious harm to people andplanet.

C20 demands the democratizationof global tax governance under the
auspices of the United Nations insteadof the OECD so that all state voices
can be incorporated when formulatinginternational decisions. International tax
cooperation must be under a coherent
institutional and normative framework.
At the domestic level, the excessive
concentration of wealth in the handsof a few individuals or households canlead to negative consequences for socialand economic well-being. A wealth tax
is needed to ensure the principle ofequity and/or distributive justice and
the G20 nations can take the lead in
implementing this.

C20 calls for national strategies that
support individuals and households intheir own legitimate entrepreneurial
journeys, through the creation of statesupported mechanisms that provide fora dignified exit from unsustainable debt.
This is an innovative welfare benefit thestate can offer.
Through the above mechanisms, theC20 calls for a dramatic shift away from
economic growth that uses people andthe planet as extractable resources,
to a global “reprogramming of oureconomies to work for its people andthe planet”.

The G20 must call on MDBs to
update their mission, incentives, andoperational approaches, in order to16

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

A. Sovereign Debt Restructuring
and Development
Emerging Markets and Developing
Countries (EMDCs) now have worryingly
high debt vulnerabilities both inabsolute terms and relative to prepandemic levels. More than two thirdsof the world are either at high risk or
already in debt distress, while 25% ofmiddle-income countries, which hostthe majority of the extreme poor,
are at high risk of fiscal crisis. Global
inflation over the last two years has
prompted advanced economy central
banks to steeply increase interest rates.
The tightening financial conditions
worldwide increases borrowing costs
for EMDCs. Dollar-denominated debt
that dominates private corporate
sector international borrowing is set
to aggravate debt-added pressure on
developing economies.

There has also been virtually no
progress over the last seven years in theprocess of establishing an international
statutory mechanism for sovereign
debt restructuring. The Common
Framework for Debt Treatment (CF)
did not conclude a single restructuringin the first one and a half years of its
existence.
The G20 is in a place to push for
new global rules in this regard. As
countries, especially EMDCs brace todeal with the overwhelming changes
in store for them, there is a need toextend provisions available under the
CF and for this to be more effective.
These include debt cancellation anddebt standstills during renegotiations,resolving inter-creditor relationships
and their management, adopting
contingent clauses in bond issuances
and also the issuance of GDP indexedbonds. Many of these mechanisms havebuilt-in speed breakers for the purpose
and are very useful to have during
downturns.

A significant number of sovereign debt
restructurings are expected. However,current mechanisms are ill-equipped tobe effective and have no predictable
legal and institutional framework; they
are a composite of conventions thathave evolved over the years. Given
the evolution of capital markets andnew official bilateral creditors, thesepractices are under further stress.

The debt sustainability analysis of
the IMF has been observed to be too
optimistic, seriously underestimating
the possibilities of shocks that will

17

Special Committee of C20 on Financial Issues

further undermine the ability to repay
and therefore demanding much quicker
and sharper repayment schedules.
There is a profound need to rethink theassumptions underlying these and to
make a broader set of criteria relevant(like concessions for policies promoting
human rights, and climate change
investment).

Finally, there is the need for expanding
fiscal space, even with the kindsof limitations imposed by debt
restructuring. The G20 can support
re-channeling Special Drawing Rights(SDRs) for this and in the current
circumstances, not make them overly
restrictive in terms of conditionality.

Recommendations
Several additions to the current framework must be undertaken and we call upon
the G20 to reflect these.
choices, for example as the UN
notes the possibility of undertaking
debt-for-climate swaps.

1. Maximize the flexibilities affordedby the Common Framework to allow
for effective and fair resolutions.
2. Make progress towards a truly
effective global sovereign debt
resolution authority that can solve
some of the intransigent problems
in the current scenario. Such amechanism must have statutory
powers.

4. Expand the use of useful
instruments such as statecontingent bonds and collective
action clauses that resolve theproblem of hold-up.
5. Expand the use of SDRs andeffective recycling as well as new
forms of concessional finance tosupport stressed EMDCs.

3. Improve debt sustainability analytic
criteria to be more realistic and to
take into account positive policy

18

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

B. Fair Taxation for Improving
the Social Contract
The rise of economic globalization
through digitization of the financial
system poses a significant challenge
to closing the SDG financing gap formany countries that are also trying tomanage fiscal imbalances due to risingpublic debt, increasing healthcare
and pension costs, and other longterm liabilities. This systematicallyharms developing countries and Least
Developed Countries (LDCs) by eroding
their tax base, because the current
global financial structure and systemallows for tax avoidance and evasion.
Tax avoidance and evasion undermines
the ability of all countries to invest
in sustainable development. Illicit
financial flows contribute to worsening
inequality and equity, both within andbetween countries.

by the OECD. Shifted profits grewat the same pace as multinational
profits. As multinational profits grewby 52% in nominal terms (compared
to 17% for global GDP), the absoluteamount of profits shifted to tax havens
increased by slightly more than 52%.
BEPS has been ineffective in reducing
the fraction of multinational profit
shifted to tax havens each year even
if it might have stopped the growth of
this fraction. The current OECD/G20
plan and its Pillars 1 and 2 suggestions
are tragically insufficient to stop theongoing wealth transfer—measured
in lost tax revenues—from poor torich countries, where the digital
corporations are based. These Pillars
do not address emerging nations’incapacity to collect substantial tax
revenues from digital businesses that
operate there and generate enormous
profits while avoiding paying taxes andout-competing domestic tax-paying
businesses.

Global profit shifting has not declined
since 2015, a year prior to theimplementation of the Base Erosion
and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Initiative

19

Special Committee of C20 on Financial Issues

The C20 has urged for theestablishment of international tax
cooperation for a strong globallycoherent tax system under the auspicesof the UN, rather than under the
G20, and for modalities of the intergovernmental tax body to be designed
in an inclusive, fair, transparent manner.
It must be structured to provide asubstantial solution that sets taxing
rights between governments based on
an agreed formula in a system that is
supplemented by a minimum effective
corporate tax rate.

the concentration of wealth andpromoting a more even distributionof resources, a wealth tax can help
ensure that resources are invested
in productive activities that benefit
the broader economy and generate
long-term sustainable growth, rather
than be channeled towards personal
consumption. This can help reduce
the gap between rich and poor andpromote a more equitable distributionof wealth. A modest progressive
wealth tax on global multimillionaires
would yield significant revenue gains.
Given the large volume of wealthconcentration, a 1% effective wealthtax rate can generate 1.6% of global
incomes and could be reinvested in
education, health, and the energy
transition. This can help fund programs
such as in education healthcare andsocial security, which are important
SDGs.

Globally, the top 10% wealthiest
captures more than 55% of total
household wealth, compared withbelow 5% captured by the bottom
50%. Such inequalities can also beseen between high and low CO2

emitters in low-income, middleincome and rich countries. By reducing

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C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Recommendations
1. The G20 must support the creationof an effective intergovernmental
tax body under the UN and this is tobe accompanied by the adoption of
the latest UN Tax Convention.

3. Establish a multi-jurisdictional tax
framework.
4. The G20 must promote the creationof a wealth tax by, as an example,
implementing it domestically intheir countries, to create a more
equitable distribution of wealth andto raise state revenue for public
services and infrastructure, which
are critical for social and economic
development.

2. The G20 must demand countrylevel reporting by multinational
corporations to be made public as
articulated in the Global Reporting
Initiative, including reporting of
beneficial ownership, so that all
countries where the corporation
has its activities in, are able toaccess information. All countries
and particularly LMICs need tobenefit from automatic informationexchange.

5. The G20 must enhance theinvolvement of civil society
organizations in tax matter decisionmaking processes.

21

Special Committee of C20 on Financial Issues

C. Financing for Sustainable
Development
priorities laid out in their sustainable
development plans. For truly equitable
growth and sustainable development,
all SDGs will need to be accorded
equal importance by every nation. The
importance that a government accords
to an SDG is not to be measured
merely by the quantum of national
budgets that get allocated to it but by
the efforts invested towards devising
a combination of policy tools andinterventions that can help to credibly
progress on the targets for each SDG.
Further, the Indicator 17.14.1 requires
countries to have mechanisms inplace to enhance policy coherence ofsustainable development because theSDGs are interdependent and indivisible
and impacts on one SDG will have nonlinear impacts on other SDGs.

The financing gap to reach the SDGs
in developing countries after the
pandemic increased by 56%, requiring
investments worth USD 4.2 trillion peryear in order to achieve the SDGs forall by 2030. In order to catch up withthe ambitions of the 2030 Agenda andto close the widening financing divide,
it is time that international financearchitecture is explicitly required to
be aligned with all aspects of the SDGs
so that all financing flows can becomealigned with them.
While there have been several calls
requiring concerted efforts on thepart of Multilateral Development
Banks (MDBs) and allied institutions
to bring in the SDGs into their boardlevel strategy-setting and evaluation
mechanisms, the World Bank hastaken a first step in this direction byacknowledging the need to evolve its
mission to strengthen development
impact in its 2023 Roadmap.

The UN Financing for Sustainable
Development Report 2023 alludes tothe need for more comprehensive
pricing of negative externalities
and for charging it to domestic andinternational private businesses, but
stops short of suggesting a roadmap
towards achieving this, not just for
carbon emissions but also for a variety

While SDGs are universal in that they
are accepted by all and applicable toall, the UN states that policy choices
will be country-specific, tied to national

22

C20 India 2023 - Policy Packof many concerted steps needed torecognize the Social and Solidarity
Economy (SSE) in its important rolein achieving the SDGs for the world.
It encourages UN member countries
to promote and implement national,
local and regional strategies, policies
and programs for supporting andenhancing the SSE, develop specificlegal frameworks, and innovate
financial instruments for it. A clear
articulation of the functions that CSOs
perform in achieving SDGs is neededto drive SDG Target 17.17 as well as tohave them occupy a ‘seat at the table’
as declared by the Global Partnershipfor Effective Development Cooperation(GPEDC) in December 2022. Past
articulations of the role of CSOs suchas by the World Economic Forum andthe Busan Partnership Agreement 2011provide guidance in this regard. An
expanded role for CSOs has alreadybeen articulated by the World Economic
Forum that go beyond that of service
provider to include roles such as
experts, capacity builders, incubators,
representatives, citizenship champions,solidarity supporters, and definers ofstandards.

of other unpriced resources such as
water, fossil fuels and food, besides themore apparent negative externalities
that certain industries give rise to suchas the sugar-based industries causingobesity, tobacco-based industries
causing cancers, fossil fuel-powered
automobiles causing air pollution and soon.
It would be impossible to achieve the2030 Agenda without civil society
organisations (CSOs); they are theonly non-state non-profit-seeking
stakeholder involved. Indeed, many
CSOs continue contributing to SDGs
without even being aware of them. But
the only place within the SDGs that
CSOs find recognition is in the SDG
target 17.17 and its single Indicator is
woefully inadequate to capture theessence of the Target. CSOs have notbeen co-opted as an equal stakeholder
with decision-making powers, thisholds true irrespective of the level ofintervention or the stakeholder underquestion.
The UN General Assembly Resolution
on April 18, 2023 (A/77/L.60) is a first23

Special Committee of C20 on Financial Issues

Recommendations
1. The G20 must call on MDBs to
update their mission, incentives, andoperational approaches, in order tobetter address global challenges,
reduce poverty and achieve SDGs.
This includes a significant scaleup of MDB financing including
through better and expanded useof callable capital and other formsof guarantees, the development of
new concessional tools and greater
mobilization of private capital.

these in by the industry so thatthe true costs are revealed toconsumers, and profiteering thatmakes people and planet worse off
can be checked.
3. All G20 nations must, throughdemonstration, devise andimplement national strategies foreach and every SDG (and theirtargets). While Governments must
continue to exercise their wisdomand judgement, depending oneach nation’s unique economic,
cultural, environmental and social
imperatives, they are best placed
to decide, and place in their publicdomain, an articulation of which
combination of policy tools they
consider appropriate for each
SDG, why, and where more public
spending is warranted, and where
private capital can be relied upon,wholly or in combination withconcessional and public financing.

2. The G20 must support thedevelopment of estimation tools tocost for negative externalities suchas air and water pollution and theobesity epidemic, and introduce
taxes directly on businesses andindustries that profit from activities
that create these externalities.
As much as possible, these tools
must avoid providing easy options
to offset these costs through thetrading of financial instruments,
and instead, rely on directly costing24

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

4. For the private sector, scaling up andmandating corporate sustainability
related disclosures across all SDGs
rather than selecting the easiest
SDGs and related targets to reporton, can have multiple benefits inavoiding ‘cherry picking’ and driving
corporate investment decisions
towards all sustainability goals aswell as in aiding the fight against
SDG-washing.

way to articulate the functions for
CSOs in achieving the 2030 Agenda,
adopted from a Technical Paper of
UNDESA, is in a) Implementation
via regulation (as watchdogs), b)
Representation (as voice for people,
especially those ‘left behind’),and c) Realisation of sustainable
development outcomes throughservice delivery.

5. G20 nations must establish a ‘seatat the table’ for CSOs in the global
strategy for SDGs and accelerate
their progress towards the UN
resolution on the SSE. A simple

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Special Committee of C20 on Financial Issues

D. Humane Mechanisms for Discharge of
Personal and Enterprise Debt
The tremendous push for financial
inclusion has been led much by credit
inclusion targeted towards MSMEs, amajority of whom are unincorporated,and households. However, unlike
informal debt, formal debt creates many
challenges for MSMEs. Contractual
terms will likely overlap personal andbusiness assets. Any inability to repay
would thus, often impact not just thebusiness, but the personal assets andlives of borrowers, if the lenders wereto initiate enforcement proceedings
and create barriers in accessing credit
and other financial services, but also
negatively impact the borrower’s
wellness. The environment that acountry provides to its enterprises, todream, innovate, clinch opportunities,
solve problems and generate value, will
determine the growth trajectories ofmany promising enterprises and startups. One determinant that seldom
gets attention is the way failure of
the enterprise is treated and whether
society victimises the owners ofsuch enterprises or supports them inrestarting economic life in other ways.

self-proprietorship and partnershipenterprises (with unlimited liability
in design, comprising a majority ofenterprises in developing countries)
are distinct from corporate insolvency
and bankruptcy mechanisms
because of the absence of a separate
legal existence as is in the case of
corporates. Government policies
should distinguish inability to repay
debt from unwillingness to pay andseek to ‘forgive the unfortunate’. A
humane statutory mechanism for the
restructuring or discharge of debt isa crucial instrument through which
borrower enterprises and households
must be allowed to seek refuge. This
will have twin benefits. One, it will help
to reduce the burden on governments
to undertake ad-hoc loan waivers andfor providing sovereign guarantees as aprotection mechanism when domestic
household sector and MSME debt
becomes too much. Two, and more
importantly, individuals and households
that rely on their own entrepreneurial
abilities to support themselves will beable to find a dignified exit in order tostart afresh after an event of legitimate
failure.

Personal insolvency mechanisms
for individuals, households and26

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

TAX

Recommendations
1. Best practices for how developing
nations can build these mechanisms
is the need of the hour and the G20
can spearhead the creation of sucha best practices endeavour. The
best practices must offer high-level
yet clear guidance to countries ondesigning principles and procedural
aspects that make personal
insolvency accessible, simpler
than its corporate counterpart,and cost-effective while being
efficient and impactful. This is aninnovative welfare benefit thestate can offer. An overwhelming
majority of citizens in developing

nations can benefit from this policy
and contribute to their nation’s
economic activity.
2. Consideration should be given to
designing policies that encourage
creation of a ‘safe to fail’ ecosystem in countries where citizens
perceive failure resulting fromthe inability to repay debt as a
stigmatising failure. Decentralising
approaches can result in enhanced
ownership across varying culturaldynamics and can lead to greater
impact.

27

Special Committee of C20 on Financial Issues

Udaaharans♦ In 2020, Argentina used the new
Collective Action Clauses (CACs) torestructure its debt, improve intercreditor coordination and do away
to a large extent with the hold-up
problem associated with Vulture
Funds. The terms of borrowing also
saw serious principal reduction andincreased average maturity of debt,
all of which are critical to a more
timely and orderly restructuring.

♦ The Securities and Exchanges
Board of India (SEBI) is putting
in place a Social Stock Exchange
platform where CSOs can ‘list’
their securities, and report on theirfinancial, governance. and impact
measures, and in doing so, build
credibility through which scaledup access to funding throughinstruments such as grants / Zero
Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP)
bonds and equity can be enabled.
Such an approach also envisages
an ecosystem of actors, including
independent Social Auditors who
would audit, among others, thesocial impact claims made by such
entities.

♦ India’s Corporate and Social
Responsibility (CSR) regulations
which were put into place by
the Ministry of Corporate Affairs
in 2013 mandates companies
above a certain size in terms ofrevenue/profit to invest 2% of
their annual net profits into CSR
projects. Research suggests thatsuch a mandate has been able todrive corporate investments insocial sectors such as education,
health, rural development,
eradicating poverty and hunger, andenvironmental sustainability, since
its enforcement.

28

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

References
1. Guzman, Martin, 2023 Addressing
sovereign debt crises after Covid-19
and War. Mimeo

9. Reforming the World Bank and
MDBs to Meet Shared Global
Challenges, CGD, Oct 2022

2. United Nations Secretary-General’s
SDG Stimulus to Deliver Agenda
2030, United Nations, Feb 2023

10. Evolving the World Bank Group’s
Mission, Operations, and Resources:
A Roadmap, Jan 2023

3. Financing for Sustainable
Development Report, UN InterAgency Task Force on Financing For
Development, Apr 2023

11. Promoting the social andsolidarity economy for sustainable
development. UN General Assembly
Resolution A/77/L.60, Mar 2023

4. The FfD Chronicle, 19/04/23

12. Zero draft of the Outcome
Document of the 2023 ECOSOC
Forum on Financing forDevelopment follow-up, Mar 2023

5. World Inequality Report 2022
6. Wier, L and Zucman, G (2022), Global
profit shifting, 1975–2019, UNUWIDER Working Paper No. wp-2022121

13. Final Communiqué 2022 Finance inCommon Summit (FICS), Oct 2022

7. Global Outlook on Financing for
Sustainable Development 2023,
OECD, Nov 2022

14. Effective Development Cooperation Summit Declaration,
Global Partnership for Effective
Development Co-operation, Final
Unedited Version, Dec 2022

8. From Multi- To-National- And Back
Again: Realizing The SDG Potential
Of Public Development Banks, Jan2023, Finance in Common Initiative

15. The Future Role of Civil Society,
World Scenario Series, World
Economic Forum, Jan 201329

Special Committee of C20 on Financial Issues

16. https://accesspartnership.com/whywe-should-price-environmentalexternalities/

22. How should civil society
stakeholders report theircontribution to the implementationof the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development?, Technical Paper
for the Division for Sustainable
Development, UN Department of
Economic & Social Affairs, 201917. Addis Ababa Action Agenda of theThird International Conference on
Financing for Development, UN,
2015

23. Saudi Arabia C20 Policy Pack, 2020

18. Advancing the 2030 Agenda throughthe Social and Solidarity Economy,
Position Paper of the United Nations
Inter-Agency Task Force on Socialand Solidarity Economy, 2022
19. Busan Partnership for Effective
Development Co-operation, 4th HighLevel Forum on Aid Effectiveness,
2011

24. Fully Operationalising Part III of
the Insolvency and Bankruptcy
Code: Issues and Challenges,
Sumant Batra, Paper 15, Research
Publication: ‘Anusandhan - Exploring
New Perspectives on Insolvency’,
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board ofIndia, Oct 2022

20. 7 Sustainable finance challenges
to fix global inequality, May 2022,
World Economic Forum

25. How India’s CSR Experience Can
Shape ESG Strategies, Knowledge at
Wharton, Feb 2023

21. UN Global Compact: Corporates
must stop ‘cherry-picking’ the SDGs,
EDIE, Aug 2018

26. Report of the Working Groupon Social Stock Exchange, 2020,and Framework on Social Stock
Exchange, SEBI, 2022

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C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Sustainable& Resilient
Communities
Climate, Environment and Net Zero Targets
The WG acknowledges that the key to meetingthe challenges facing the global community is
the development of integrated solutions throughinternational agreements, multilateral collaborations andtransboundary cooperation for systemic transformations,to enable good governance, sustainable finance andcircular economy.
Drawing inspiration from “Lokah Samastah Sukhino
Bhavantu” meaning may all the beings in all the worlds
become happy, the working group recognizes thefundamental interconnectedness and interdependenceof all beings and all resources on earth. Thus, resolves toinvoke the innate compassion arising from this universal
interconnectedness in every individual.

31

Sustainable and Resilient Communities

The detrimental impacts of climatechange makes it imperative that weact, unitedly, equitably, inclusively, andjustly, to protect the people and planet
earth. The C20 Working Group on
Sustainable and Resilient Communities(SRC) - Climate, Environment and
Net Zero Targets proposes policy
recommendations to mitigate these
global challenges.

communities through more nuanced
and informed developmental pathways,
based on greater equity, justice, andinclusivity. The policy recommendations
from the four sub-themes namely,
Climate Resilience and Social Justice,Environmental Sustainability, Net Zero
Emission Management and Compassion
driven Approaches to Sustainable
and Resilient Communities have been
cumulatively reviewed and curated.
The following overarching categories ofrecommendations have emerged:

The working group has outlined aset of transformative measures thatwill lead to sustainable and resilient♦ C20 urges G20 to ensure
implementation pathways for
efficiency that are compassion
driven and engage all sections of
the population, creating targeted
investment opportunities, aswell as co-developing adaptation
metrics, and standards acrosssectors to guide investment
decisions. Localised implementation
approaches need to be in placeconsidering the sustainability
factors.

best practices and resources, toenhance innovations and sustain
actions.
♦ G20 countries should support theireducation systems to develop andimplement curriculum and training
modules specific to climate change
and resilience, net zero emission
targets, biodiversity conservationand ecosystem restoration &degradation, at primary, secondary
and tertiary level. Along with
providing affordable, equitableand quality education, community
specific capacity development
programs need to be developed tocreate community wise champions.

♦ G20 needs to incentivize transparent
and effective public-private andsocial sector partnerships forsharing expertise, knowledge,
experiences, local context specific32

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Climate Resilience and Social Justice
A. Enhancing Climate Resilience andDisaster Management
As per United Nations Disaster Risk
Reduction, (UNDRR) an effective early
warning is capable of saving many
lives and reducing damage by 30% if
activated 24 hours before the event.
However, today, one-third of theworld’s population, mainly in the least
developed countries, is still not coveredby early warning systems. Furthermore,as the impacts of climate change

accelerate, investments in climate
resilient infrastructure must be equallyprioritised to prevent deaths, reduce
the lock-in of climate vulnerability, andavoid economic losses in the decades
to come. The OECD estimates that
USD 6.9 trillion worth of infrastructure
investments would be needed annuallyby 2030 to meet the sustainable
development goals.

Recommendations♦ G20 must enhance regional climate
resilience and disaster management
capabilities in developing andimplementing early-warning
systems for cascading events suchas rainfall, landslides, floods etc.
through reflection on approaches
that are gender-equitable andsupport vulnerable and marginalised
sections of the community.

♦ Member countries should develop
incentives and policies to encourage
private sector investments inclimate-resilient infrastructure
and technologies that integrate
indigenous knowledge andexperiences.
♦ G20 must prioritise integrity andgood governance that encompasses
promoting anti-corruption
measures, strengthening legal
frameworks, ensuring inclusive
decision-making processes, andsupporting the capacity building
in all community scale resilience
policies and programs.

♦ C20 recommends to foster andsupport the transition of agrosystems into agroecology practices,and to prevent conflicts on the useof water for agriculture and to build
water resilience.

33

Sustainable and Resilient Communities

B. Democratising climate change ef for ts
through climate-sensitive planning forclimate-induced displacement
According to UNHCR, hazards resulting
from the increasing intensity andfrequency of extreme weather events,
such as abnormally heavy rainfall,
prolonged droughts, desertification,
environmental degradation, or sea-level
rise and cyclones are already causing an
average of more than 20 million people

to leave their homes and move to otherareas in their countries each year. It isestimated that 80 percent of people
displaced by climate change are women,
according to UNEP. When women aredisplaced, they are at greater risk ofviolence, including sexual violence.

Recommendations♦ G20 must ensure that gendermainstreaming is integrated into
policies, programs, multi-levelgovernance & administrative
systems and training for capacity
building of those impacted byclimate-induced displacement andmigration.

training to develop comprehensive
short term strategies, while
implementing necessary schemes
to facilitate their effective
implementation.
♦ C20 urges member countries todevelop a strategy to manage
the forecasted displacement of
population affected by climate
related disasters. States need toderive policies and interventions
for earmarking the camps forsettlement, supply chain pathways
for managing resources for nonpermanent resettlement.

♦ C20 urges G20 to adopt a climatesensitive planning dimension
to peacekeeping, post-conflictreconstruction, and development
efforts to prevent any relapse
to armed conflicts in fragile
communities. Community level34

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

C. Climate Finance for Inclusive andEf fective Climate Action
The World Bank Group delivered arecord $31.7 billion in fiscal year 2022
(FY22) to help countries address climatechange. This is a 19% increase from the$26.6 billion all-time high in financing
reached in the previous fiscal year.

However, the current climate financearchitecture is distributed unevenly andinefficiently especially in economies
that are developing and most vulnerable
to climate change.

Recommendations♦ G20 should establish national
policies that promote collaboration
between the public, private, andnonprofit sectors in climate financeand foster partnerships to enhance
the breadth and effectiveness ofclimate actions.

in the allocation and distribution offunds effectively.
♦ G20 must consider measures tointegrate climate risk assessments
and integrate community scale
resilience building strategies into
funding and project implementation,
decision making processes
across all levels and sectors
to help governments identify
potential trade-offs and synergies
between climate goals and otherdevelopment objectives.

♦ Governments should increase
emergency funding mechanisms,
make it easily accessible and provide
immediate and timely support
to meet the needs of the mostvulnerable communities affected byclimate-related disasters.

♦ G20 must develop country specificclimate adaptation metrics andstandards to guide investment
decisions and incentivize proactive
community based mitigation/
adaptation actions.

♦ Member countries should upscalespecific financing for mitigation andadaptation for climate change, andensure inclusivity and social justice35

Sustainable and Resilient Communities

Environmental Sustainability
A. Ensuring Rights, Access, andSustainability for Food Security
According to the statistics released by
WPF, more than 345 million people arefacing high levels of food insecurity in
2023 – more than double the number in
2020. This constitutes a staggering riseof 200 million people compared to preCOVID-19 pandemic levels. More than
900,000 people worldwide are fighting
to survive in catastrophic hunger/one
step away from famine. This is ten times
more than five years ago, an alarmingly
rapid increase.

Recommendations♦ The G20 must ensure that
individuals have the rights andaccess to safe, nutritious, andculturally appropriate food, and thatfood systems are sustainable andresilient to climate change. Member
countries need to adopt innovative
food engineering technologies aswell as promote the integrationof the traditional practices likeconsumption of ayurvedic leaves
and other herbs into their lifestyle.

♦ G20 countries need to promotesustainable food consumption
patterns and awareness campaigns
to bring in a major shift in resource
consumption and food waste
generation. Based on the foodintake and the water consumed atcommunity level, people need to bemade aware of sustainable practices
according to resource availability
and changing climate patterns.

36

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

♦ G20 must implement environmental
labelling and taxing of foodproducts that are environmentally
damaging, to incentivize consumers
to make more responsible andsustainable food choices, as wellas incentive pricing for the lessimpacting food products in order toincentivize consumers to make more
responsible and sustainable foodchoices.

♦ C20 recommends implementing ascheme where every food packet
includes information on the man
hours involved, the number ofindividuals in the supply chain,resources utilised, thereby fostering
a gratitude-based approach that
promotes reduced consumption andwastage.

B. Climate-Resilient
Agriculture: Promoting
Sustainable Practices &Knowledge Transfer
Climate change impacts food security,
particularly in developing nations. According
to the World Bank, the growing impact
of climate change could further cut crop
yields, especially in the world’s most foodinsecure regions. Our food systems are also
responsible for about 30% of greenhousegas emissions. Current food systems also
threaten the health of people and theplanet and generate unsustainable levelsof pollution and waste. A third of global
food production is either lost or wasted.
Food insecurity worsens nutrition, causing
malnutrition, undernutrition, and obesity.
Roughly 3 billion people lack access to ahealthy diet.

37

Sustainable and Resilient Communities

Recommendations♦ C20 urges G20 to promote dynamic
management of crop diversity anddiversity-based strategies to ensure
nutritional needs of the communityand for more sustainable agroecosystems by emphasising bottomup approaches engaging with local
farmer networks in the perspectiveof agroecological approach.

Schemes need to be accompanied
by incentives such as subsidies, tax
exemptions, and low-interest loans
to farmers to adopt such practices.
♦ C20 recommends to raisecommunity awareness about
nutrition requirements throughschemes and foster a connection
between agricultural practices andfood grain production.

♦ Member nations need to enhance
global investment to promotesustainable agricultural practices.
Training and educational programs
need to be implemented to raiseawareness among rural communities
about the need for ecosystem
restoration, environmental shifts
and the impacts of climate change.

♦ C20 calls for the adoption andenforcement of robust regulations,limiting pesticide usage topermissible levels, in the agricultural
sector to safeguard the well-beingof individuals and the environment.

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C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

C. Prioritising Ecosystem Restoration,
Biodiversity Protection, Sustainable
Water Governance, and Coastal
Conser vation
The world is currently grappling withsignificant challenges in environmental
sustainability across sectors.
Biodiversity loss is accelerating and theInternational Union for Conservation of
Nature has listed a staggering 32,000
species listed as threatened, and theWWF has documented a distressing

68% decline in vertebrate populations
since 1970. Water scarcity is affecting
billions worldwide, as the UN estimatesthat 2.2 billion people lack access tosafe drinking water. Marine ecosystems
are under grave threat, with WWF
reporting that 90% of global fish stocks
are either fully exploited or overfished.

Recommendations♦ C20 recommends the protection ofimportant biodiversity hotspots,
ecosystems and the livelihoodsby addressing the challenges of
biodiversity loss and the spreadof invasive species throughconservation of native species andpromotion of ecovillages throughspecial schemes and funding
mechanisms.

and enforcement mechanisms
should be implemented, alongwith promoting water-efficient
practices at the community level.
Collaboration on integrated water
management, climate-resilient
infrastructure, and leveraging
wastewater for economic growthis crucial. Capacity building forcommunity water champions,along with the allocation of specificschemes and funding, are necessary.
Furthermore, the creation ofcertification and ranking systems forwater-wise communities should beprioritised.

♦ G20 must establish strong water
governance frameworks thatconsider climate change, ensuring
sustainable and high-quality water
availability. Legislation, monitoring,39

Sustainable and Resilient Communities♦ C20 recommends the stricter
enforcement of coastal protection
regulations and policies to safeguard
marine resources, ecosystems, andbiodiversity. Nature based solutions
should be integrated into territorialplanning for climate adaptationand infrastructure development
along with mobilising private andinternational funding, and matching
grants by recognizing their potential
to deliver benefits across sectors.

♦ C20 recommends to better protect
forest ecosystems in order tosecure in-situ carbon sequestration
and biodiversity, by labelling
new protected areas in line with
Montreal COP15 agreement, andby supporting the implementationof both biodiversity and carbon
favourable practices throughharmonised and science-based
certification schemes.

♦ C20 calls for the promotionof widespread tree plantation
initiatives, through simple andholistic approaches like the practiceof seed ball plantation to promoteafforestation, enhance soil quality,
combat air pollution and foster
ecological restoration at a global
scale.

40

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Net Zero Emissions Management
Despite strong emphasis on climatechange, environmental sustainability
and net-zero emissions, G20 stillaccounts for over 77% of greenhousegas (GHG) emissions. The transition
to net-zero is woefully inadequate,
mostly techno-solutions-focused,poorly-funded, slow, and unsustainable.
It has already exacerbated crisesof displacement and exploitationof vulnerable communities, caused

loss of livelihoods, and generated
non-recyclable waste. There is poorawareness and understanding of thecrisis at hand, solutions and theirfeasibility, the urgency for sustainable
solutions, the magnitude of financing
and monitoring needed for the same.
In all these aspects, maladaptation isarising as the most significant challenge
in transition to net-zero emissions.

Recommendations
A. Lifestyle Changes & Demand Reduction
G20 nations must commit to promoting sustainable lifestyles focused on reducing
the quantum of residual emissions that have to be balanced, by promoting solutions
that bridge socio-behavioural, infrastructural, and technological domains. C20 calls
for G20 nations to:♦ Redesign communities, urban form,
and infrastructure to drasticallyreduce induced GHG emissions.

enterprises and communities toreduce consumption and modify
behaviour and choices to achieve
lower per capita resource footprints
while ensuring wellbeing.

♦ Introduce policy incentives for highemission individuals, organisations,41

Sustainable and Resilient Communities♦ Promote redesign of living spaces- enhance efficiency in use of floor
space, increase daylighting andpassive thermal management, use
only smart appliances, minimisematerials in construction.

♦ Incentivize transitions to energy,
food, water, and resource selfsufficiency - on-site renewables andmicro-grids, household-level foodproduction, resource sharing, lifeenhanced and efficient products,
reuse and recycling, incentivize shift
to plant-based diet.

♦ Transformatively reduce total
geographical distances travelled
by individuals and goods minimise travel for work, promoteteleworking and shared pooled
mobility, promote city- and statelevel rail transport poweredby renewables, incentivise
decentralised, coupled productionconsumption infrastructures,
systems and provisioning ofservices.

♦ Design and promote energy,
emissions, and resource-efficient.
management of electronic devices.

B. Circular Economy
C20 urges G20 to mandate the use of circular economy principles in designing,financing and implementation of policies for transitions to net zero emissions by:♦ Accelerating time-bound planning,funding and development ofsolutions for recycling, reuse andvalorisation of spent waste arisingfrom the technologies being
adopted at global scale.

recycling, reuse and valorisation
solutions as the necessary condition
for a technology to be deemedsustainable.
♦ Promoting grassroots and frugal
innovations for sustainableemissions reductions.

♦ Mandating decentralised,affordable, efficient and clean

42

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

C. Deep Decarbonization
G20 must accelerate deep decarbonization initiatives across all sectors to achieve
tangible national and global targets for net zero emissions within 2050. C20 calls
for G20 nations to:♦ Immediately cease subsidies forfossil fuels.

♦ Mandate time-bound transition tosustainable feedstock for hard-toabate chemical industries.

♦ Transparently determine andcommit to peaks and timelines inemissions.

♦ Design, implement and monitor
solutions to prevent lock-in
emissions in future sectoral growth.

♦ Incentivise adoption of energyefficient appliances and solutions
across sectors and value chains.

♦ Effectively monitor and eliminate
greenwashing, green colonialism,
and monoculture plantations forcarbon capture.

♦ Mandate time-bound, renewablespowered electrification of energy/
thermal sources in industries andphasing out of coal & fossil fuels.

43

Sustainable and Resilient Communities

Compassion Driven Approaches to
Sustainable and Resilient Communities
The world is witnessing an alarming
rise in violence against both humanity
and the environment. Interpersonal
violence affects millions of people, witha staggering number of annual fatalities
globally. While efforts are being madeto address it, they alone are inadequate
to restore peace and harmony insociety and nature. People experience
two types of poverty in this world -poverty of food, clothing and shelterand poverty of love and compassion.
Compassion is the most importantfactor that can transform lives. If
we take this first step courageously,
without fear, then all of our decisions
and subsequent actions and theirresults will have a special beauty,
spontaneity and power.

Recommendations
A.Fostering Peace, Harmony, byintegrating Cultural Values andRediscovering Local Traditions♦ The G20 needs to prioritisepromoting a culture of peace,harmony with nature, and education
for building sustainable and resilient
communities, emphasising human,cultural, and spiritual values forcollective flourishing and well-being,
and integrate them effectively into
all public policies in a trans-sectoral
manner.

♦ Member countries need to develop
and implement strategies torediscover local traditions, mapthem with respect to fostering
peace, harmony and ecosystem
restoration. Develop scalable
models to train the future
generation in utilising local
traditions.

♦ G20 must develop and implement
experiential learning and hands
own approaches at schools anduniversities for promoting a cultureof peace and harmony with nature

44

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

♦ G20 should establish schemesthat will motivate multinational
corporations and businessenterprises to adopt rural enclaves
and provide support and funding
for the development of essential
infrastructure such as schools,
colleges, hospitals, and small-scaleindustries.
♦ G20 needs to recommend the local
universities to adopt the nearby
communities to engage, support
and work in a participatory manner
for identifying existing challenges,
developing sustainable and resilient

solutions, providing support inavailing existing government
schemes.
♦ C20 recommends prioritising youth
empowerment through compassiondriven approaches by engaging
young people in decision-making
processes with access to quality
education, skills training, andopportunities for leadership andentrepreneurship.

45

Sustainable and Resilient Communities

B. Compassion as a foundational
element in educational curriculum
1. G20 must consider mandating thedevelopment of compassion-based
educational frameworks that are
tailored to local cultural, social, andeconomic contexts, while ensuring
alignment with international
standards and global perspectives.
Furthermore, a course that teaches
compassion and selflessness needs
to be developed from kindergarten
to grade 12 and higher education.

resilience, and the cultivationof inner compassion within thelearning environment. A mandatory
textbook including all aspects ofthe greatness of selflessness andcompassion should be introduced.
Furthermore, countries should also
invest in designing reliable and valid
assessment methods.
3. G20 must prioritise awarenessprograms that highlight the valueof local experience, indigenous
knowledge, and social responsibility,
aiming to counter the invisibility ofthese important resources.

2. Member countries need to develop
training materials and in terventions
tailored for teachers and parents,
focusing on integrating self-care,46

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Udaaharans
We selected the following best practices to showcase the achievementsof high impact projects undertaken by civil society organisations.

1. Unnat Kheti – Children’s
Investment Fund Foundation
The project, initiated three years
ago, aims to promote Low Carbon
Agriculture (LCA) and natural farming
practices in India. It has successfully
trained and supported 18,000 farmers
including women. The project has also
facilitated market linkages for LCA
products, engaged cooperatives andcorporations in sustainable sourcing,and provided research-based support
to governments. The outcomes include
widespread adoption of natural farming
practices, the establishment of natural
farming boards in Uttar Pradesh,
Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, and theoperationalization of bio-resource
production centres run by women SelfHelp Groups.

47

Sustainable and Resilient Communities

2. SREE (Sustainability & Resilience forCommunity Engagement & Empowerment)
Platform - Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
The lack of effective measurement,
dissemination of information, anddynamic data analytics for communityscale sustainability and resilienceassessment poses challenges forcommunity-level decision-making.
To address this gap, a technologybased crowd-sourced platform
called Sustainability and Resilience
for Community Engagement andEmpowerment (SREE) has been
proposed. Integrated with amobile application called Empower
Community App, this platform enables

bottom-up assessments, knowledge
acquisition, and informed decisionmaking. SREE utilises geo-enabled
software and crowdsourced data tomeasure, map, analyse, and propose
recommendations for community-levelsustainability and resilience indicators.
Implemented in multiple countries,
this participatory solution allows formapping, monitoring, risk assessment,
and deriving recommendations forsustainability and resilience at various
scales.

48

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

River Revival &Water Management
Advancing Sustainability, Stakeholder
Engagement, & Ecosystem-Based Solutions
The G20 must come together to urgently tackle themounting water scarcity and pollution crisis which has thepotential to lead to large-scale conflicts and long-termsocial, ecological and economic disasters.
The C20 2023 Working Group on Revival of Rivers andWater Management emphasizes an ecology-centric
approach, stakeholder involvement, and international
cooperation to ensure the preservation and proper
management of rivers and freshwater bodies. The
Working Group focusses on the sub-themes of river
rejuvenation, water management and conservation, anddisaster management (floods and droughts).

49

River Revival and Water Management

The WG urges the G20 to commit topreserving and sustaining the natural
flow and self-purification capacity ofrivers. The Working Group has urged
governments to exercise stewardshipover water resources as a common
good which includes obtaining citizens’
consent for activities affecting water
resources, preventing environmentallyunsustainable projects, and ensuring
water education in school curricula
to promote awareness, conservation,and responsible use of water. States
are encouraged to include native,
traditional, and indigenous communities
and integrating their knowledge andpractices.

effective disaster management related
to floods and droughts. Exemplary
success stories from around the worldprovide valuable insights. Cross-borderknowledge-sharing to help in thereplication of best practices among G20
states is needed to prevent climateinduced migration and water conflicts.
The G20 is urged to incorporate
environmental factors and ecologicalsustainability in valuing water
resources, including implementing
the “polluter pays principle” foraccountability on water pollution andecosystem degradation, the “user pays
principle” to ensure that the cost ofwater usage reflects its full life cycle
costs and legally-binding obligations onlarge-scale users to maintain or restore
ecological conditions and prevent shortterm economic exploitation.

The G20 is called upon to leveragetechnology for the identification,
management, monitoring, anddissemination of information aboutwater systems. Such data must be
made publicly available and accessible
to citizens for their active participationin water protection and judicious use.
Additionally, the G20 must facilitate
technology and know-how transfers for

By implementing theserecommendations, the G20 can play a
crucial role in restoring and maintaining
freshwater availability and avoiding
water wars, ensuring a sustainable
future for all.

50

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Introduction
Water is the bloodstream of humancivilization. The scarcity of clean andpure water threatens the survival of
all living beings in the ecosystem.
Human activity has steadily reduced
the amount of fresh water available.
Competing demands for water fromagriculture, industry, energy production
and basic human consumption intensify
the pressure on overground resources
and underground reservoirs. A
significant proportion of water bodies
are contaminated. Dramatic changes inthe volume and period of rainfall due
to anthropogenic factors have createda water crisis. Large rivers that wereonce perennial now run practicallydry through the year. Other species– plants, animals, birds and evenmicrobial life – are being destroyed withdisappearing water habitats. Conditions
that create moderate short-term
economic gain also consequently risk

medium-to-long term social, ecological,
political, and economic disaster.
G20 leaders must come together
to urgently address the mounting
challenges on our doorsteps. Thoughwater conflicts are not a novel
phenomenon, the possibility of largescale human conflicts due to water
scarcity in the very near future isalarming. The question is, what would ittake for the G20 to achieve all of this intandem and with swiftness?
Appeal to the G20 Leadership: There isan urgent need for globally replicableand scalable frameworks built onconsensus, combining economic andecological sustainability, combining
indigenous wisdom, sound technology
and robust sociological and governanceprocesses to create a water-sustainable
future for all.

51

River Revival and Water Management

Working Group Themes
The UN’s SDG 61-Ensure availability andsustainable management of water andsanitation for all - has six targets ofwhich targets 6.322, 6.433, 6.54 4, 6.655
and 6.a66 & 6.b77 are relevant to thisWorking Group8 on ‘Revival of Rivers &Water Management’9.

basins are experiencing above naturalfluctuations in surface water in the last
five years11. ODA12 commitments tothe water sector have declined since2017 surfacing a need for alternate
finance towards meeting targets. The
proportion of countries demonstratinga high level of local community
participation in water resourcesmanagement remains small (<40%)13.

This WG notes that all SDG6 targets
show varying levels of achievement
so far. Achieving universal coverageby 2030 will require a 6-fold increasein current global progress rates ondrinking water. Domestic wastewater
trends show limited progress towards
halving the proportion of unsafe
discharges by 2030, water stress10 levels

The World Bank informs that floods anddroughts have increased especially inthe last two decades (recording 1.65
billion flood-affected people and 1.43
billion drought-affected people) andmore in news since 202114.

show regional variations and indicate
a 1.2% increase between 2015-2020.
One in two countries lacks effective
frameworks for sustainable water
management, and one in five river

The European Parliamentary ResearchService’s 2021 briefing15 stated that,while there wasn’t any standardized
definition of “climate refugees” (the52

C20 India 2023 - Policy Packsuch mass migration and potential
international conflicts.

alternate term is “climate migrants”),
over 318 million persons had been
displaced since 2008 until the dateof the document because of climate
disasters. Since then, further climateextreme events, including drought
or extreme heatwave conditions,hurricanes/cyclones of growing
intensity, irrational rainfall patterns,
and flooding have affected wideswathes of the population around theworld.

The C20 Working Group on Revivalof Rivers and Water Management
came together to take stock of sector
progress, deliberate on the challenges
and propose steps towards creating
lasting solutions.
The WG comprised of highly
experienced experts in this area,
stakeholders, community members,
government officials, and CSOs17.

On a longer timescale, the trendsof rainfall variation and water
scarcity have the potential to haveintergenerational impact such as
exacerbating poverty, washing out
livelihoods, prompting migrationand human suffering, and increasing
economic costs as climate change
becomes more widespread, rapid, andintense16.

On the back of discussions onpressing issues of water exploitation,
scarcity, encroachments, pollution,
privatization and commodification,
policy and governance worldwide, theWG contributed insights across 3 subthemes for ‘Revival of Rivers and Water
Management’ including:
1. River Rejuvenation

While previously the displacement ofpeople due to climate-related disasters
usually happened within a country’s
borders and was the sole concern ofthe national government, increasingly
populations may seek food, shelterand livelihood across borders. Thus,
corrective measures on water security
are absolutely essential to avoid

2. Water Management & Conservation
3. Disaster Management (floods anddroughts)

53

River Revival and Water Management

The three sub-themes have been
considered by the Working Group on
a foundation of tactical, strategic andinstitutionalizing measures. The subthemes fit into climate change, the key
priority of India’s G20 Presidency andwould also help towards accelerating
progress on SDGs18.
To create the policy recommendations,
the Working Group has discussed areas
including:

1. River Rejuvenation from 3. Role of Communit y andOrigin to Confluence
Multiple Stakeholders•

Riverine ecosystems and Ecosystem
Services•

Forestry interventions including
agroforestry, ecotourism andconservation measures•

Watershed management, catchment
area treatment and ecologicalrestoration measures

2. Flood mitigation anddrought management••

Flood management tactics andstrategies in high rainfall and floodprone areas
Policies, regulations and guidelines
for prevention and mitigation offlood and related disasters

54•

River basin management:
Technology innovations; Community
empowerment, youth participationand delegation of power amongst
communities•

Traditional knowledge on riverflows and its applications in river
rejuvenation•

Community-centric Engineering of
Water Infrastructure•

Water conservation measures•

Addressing the Commodification of
the Water Commons•

Catalysing Broad-based Community
Financial Participation in Revival ofRivers•Catalysing Philanthropic Capital /Private Capital for Nature Based
Solutions through outcome-based
financing mechanisms

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Udaaharans-E xemplar y Stories of Success
Exemplary stories or best practices raise awareness of what worked and encourage
replicating (or tweaking) practices across G20 countries, challenge conventional
practices and develop a shared vision to attain desired outcomes.

A.Revival of Ar vari basin, Rajasthan, India:♦ River dried after excess groundwater
withdrawal and extraction in 1985.
♦ Community mobilised to build
structures for water retention andto route rainwater using traditional
harvesting systems♦ Achieved increased water level inwells and groundwater recharge due
to less extraction.
♦ Arvari Parliament formed toestablish community-led
ownership of the river.
Alignment with WG’s policy thrust:

55»

Community-driven anddecentralized water management»

Leveraging palaeogeologicalknowledge

River Revival and Water Management

B. Cooperation for sustainable development of the
Mekong River Basin S ystem, South-east Asia:♦ World’s 12th longest river running
through 6 riparian countries.
♦ Due to continued regional conflictand geo-political barriers, there
were no structures on the Lower
Mekong mainstream.
♦ The Mekong Agreement was signed
amongst the Lower Mekong River
Basin States (LMRBS) Cambodia,
Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam in1995 that dealt majorly with water
allocation.
♦ It led to dam development withcross-border consensus and “tocooperate in a constructive andmutually beneficial manner forsustainable development, utilization,conservation and management of
the Mekong River Basin water andrelated resources.”21

Alignment with Working Group’s policy thrust:♦ The Agreement is the outcomeof more than 40 years years ofregional and supra-regional efforts
to cooperatively manage the riverwater/related resources. Each party
had distinct issues & the Agreement
benefited all by resolving via
cooperative development of the
LMRB.

56

»

International/cross-border cooperations
and management.

»

Ecosystem services»

Reflects best practice of internationalriver basins to turn Potential Conflicts into
Potential Cooperations (PCCP).

»

Eco-centric development model impacting
livelihoods/marginalization of people due
to dam development.

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

C. Indian cit y of Chennai bounces back from Day Zero
♦ Excess demand over water supply, damage
to catchments, and extreme weather
created acute water scarcity.
♦ Chennai mandated rainwater harvesting,and actively began recycling waste water(aiming for a target of 75% reuse rate)♦ Networks of nature-based solutions havebeen created by CSOs, including rainwater
harvesting (RWH), vegetation ditches andanaerobic treatment to recharge aquifers.
Alignment with WG’s policy thrust:»

A combination of technological solutions todesalinate water and recover waste water, as
well as nature-based solutions»

Multi-stakeholder alignment between public,
CSOs, and government

D. Delivering Change Programme Water Project,
2014, Maharashtra state, India♦ Aimed to assist the Governmentof Maharashtra (GoM) to deliver a“Water for All by 2019” vision via
ensuring adequate & consistentwater supply for a Drought Free
Maharashtra.

Alignment with Working Group’s policy
thrust:57»

Leveraging multi-stakeholder andmultidisciplinary platforms forconsensus-led solutions.

»

Process-oriented (lab-based) approach.

River Revival and Water Management♦ 70+ participants; 60+ organizations;30+ meetings; 32 initiatives
developed (water source &conservation, agriculture anddomestic & industry); 240+ hours lab
effort; 4 months ground-level prelab research.

♦ 7.2 BCM23 of additional water
created. Initiatives designed withpotential to increase surface water
capture (to 36.35% from 32%);
increase ground water levels (to36.32 BCM from 33.95 BCM);
increase irrigation potential to
5.8 Million Ha; and improve watersupply to 91 ULBs

♦ Resulted in water sufficient
Maharashtra.

Policy Recommendations
life-forms, as different from a canalwhich is man-made and a boundstructure.

Keeping in mind the urgency of thechallenges facing humanity, andwith the underlying G20 leadershipcommitments already in place,
the WG submits the following
recommendations. Many need only
conscientious implementation ofexisting legal and other frameworks,
rather than the promulgation of newlaws or signing of new agreements.

♦ The State must exercise
stewardship over water resources
as a commons and protect them inconjunction with their associatedecological functions, such that:
1. It respects the rights andrelationships of citizens withwater and water ecosystems,
and ensures their free, prior,and informed consent for any
activities on and/or affecting
water resources and related
ecosystems♦ Governments and people must
commit to an ecology-centric
approach to maintain the natural,continuous and free flow of rivers
and their self- purification capacity;
the very definition of a river is that
it is a natural flow of water with its
own structure, life, and dependent

2. It prevents projects aroundriverine systems whose58

C20 India 2023 - Policy Packled solutions to reviving rivers andfreshwater bodies, including but
not limited to:environmental cost isunreasonable or excessive incomparison to the benefits
derived from any part of and/or
the whole of those projects

1. Ensuring participation of native,
traditional, & indigenous
communities and their practices
to benefit from palaeogeologicalknowledge, tools, and techniques
for river restoration and water
management

3. It makes age-appropriate water
education a mandatory part of
the K-12 curriculum, includingsite visits and interactions
with local freshwater bodies,
specifically the local sources ofdomestic water, so as to foster
sensitivity, awareness, and ahealthy relationship with water
and water ecosystems, andpromote judicious use, reuse,and conservation of water

2. Decentralizing river management
and river revival projects basedon ecological, geographical,
morphological, territorial,administrative, and other such
related factors as necessary toeffectively plan, execute, andmonitor strategies suited to eachsegment along the length of a riverand its tributaries

4. It undertakes the enactment
and implementation of strict
pollution prevention laws to
keep human generated pollution
such as industrial effluents,
urban solid waste and effluents,
agricultural waste, and any otheruntreated water generated
from human activity frombeing directly discharged into
freshwater bodies

3. Consult and include stakeholders
such as NGOs, INGOs, FBOs,
corporate bodies, private
entrepreneurs, private sector,
start-ups, youth, and experts fromdifferent fields of humanities,
sciences, and finance to develop andimplement a holistic framework forwater management and river revival.

♦ States must engage
multidisciplinary stakeholder
groups for ground-up consensus-

59River Revival and Water Management

4. Promote regular dialogues
between the various stakeholders
mentioned above to align interests,
onboarding, removing roadblocks,
identifying actionable steps forsmooth execution, and monitoringand measuring the effectiveness ofprojects undertaken for the revival
and management of water resources

is made publicly available andaccessible for the knowledge andperusal of citizens to get involvedin the protection and judicious
use of water and water systems
Technology innovation andintervention is facilitated fordisaster management (floods anddroughts)♦ The G20 must lead in leveraging
technology to explore, document,
manage, implement, monitor anddisseminate information aboutwater systems, such that:♦ G20 states must strengthencross-border agreements andcooperation to prevent climate
migration, prevent water conflicts
and water wars
♦ G20 must show leadership inincluding environmental factors
and ecological sustainability in

1. All water bodies are identified,demarcated, notified, managed,
and monitored, the data of which60

C20 India 2023 - Policy Packthe correct valuation of water
resources and their services basedon the following frameworks:

ecological conditions of water
resources and their ecosystemservices are maintained (or to berestored, if degraded), keeping
in mind that the water commonsare often exploited for shortterm economic gains by private
or public parties without paying
heed to the long term ecological,
social or even economic
degradation being caused.

1. “Polluter pays”, where those
who cause water pollution andecosystem degradation shallbear the costs of restoring andcompensating for any harmcaused to human health and/or
the environment
2. “User pays”, such that usageof water shall be at cost basedon the full life cycle of costs ofextraction, provision, disposal,
and replacement of the water
resource

4. Since rivers and freshwater
bodies may cross jurisdictions
and even national boundaries,
the G20 needs to create
multilateral governanceframeworks and mechanisms
to define these principles andenforce the effects.

3. Legally-binding obligations onlarge-scale users to ensure that

The G20 must initiate an integrated approach imbibing consensus and pledges,
sustainability, and robust processes using both technical and financial resources.
The process framework would support the validation of what works and what
doesn’t and take solutions to countries accordingly. This approach will be governedby the following guiding principles:

61

River Revival and Water Management♦ Make the solution scalable,
replicable, and adaptable to the
local context

Government, private and otheraffected agencies♦ Identify entry points for short-termand long-term action plans♦ Ensure participation and consensus
of all stakeholders involved,
especially the public at large, alongwith Civil Society Organizations,♦ Ensure availability of sustainablefinancing for implementing plans.

Conclusion
and need to be supported considering
unique needs of their local economies
and neither should face a scarcity tosave the other.

Attention has been accorded to rivers
and water in the past G20 summits.
An enhanced focus under the ongoing
G20 Presidency is encouraging. No
discussion on climate change iscomplete without including water as“water is the leverage for best climate
impact”, hence to a large extent SDGs
13 and 6 should go hand-in-hand inpolicy, planning, and execution.

Policy decisions need to be taken now
to avert new failures and perhaps evenrepair the old ones. Sound decisions,both at individual country level and at
the G20 level, would underscore thesublime importance of the precious
water resource on which depends theexistence of all life.

Cross-border cooperation, withprocess-orientated methodology andcontextualization of exemplary stories
of success can produce replicable andscalable impact projects across G20
countries. It is imperative to drive
efforts that are not one-off, rather
sustainable and process-oriented. Bothurban and rural ecosystems are valuable

There is an imperative, undeniable
need for the confluence of community
participation, traditional knowledge,
and technological innovations
to achieve sustainable solutions.
Exemplary success stories from aroundthe world provide valuable insights

62

C20 India 2023 - Policy Packand encourage the replication of bestpractices. The policy recommendations
stress the importance of an ecologycentric approach, stewardshipover water resources, stakeholder
engagement, technology utilization,
cross-border cooperation, and theinclusion of environmental factors
in water resource valuation. By
implementing these recommendations,
the G20 can play a crucial role inrestoring and maintaining freshwater
availability and avoiding water wars,
ensuring a sustainable future for all.

This policy brief emphasizes that wemust ensure that the way we aredeveloping the sector is by moving
towards an eco-centric rather thanan anthropocentric development. It
is imperative that river revival andwater management be attended towith priority and with the enhanced
status that natural capital deserves
via recycling, reuse, rejuvenation/
restoration and repair.

References
withdrawals and supply offreshwater to address water scarcity
and substantially reduce the numberof people suffering from water
scarcity.

1. Sustainable Development Goal
(SDG) 6 of the United Nations (UN):https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal6
2. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water
quality by reducing pollution,
eliminating dumping and minimizing
release of hazardous chemicals andmaterials, halving the proportionof untreated wastewater andsubstantially increasing recycling
and safe reuse globally

4. Target 6.5: By 2030, implement
integrated water resourcesmanagement at all levels, including
through transboundary cooperation
as appropriate
5. Target 6.6.: By 2020, protect andrestore water-related ecosystems,
including mountains, forests,
wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes

3. Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially
increase water-use efficiency acrossall sectors and ensure sustainable

63

River Revival and Water Management

6. Target 6.a: By 2030, expand
international cooperation andcapacity building support todeveloping countries in water-andsanitation-related

Climate Change (IPCC) Report, 2021.
https://www.ipcc.ch/2021/08/09/
ar6-wg1-20210809-pr/
14. The organisations whose
representatives lent theirperspectives and expertise to theWorking Group Conclave in Pune,
India are available on request.

7. Water stress: The UN defines water
stress as: “The point at which
the aggregate impact of all users
impinges on the supply or quality ofwater under prevailing institutionalarrangements to the extent that thedemand by all sectors, including theenvironment, cannot be satisfied
fully.” (United Nations, 2012).

15. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.
aspx?PRID=1882356- Press Release– Ministry of External Affairs 10 DEC
2022 7:10PM by PIB Mumbai

8. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal6

16. http://www.
internationalwatersgovernance.com/
uploads/1/3/5/2/13524076/mekong.
pdf

9. ODA: Official Development
Assistance
10. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal6

17. Agreement on the Cooperation for
the Sustainable Development of the
Mekong River Basin

11. https://www.worldbank.org/en/
topic/water/publication/an-epicresponse-innovative-governancefor-flood-and-drought-riskmanagement

18. Mekong River Commission. 1995.
“On Cooperation for the Sustainable
Development of the Mekong River
Basin.”

12. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/
RegData/etudes/BRIE/2021/698753/
EPRS_BRI(2021)698753_EN.pdf

19. World Water Atlas: ‘Water as
Leverage Programme’ https://www.
worldwateratlas.org/curated/wateras-leverage/

13. As per Intergovernmental Panel on

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C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Gender Equality& Women’s
Empowerment
Comprehensive and holistic approach toachieving gender equality
Cross-cutting recommendations include improving
gender-disaggregated data collection to inform
decision-making, integrating monitoringand evaluation into policy development fortransparency and accountability, allocating
sufficient resources to implement gender equality
policies and programmes, ensuring intersectional
policy and programme design, and prioritisingsafety and security for girls and women in all
aspects of life.

65

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment

Thematic recommendations focus on specific areas:♦ Prioritising mental health is crucial,and investing in accessible mental
health services for women andgirls can yield significant benefits.
Inclusive, comprehensive national
mental health policies should be
developed, and mental healtheducation should be integrated into
schools and workplaces.

sensitisation and transformativeeducation should be provided to all
stakeholders.
♦ Disaster preparedness andmanagement should include
women and girls as they aredisproportionately negatively
affected. Mandating theirrepresentation in decision-making
bodies, conducting gender andvulnerability assessments, providing
gender-responsive training,and collaborating with localorganisations are essential.

♦ Expanding access to education,
particularly for rural andmarginalised women and girls, isrequired. Barriers to education,such as safety concerns, inadequate
sanitation facilities, and lack ofdigital infrastructure and access toit, must be addressed. Establishinggender-responsive learning centres,
ensuring access for marginalised
groups, improving existing sanitation
infrastructure, and expanding
internet connectivity and access toit are key goals.

♦ Promoting women’s economic
empowerment is critical. Enhancing
financial inclusion and promoting
economic opportunities for women
through stronger collaboration
among financial institutions,
government, private sector andcivil society organisations can havea significant impact on women’s
economic empowerment andeconomic growth.

♦ Engaging men and boys is vital forachieving gender equality. Harmfulsocial norms contribute to issues likeviolence against women, and gender66

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Gender inequality is internationallyrecognised as a cross-cutting issue
that must be addressed to achieve
the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) and the realisation of basic
human rights. Considering that all
G20 countries have adopted the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development,
gender equality and empowering all
women and girls are intrinsic objectives.
However, a pernicious and persistent
gap remains: Women comprise 49.7%of the world’s population1, yet theWorld Economic Forum’s Gender Gap
Report (2023) estimates it will takeanother 131 years to attain a genderequal society at the current pace2.

and control over economic resources,
they contribute more to sustainable
development; children are less likely
to suffer from malnutrition andmore likely to be educated. Women’s
empowerment has long-term positive
impacts on a family’s economic status,
significantly reducing poverty, andwomen are more likely to promote
environmentally sustainable practices
in agriculture and consumption6.
Gender equality is vital to achieving
a regenerative, harmonious, andprosperous world, and empowering
women is a critical component ofachieving gender equality.

Women hold only 33% of leadership
positions across public and private
sectors3, earn less than men, are overrepresented in low-paying jobs, areless likely to own land and control
assets than men, and have limited
influence over important decisions 4.
Women are also exponentially more
vulnerable to discrimination, violence,
sex and labour trafficking, the effects
of climate change and disasters,
food insecurity, and lack of access to
education and healthcare, among otherdisproportionately negative impacts5.
When women are empowered witheducation and decision-making power,
together with access to and ownership

Achieving gender equality cannot
be accomplished through isolated
or fragmented approaches. Instead,a comprehensive, holistic, systemic
approach must be adopted to achievesustainable and long-lasting results7.
The following policy recommendations
aim to advance such an approach,highlighting the inter-connected natureof these policies.

67

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment

Cross-Cutting Recommendations
The following five key components
reflect gaps in cross-cutting issues thathave weakened previous policy designs
and their implementation. Therefore,
these must be incorporated into allpolicies and programmes to successfully
realise the SDGs.

Further, data collection should
include regular, periodic audits of
the implementation processes ofpolicies and programmes. Incentives
should be put in place to ensurehigh-quality processes and datacollection.

1. Improve, increase, and incentivise
high-quality gender-disaggregateddata collection. This requires
dedicated, inter-sectoral resources
to design data collection protocols
that reflect holistic indicatorson gender, society, economics,
environment, health, education,and safety; design appropriate toolsthat will facilitate data collection;and teams of social and data
scientists to extract meaningful
insights from the collected data.

2. Allocate sufficient financial andhuman resources to genderequality policies and programmes.
Mandate the integration of genderbudgeting into existing publicfinancial management and in futurereforms. Gender budgeting must
be included throughout the entire
budget cycle, applicable to planning,budget execution, reporting, impact
evaluation, and reflection upon
efficacy. Incorporating genderbudgeting and the allocation of68

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

adequate human resources into
all phases of the budget cycle will
improve sustainability of genderpolicies and programmes and improve
gender-related outcomes.
3. Ensure monitoring, evaluation, andimpact assessments are integrated
into developing all policies andprogrammes. This entails thecreation of context-appropriate key
performance indicators and expected
outcomes, which should be publicly
available. Additionally, evaluation
reports should be published toprovide a comprehensive overview ofthe progress made. By adopting thisapproach, organisations can enhanceaccountability, facilitate evidencebased decision-making, and fostertransparency.

First responders, criminal justiceworkers, social servants, and the
medical community should be
actively engaged. The most effective
initiatives to reduce violenceagainst women and girls require a
community-based, multi-pronged
approach and sustained engagementwith multiple stakeholders. These
initiatives should address underlying
risk factors, such as gender roles andthe acceptability of violence9.
5. Develop intersectional policy andprogramme design. Develop policies
and programmes that are targeted,tailored, flexible, and cognisantof the different identities womencarry. These involve understanding
the specific challenges faced byindigenous women, LGBTQ+ women,
women of colour, women withdisabilities, and others. Recognisethese experiences and barriers
to design more effective policies
that are responsive to the uniqueneeds of diverse groups of women.
Stakeholder participation, including
those from traditionally marginalised
groups, should be increased at alllevels of decision-making processes.
Ensuring that policy development
includes voices representative of all
aspects of intersectionality will resultin more equitable policies.

4. Incorporate safety and security
into all aspects of life, with special
attention paid to institutional
approaches to ensuring girls’ andwomen’s safety. One of the primarycharacteristics of gender-based
violence (GBV) is that it cuts acrossall boundaries - social, economic,
and political - therefore requiringurgent attention in developing anddeveloped nations alike8. Schools,
workplaces, and public spaces need
to be designed (or re-designed) withsafety and security as a priority.

69

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment

Thematic Recommendations
Prioritise Mental Health
In 2022, global costs of mental healthdisorders were estimated at 4.7
trillion USD and are expected to growsignificantly annually10. However,countries’ mental health spending
remains low, with less than 2% of
health budgets allocated on average,
particularly in low-income countries11.
Despite one in ten individuals being inneed of mental health care, government
spending in low-income countries is
estimated at less than 1 USD per capita.
For example, investing in scaled-up
treatment for depression and anxiety
can yield a 4 USD return in better
health and productivity for every 1 USD
invested12.

Specifically, women face a significantly
higher lifetime risk of mood disorders
and anxiety compared to men13.
Investing in accessible mental healthservices for women and girls offers
extensive economic and social benefits,
including the potential to reduce theinter-generational transmission ofmental illness. However, addressing
men’s mental health issues is also
crucial for achieving gender equality14,
as there is a strong link between
men’s mental health and gender-based
violence15. Early intervention andprevention programmes for mental
health, particularly in schools andcommunity settings, can significantly70C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

reduce mental health problems inadulthood16. Such programmes,

strained, and mental health conditions
are even more prevalent.

incorporating robust social-emotional
learning skills, have shown positive
outcomes for mental health17, all ofwhich are vital in the post-Covid-19 era
when global health systems are still

Revamp existing or develop
comprehensive national mental healthpolicies to:

1. Incorporate social-emotional
learning and mandatory mental
health education in schools andworkplaces by 2025.

4. Ensure mental health is integrated
into all primary care services by
2030, and that access to these
services is subsidised or free of cost.

2. Increase access to mental healthservices for underrepresented
communities by providing financial
incentives to healthcare providers toserve these communities by 2025.

5. Increase the number of communitybased mental health services
available in underserved areas by
50% by 2030.

3. Increase funding for publicprivate partnerships to expand
access to mental health services inunderserved areas by 50% by 2030.

71Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment

E xpand Education and Continuing Education to
Reach Rural and Marginalised Women
While most countries have achieved
gender parity in primary school
enrolment, approximately 129 million
girls are still not attending school, with97 million of them being of secondary
school age18. Such statistics highlight the

Barriers to girls’ and women’s
education include safety, inadequate
sanitation facilities, and lack of digital
infrastructure and access to it. Providing
proper sanitation facilities in schools
increases girls’ attendance rates by 11%
and improves academic performance20.
Additionally, expanding internet access,especially for girls and women in rural
areas of developing countries, has asubstantial impact on reducing poverty
and promoting gender equality21.

need to address low completion rates
and target underserved populations forsustainable gender parity in education.
Investing in women’s education has
significant financial benefits, as eachyear of education can increase earnings
by 10%, and educating all girls andwomen could boost global GDP by up to
112 billion USD annually19.
1. Establish and operate genderresponsive, accessible, andaffordable learning centres inunderserved areas by 2030. This
includes migrant and immigrant
populations and rural areas.

4. Improve sanitation and hygiene inall existing education infrastructure;provide all newly-built infrastructurewith safe, functioning, hygienic
facilities suitable for girls’ andwomen’s needs.

2. Ensure that at least 80% of
uneducated girls in all their diversity,
marginalised groups, and migrants
have access to learning centres andonline education by 2030.

5. Aggressively implement a strategy
to ensure last-mile connectivity forunder-served populations. (e.g., The
International Telecommunication
Union’s Last-mile Internet
Connectivity Solutions Guide22, or

3. Increase the percentage of girls
in all their diversity, marginalised
groups and migrants who complete
secondary education or equivalent
by at least 50% by 2030.

alternative) to ensure technologicalliteracy for girls and women. Achieve
80% connectivity with minimum
speeds of 25 Mbps by 2030.

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C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Engage Men & Boys
Engaging men and boys is critical togender equality and a key componentof a holistic approach. The negative
effects of social norms on men often
contribute to violence against women,
harmful gender stereotypes, and manyother negative outcomes23. Studies toand sexually aggressive24. Internalisingthese beliefs leads to a range ofnegative outcomes, including sexual
violence, traffic accidents, bullying,violence, suicide, binge drinking, anddepressive symptoms in men aged 1830 in the US, costing the US economy
at least 15.7 billion USD annually25. The
same issues cost the UK 3.8 billion USD
and Mexico 1.4 billion USD26. In addition
to global mental health efforts,
specific gender sensitisation efforts
need to be implemented.

measure the effects of harmful social
norms on men and boys have beendeveloped, including an evaluation ofa concept called the “Man Box”. Thisrefers to harmful beliefs that pressure
men to conform to certain stereotypes,
including being tough, self-sufficient,

1. All educational institutions,workplaces, government offices,and non-government organisations
must provide gender sensitisationand masculinities’ transformativeeducation to their staff, children,
parents, policy-makers, judiciary,and front-line workers by 2030.

3. All curricula should include
culturally and age-appropriate
sexual and reproductive healthand rights and responsibilitiesof all genders, awarenessof alternative masculinities,
sexual and gender diversity
awareness, sexual harassment, antiviolence and anti-bias campaigns,
and online safety by 2030.

2. Ensure that 80% of educational
institutions, workplaces, government
offices, and non-governmentorganisations receive regular
audits of their gender sensitisationand masculinities’ transformativeeducation programs by 2030.

4. At least 50% of all educational
institutions, workplaces, government
offices, and non-governmentorganisations should havemeasurable targets for engaging
men and boys in the context ofgender equality by 2030.

73

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment

Disaster Preparedness and Management
Women and girls, particularly those inlower socio-economic populations, aredisproportionately negatively impacted
by environmental degradation anddisasters. Yet, women are typicallynot systematically included in thedesign, implementation, monitoringand evaluation of disaster risk
reduction and resilience efforts or inother environmental decision-making

efforts. Women’s roles as key
stakeholders in agriculture, biodiversity
preservation, and as transmittersof inter-generational values andsustainable environmental practices
are vital contributions to disaster
preparedness. In particular, indigenous
keepers of traditional knowledge havea long-held understanding of the plant
and animal species that inhabit theirregions and the sustainable practices
that allow them to flourish. It is
important to include indigenous andnative peoples, especially women, inplanning and decision-making processes
to prevent or mitigate climate-induced
natural disasters. Several agencies of
the United Nations have developed
programmes to address genderinequality in disaster preparedness andrelief from multiple angles, but men still
hold 94% of managerial roles in the fieldof disaster risk reduction. Upon closer
look, women in managerial positions areconcentrated in roles such as personnel
and public relations rather than direct
management of disaster response
programs.

roles. This has resulted in persistentinequalities in women’s access tohousing, education, health services,safety, employment, and other postdisaster economic reconstruction
1. Mandate a minimum representationof at least 50% women, girls, andother vulnerable groups in disasterrisk reduction and management(DRRM) planning and policy

development committees, task
forces, and decision-making bodies
and ensure this target is met by
2030.

74

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

communities within the next three
years, focusing on empowering
women and girls as leaders in
disaster management.

2. Conduct gender and vulnerability
assessments in all disaster-prone
areas within the next three years.
3. Implement specialised genderresponsive DRRM training for atleast 500 policymakers, planners,
and practitioners in G20 countries,
annually.

5. Collaborate with local organisations,NGOs, and community leaders todeliver awareness programmes andchallenge gender norms in at least
90% of targeted communities.

4. Establish community-based training
initiatives in 50% of disaster-prone

Women’s Economic Empowerment
Access to finance for women
entrepreneurs has a significant impact
on economic growth. Studies indicatethat closing the gender finance gap indeveloping countries could unlock USD
5.5 trillion in global gross domestic
product (GDP) by 2025. Advancing
women’s access to finance equality
could also add USD 12 trillion to global
GDP by 2025. Additionally, women-led
start-ups generate 78 cents in revenue
for every dollar of funding, compared to
31 cents for start-ups founded by men.
Furthermore, companies with more
women in senior management positions
have better financial performance,with a six percentage points higher
net profit margin for companies withat least 30% women in leadership
positions. Enhancing financial inclusion

75

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment

and promoting other economic
opportunities can be achieved byenabling convergence among financial

institutions, government, private sector,
and CSOs.
Specifically:

1. Mandate financial service providers
to allocate a minimum of 33% of
their credit portfolio specificallyfor micro, small, and medium scale
enterprises led by women andmarginalised groups.

3. Provide capacity building andskills development to women andmarginalised groups to accessemployment, entrepreneurship andinvestment opportunities in frontier
technologies and the green and blue
economies.

2. Incentivise loan officers to positively
consider applications from womenbusiness owners and institute an“if not/why not” accountability
framework, under which loan
officers must explain why a loan
application submitted by a woman
was rejected.

4. Encourage gender-responsive public
procurement programmes in G20
countries; mandate Environmental,
Social and Governance (ESG)
reporting by the top 1000 publicly
listed companies, encouraging
reporting on gender-responsive
corporate procurement as a metric.

Conclusion
expanding access to education,
engaging men and boys, including
women in disaster preparedness andmanagement, and promoting women’s
economic empowerment. These
recommendations, with adequate
human and financial resources, when
implemented, will contribute tocreating a regenerative, harmonious,and prosperous world where genderequality is a reality.

Achieving gender equality andwomen’s empowerment requires acomprehensive and holistic approach.
Cross-cutting recommendations
include improving genderdisaggregated data collection,
integrating monitoring and evaluation
into policy development, allocating
sufficient resources, and prioritisingsafety and security for women andgirls. Thematic recommendations
focus on prioritising mental health,76

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

References
1.

2.

3.

https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/
SP.POP.TOTL.FE.ZS

10. https://www.thelancet.com/

journals/eclinm/article/PIIS25895370(22)00405-9/fulltext

https://www.weforum.org/reports/
global-gender-gap-report-2023/digest

11. Mental health atlas 2017. Geneva:

World Health Organization; 2018.
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

https://www.weforum.org/reports/
global-gender-gap-report-2022/

12. Mental health matters, The Lancet
4.

https://ourworldindata.org/
economic-inequality-by-gender5.

https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/
in-focus/commission-on-the-statusof-women-2012/facts-and-figures

Global Health, Editorial, Vol. 8, Issue
11, E1352, November 2020
13. Ibid.
14. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/

ark:/48223/pf0000377859.locale=en6.

7.

https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/
in-focus/commission-on-the-statusof-women-2012/facts-and-figures

15. Gevers, A., & Dartnall, E. (2014).

Gressel, C. M., Rashed, T., Maciuika,
L. A., Sheshadri, S., Coley, C.,
Kongeseri, S., & Bhavani, R. R. (2020).
Vulnerability mapping: A conceptual
framework towards a context-based
approach to women’s empowerment.
World Development Perspectives, 20,100245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
wdp.2020.100245

16. Kessler RC, Berglund P, Demler

8.

Ibid.

9.

https://www.worldbank.org/en/
topic/socialsustainability/brief/
violence-against-women-and-girls

The role of mental health in primaryprevention of sexual and genderbased violence. Global health action,
7, 24741. https://doi.org/10.3402/
gha.v7.24741

O, Jin R, Merikangas KR, Walters
EE. Lifetime Prevalence and Ageof-Onset Distributions of DSMIV Disorders in the National
Comorbidity Survey Replication. ArchGen Psychiatry.2005;62(6):593–602.
doi:10.1001/archpsyc.62.6.593.
17. The Future of Children Princeton-

Brookings, Volume 27, Number 1,
Spring 2017.

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Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment

c4487bc06c0c37d4c3c821248d030&it
emIGO=oecd&itemContentType=book#section-d1e6835

18. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/

girlseducation
19. UNESCO. (2018). Fact Sheet: Girls’

Education and Gender Equality. Paris:
UNESCO.

28. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/

disasterriskmanagement/publication/
gender-dynamics-of-disaster-risk-andresilience

20. https://www.ungei.org/gender-

equality-and-girls-and-womensempowerment-through-educationguidelines

29. https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-

stories/explainer/2022/02/explainerhow-gender-inequality-and-climatechange-are-interconnected

21. United Nations Development

Programme. (2016). “Transforming
Our World: The 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development.”

30. https://www.un.org/en/un-chronicle/

progress-development-globallyaccessible-early-warning-systemsgender-dimension

22. https://www.itu.int/pub/D-

TND-01-2020
31. https://www.ifc.org/wps/
23. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/

wcm/connect/de9a7ee8-940a450a-bb19-eb452f9fa08e/
SheWorks+Final+Report.
pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=lDhiP4z

ark:/48223/pf0000377859.locale=en
24. Heilman, B., Guerrero-López, C. M.,

Ragonese, C., Kelberg, M., and Barker,
G. (2019). The Cost of the Man Box:
A study on the economic impacts ofharmful masculine stereotypes in the
United States. Washington, DC, andLondon: Promundo US and Unilever.

32. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/employment-and-growth/
how-advancing-womens-equalitycan-add-12-trillion-to-global-growth
33. https://www.bcg.com/

25. Ibid.

publications/2018/why-womenowned-startups-are-better-bet

26. Ibid.

34. https://www.piie.com/newsroom/

27. https://www.oecd-ilibrary.

press-releases/new-petersoninstitute-research-over-21000companies-globally-finds-womenorg/sites/3d32ca39-en/1/3/3/
index.html?itemId=/content/
publication/3d32ca39-en&_csp_=c53

78

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Integrated
Holistic Health
Mind, Body & Environment
Our goal is to promote a state of SAMYUKT AROGYA- ‘SAMYUKT’: Integrated, Holistic Health: Mind, Body
and Environment. Aligned with the WHO definitionof health, “a state of complete physical, mental,
and social well-being and not merely the absence ofdisease and infirmity”, the C20 Integrated Holistic
Health Working Group (IHH-WG) 2023 iterates that
health promotion and disease prevention must
be addressed at the levels of mind, body, andenvironment. Building on commitments made byprevious G20 leaderships, IHH-WG expands the scopeof the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal
3 (UN-SDG3), Good Health and Well-Being, proposing
inclusive, equitable and holistic solutions for building
healthy communities.

79Integrated Holistic Health

The consolidated policy recommendations are:
♦ Adoption, implementation andsustainability of a National
Mental Health Programme in all
G20 countries, extending into
the community, public healthinstitutions and private sector,
entailing screening and follow-up at
both community and institutional
levels, with special emphasis on thevulnerable - women, children, andmarginalised communities.

the country, with a guarantee of“ACCESS FOR ALL” for preventative
care, therapy, and health systemdelivery for both communicable andNon-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
♦ A uniform One-health policy tobe agreed upon by G20 member
nations through an Inter-sectoral
Global Framework and Treaty for
Zoonotic diseases and Antimicrobial
Resistance (AMR) encompassing
surveillance, data sharing, andalerts, research and sharedinfrastructure and management.

♦ G20 commitment to enhancecommunity and primary healthcare
systems by integration of Digital
Health Platforms contextualised to80

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Introduction
Health is key to meeting the Sustainable
Development Agenda by 2030. Healthhas a strong and direct influence on
the economy of nations. The global
GDP fell by 3.4% in 2020, translating
to a 2 trillion USD economic loss due
to COVID. The COVID-19 pandemic
underscored the need for global
healthcare cooperation, given
the imminent likelihood of similar
pandemics in the future. It is imperative
to build consensus among United
Nations member States on all fronts tobe better prepared.

UHC requires promoting universal
access to preventative and curative
approaches. The interdependence ofenvironment, climate, and health isclear, as is the connection between
mental and physical well-being.
Embracing a holistic approach to healthis now an urgent necessity. Under the2023 C20 Chair, Mata Amritanandamayi
Math (MA Math), the Integrated Holistic
Health (IHH) WG engaged over 5,000
people from 1,054 organisations in 86
countries. Through inclusive processes,
key policy recommendations and bestpractices were selected via twentyeight online and in-person events
culminating in a summit in Faridabad,Haryana. Representatives from civilsociety, indigenous communities,

To address this, we aim to accelerate
progress towards Universal Health
Coverage (UHC) - ensuring everyone hasaccess to quality, affordable healthcare.

81Integrated Holistic Healthpatients, caregivers, experts, andmarginalised groups, including
those with diverse SOGISEC (Sexual
Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender
Expression and Sex Characteristics)
participated in these efforts.

using the One-Health approach andadvancing efforts in communicable andnon-communicable diseases. Osaka
2019 envisioned an inclusive societythat allows each individual to perform
to one’s full potential, with promotionof healthy ageing, and people-centric
health promotion and prevention
that are aligned to the life-course
approach. This year’s C20 IHH working
group widened the scope to include
different facets of the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goal 3 (UNSDG3), Good Health and Well-Being, todevelop inclusive, equitable and holistic
solutions for health.

The C20 IHH WG builds oncommitments made by previous
G20 Leaderships. Bali 2022 urged
achieving Universal Health Coverage
while addressing food insecurity andmalnutrition, particularly in Low- andMiddle-Income Countries (LMICs). Rome
2021 committed to support countries
to improve resilience by addressing
critical sustainability challenges. Riyadh
2020 prioritised the tackling of AMR
and environmental causes of disease82

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Policy Recommendations
I. Mind - Advocating a Mental Health Policy
Before the estimated five-fold increasein depression and anxiety globally since
COVID-19, at least 1 billion people had
mental health conditions, representing
418 million disability-adjusted life
years and a burden of 5 trillion USD
annually. Mental health conditions leadto loss of productivity, driving under-

employment, social isolation, andpoverty. Today, 90% of mental illness
goes undiagnosed and untreated, a gap
largely driven by stigma, discrimination,and human rights violations. The 2023
C20 IHH-WG includes Mental Health andWellness for the first time.

Our policy recommendations to the G20 are:•

Adopt and sustain a comprehensive
National Mental Health Literacy
Program.

•

Incorporate and integrate a Mental
Health Education Program into the
National School Curricula by 2025,
to include:•

Awareness and knowledge of signs
and symptoms of mental distress,
reducing bullying, harassment, andstigma against those with or without
mental illness.

••

Mental Health Training to healthcare
workers to promote suicide
awareness and prevention.

Suicide awareness and prevention;
integrating skills and activities that
promote mental fortitude, positive
decision-making, and peer support.
Provide Community & Institutional

83•

Deliver basic assessment tools forcommon mental health disorders
and suicidal behaviours to support
lay-counselling training among
school counsellors, village social
workers and non-specialist healthworkers.

•

Ensure the availability of mental
health services in all community
hospitals, corporations, universities,
government and other institutions.

•

Training should be supported byhealth system networks so that
acute mental conditions can betriaged by higher-level professionals.

Integrated Holistic Health

•

•

•

Develop robust, evidence-based
mental health programs that
promote knowledge and mindstrengthening life skills (e.g.,
meditation, yoga, cognitive skills)
for advancing positive mental healthand resilience, preventing mental
illness and suicidal behaviours, andreducing mental illness symptoms,
with special emphasis on theunderprivileged - women, children,
marginalised communities, andcaretakers and those grieving theloss of their near and dear ones.
It is vital to include community
engagement as well as civil society
organisations to make this process
more effective.
Ensure free and quality mental
health care is integrated into all
primary care services by 2030.

84•

Scaling up interventions and services
across community-based, general
health and specialist settings - Ina country-by-country approach as
per the WHO Special Initiative on
Mental Health, considering that thestatus of mental health care differs
greatly across nations.

•

Mental health care must be
integrated into relevant publichealth programmes (e.g. for HIV andgender-based violence prevention,
disabilities) in addition to primarycare services.

•

Increase number and quality ofcommunity based mental healthcare
providers via incentivization
schemes.

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

II. Body- Implement a Life-Course Approach to
Chronic Diseases incorporating Digital HealthApplications
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic,
NCDs continue to be the top cause of
mortality and morbidity globally, withlow-middle-income countries (LMICs)
bearing a disproportionate burdenof NCDs. NCDs account for 74% of alldeaths (41 million) globally annuallyand 80% of all “premature” deaths
between 30 and 69 years of age. The
likelihood of premature deaths from
NCDs is six times higher in LMICs than in
high-income countries. Modifiable risk
factors include unhealthy diet, tobaccoand alcohol use, sedentary lifestyle,and air pollution. The global burden of
NCDs is estimated to be $47 trillion overthe next two decades, unless adequate
preventative and control measures are
implemented.

An overarching theme that emerged
from discussions among the various
health sub-groups included usage ofdigital platforms for universal healthcoverage. The other common theme
that emerged across the health subgroups included a life-course approachto addressing NCDs, maternal and childhealth and wellness, nutrition andmental health alongside steps toimprove health literacy.
The Life Course perspective
looks at health as anintegrated continuum
where biological,
behavioural, psychological,
social and environmental
factors interact andinfluence health outcomesthroughout a person’s life. A
woman’s health and nutrition as she
enters reproductive age directly affects
her future child’s birth weight andorder, nutrition, future risk of obesity
and therefore potential contraction of
NCDs and mental health conditions.
Addressing the health and wellbeing of
future generations requires immediate
measures to ensure the health of all
persons of reproductive age in order toprevent future disease.

LMICs are also burdened with treatableconditions complicating maternaland child health such as nutritional
deficiencies, which have proven lowcost measures of mitigation. Given theincreasingly ageing population globally,
geriatric health and wellness, palliativeand end-of-life care become priorities
requiring critical attention.

85

Integrated Holistic Health

A Digital health mission integrating
services across the healthcare sector,
including diagnostics, therapy,
demography, health condition, andhealth delivery, would facilitate
diagnosis, monitoring, adherence,
preventative aspects and promote
access to health information. Platforms
similar to the ones created for
COVID-19 could be replicated for othercommunicable and NCDs. The digital
health platforms should integrate
health literacy into the health delivery
system spanning mental health,maternal and child healthcare,palliative and end-of-life care, andtraditional and complementary
healthcare systems.

Given the ubiquity of handheld devices
and wide penetration of mobile
networks, a Digital Health policy for G20
nations needs to be framed, including
surveillance, monitoring, preventative
and awareness indicators for bothcommunicable and NCDs. Digital healthpolicies should address deploymentof myriad cost-effective digital tools,
such as artificial intelligence, in amanner that prioritises ethics andperson-centeredness, while increasing
healthcare access, improving quality,
reducing costs and ensuring privacy.

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C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

The policy recommendations to the G20 are:•of childhood illness as per WHO
guidelines by 2025.

Integrate the life course approach
into public health strategies,
which addresses health disparities
and improves overall population
health for NCDs and maternaland child health. The life course
approach incorporates healthinformation from maternal, paternal,
and individual perspectives.
For example, if a mother has
gestational diabetes, that child has
a significantly increased likelihoodof contracting diabetes in their
lifetime. Appropriate preventative
measures and follow up must
be incorporated into that child’s
healthcare.

► Prevent and control micronutrient
deficiencies in women of
reproductive age and othervulnerable groups through dietaryinterventions, including dietary
improvement, food fortification,
including salt double-fortified withiodine and iron, supplementation,and public health measures: deworming and improving Water,
Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) with an emphasis on menstrual andsexual health.
► Develop an integrated nutrition
plan using the life-course approach:
Promote dietary diversity byincluding organic, non-geneticallymodified and locally sourced
nutritious food items into
beneficiary food baskets in existing
meal initiatives.

► Holistic Perspective: Public healthservices should adopt a holistic
perspective that recognizes theinter-connectedness of different
gender specific life stages andtheir impact on health outcomes,
considering the interactions
between various factors such as
genetics, early life experiences,
social determinants, and lifestylechoices.
•► Ensure free access to family planning
services in all public and community
healthcare centres and educational
institutions, including familyplanning programs, sex educationin schools, and the availabilityof low-priced over-the-countercontraceptives.

Prevention and Early Intervention► Strengthening public healthsystems to provide free andquality integrated management

87Integrated Holistic Health•

Employ digital platforms forsurveillance, monitoring,
preventative care, therapy,
awareness, adherence, and followup, factoring in post-procedurecare. These must be integrated
into existing healthcare systems
to facilitate access for populations
who currently are not able to accessconsistent quality healthcare.

•

Create evidence-based guidelines
for integrative care specifying thescope of different traditional andcomplementary medical systems(T&CMs) in managing specificdiseases to enable the general public
to make informed decisions.

► Develop research methodologies inalignment with the epistemologicalframework of T&CMs to generate
evidence of safety ​​and efficacy.

► Digital platforms must be leveraged
for effective and holistic life-course
approaches to healthcare solutions.

► Facilitate evidence-based integrationof T&CM into mainstream healthcare to address unmet healthcare
manpower needs, improve holistic
treatment outcomes, and promote
physical, mental, and spiritual healthand wellness.

► Utilise digital platforms to accelerate
immunisation and vaccination
drives, to reach a target of 90%
childhood immunisation by 2025.

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C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

III. Environment - One-Health
The health of people is inextricably
linked to the health of animals and ourshared environment. According to WHO,
climate change is the single biggest
threat to human health which could
directly lead to 250,000 deaths per
year by 2030. New or endemic zoonotic
diseases, Neglected Tropical Diseases(NTDs), vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), food safety
and food security all link environment,
climate and health. Climate change
lowers food productivity, both agrarianand marine, compounds mental healthissues, contributes directly to nutrition,maternal & child health, poor outcomesin NCDs and majorly contributes toemerging infectious diseases. Poor
practices in multiple industries,
including livestock farming, andhospital and immunisation programmemanagement are increasing AMR anddecreasing the ability to treat it.

effective, quality, and affordable
medical countermeasures such as
vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, anddigital health innovations and solutions
to support UHC. The current global
leadership must work together for theformulation of a “Global Public HealthConvention,” with its core obligation
being to protect Global Public Health,preventing profit-driven industry
exploitative practices, and prioritise theneeds of Global South.

The IHH-WG deliberations focused on
one-health and AMR, strengthening
cooperation in the pharmaceuticalsector, and improving healthcare
service delivery. Placing an emphasison access to and availability of safe,

89Integrated Holistic HealthThe policy recommendations to the G20 are:•zoonotic diseases such as rabies andemerging pathogens, communicabledisease programs including HIV, TB,
Malaria, NTDs, and snakebite.

Establish robust, inclusive,intersectoral, cross-Ministerial
national One-health task forces by2030 that comprehensively integrate
critical sectors such as agriculture,
forestry, animal husbandry,
environment, finance, forestry,
and foreign affairs with health,addressing urgent health priorities
such as emerging pathogens andzoonotic diseases.

► Ensure accessibility to low costWHO-approved diagnostics andtreatment, prioritising at-risk
populations.
► Ensure that existing minimum
standards for animal healthservices are met and set obligations
to improve biosecurity in the
production, transportation,slaughter, and retailing of animals
to reduce the transfer of pathogens.
This needs to include care andwelfare practices on farms to both
reduce the use of antimicrobials andsupport natural ecosystem health.

► Task forces must be endowedwith adequate resources andspecific timelines, accompanied
by measurable outcomes to help
foster inter-disciplinary research andcollaboration.
► Strengthen surveillance throughcapacity-building programs inclusiveof improved management of90

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack•

► Ensure Trade-Related Aspects ofIntellectual Property Right (TRIPS)
and Intellectual Property waivers
for the protection of Global Public
Health implementing Universal
access to Health services, including
lifesaving drugs/medicines,
diagnostics and related healthservices as “Global Public HealthGoods” and allowing worldwide
right to use, re-produce and ensure
supply globally.

Create a Global Framework for
Addressing AMR – including
surveillance, monitoring andstrategic planning, similar to the
Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control by 2025.

► Involve human, animal, andenvironmental health sectors,
and engage with civil society
organisations, community leaders,and international cross-sectoral
stakeholders.
► Implement stringent legislative
control of antimicrobial dispensing
for use in both humans and animals,
including effective antibiotics
stewardship programs andcommunity engagement initiatives.

91Integrated Holistic Health

Conclusion
G20 leaders must recognise that it istime for a radical paradigm shift inaddressing public health. We are in the
midst of a global mental health crisis,
particularly among youth which cannot
be left unaddressed by G20 leaders. The
accelerating pace of climate change has
made it abundantly clear that a Onehealth model of public health is the only
path forward towards protecting humanand animal health and safeguarding
the environment. Siloed public healthapproaches that ignore the interactions
between people and nature will leave us
unable to address current and emerging
pathogens and incapable of confronting
the next pandemic. However, advancesin digital technology, machinelearning, and artificial intelligence candramatically reduce inequities in access,provided G20 leaders ensure that thesetechnologies are deployed with healthequity as a core principle.

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C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Education & Digital
Transformation
Towards Inclusive andHuman-centred Education and
Digital Transformation Policies
The Education and Digital
Transformation Working Group (EDTWG)
under C20 India 2023 has suggested
several key areas of focus to foster
inclusive, accessible, compassionate, andhuman-centred education and digitaltransformation.

93

Education & Digital Transformation

1. Education for Life and Global
Citizenship: Encourage experiential
learning and community
involvement in rural villages,
promote indigenous cultures andknowledge systems, and address
mental, emotional, and spiritual
dimensions of people. Strategies
include substance abuse prevention,
education in indigenous knowledge
systems, support for disadvantaged
communities, and fostering cultural
inclusion and social justice.

disability studies, build tools forearly identification, and provide
low-cost assistive technology forinclusion.
3. Learning Equity & the Future of
Education: Enhance equitable accessto education and ensure the fair
allocation of resources throughlearning equity audits. Promote
the inclusion of people fromvulnerable populations in decisionmaking processes at all levels of
education, research, decisionmaking and in governance. Other
recommendations include fostering
mutual recognition of online and onsite degrees and certificate courses,
developing inclusive curricula,and providing pedagogical, skills,
inclusion, and technology training
for teachers.

2. Education for Persons with
Disabilities: Emphasizes the need forearly identification and intervention
for persons with disabilities. Raiseawareness about inclusion anddesigning and implement policies
for early detection of disabilities.
Financially support research in94

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

4. Skill Development: Establish
inclusive financing mechanisms forskill development, create financial
aid programs for marginalized
individuals, encouraging corporatesocial responsibility contributions
for skill development initiatives,
include skill development
opportunities in public employment
programs, and establish public
online platforms to collect andanalyse skill development data.

6. Digital Transformation &Accessibility: Develop humancentred design principles, promote
digital public goods and commons,
bridge the digital divide, andprovide comprehensive training
on responsible technology use.
The recommendations emphasize
inclusive digital access for all,including marginalized andvulnerable populations.

5. Education in Emergencies: Provide
comprehensive training for
emergency situations and develop
localized emergency curriculum
models. Enhance teacher capacity
for inclusive education andinvest in continuous professional
development.

The WG recommends a multidimensional approach to implement

solutions, and quality assurance
measures. In funding and partnerships,

these sub-themes, including contextspecific evidence-based programmes,
stakeholder coordination, community
engagement, affordable technologicalthe WG suggests sustained politicalcommitment, public-private-people
partnerships (PPPP), and transparency
in fund allocation.

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Education & Digital Transformation

Introduction
Education empowers and catalyses
societal transformation. The Civil20
India 2023 Chair’s vision for global
education is based on the emphasison both tangible skills and spiritual
wisdom, along with their respectfor diverse viewpoints. The holistic,
inclusive nature of ancient Indian
education, exemplified by prominent
institutions like Nalanda
and Takshashila, is still
relevant in today’s
globalized educationallandscape. The“Gurukula” system’s
focus on nurturing
a deep studentteacher bond andpromoting harmony
with nature andsociety continues
to provide importantlessons for the developmentof today’s education systems
globally.

sustainable development. They upholdglobal citizenship education andvalues like diversity, human rights,
and social justice. The 2022 G20 Bali3
commitments further emphasizedinternational collaboration for digitalskills development, particularly
benefiting people in vulnerable
situations. The Transforming Education
Summit (UNESCO 2023)4 identified

The WG initiatives build upon
commitments enshrined in instruments
like the United Nations Charter1,

By prioritizing education for life,
inclusion, accessibility, and equity
for diverse learners, and emphasizing
compassion, G20 countries can build
empowered societies that are prepared

four key areas of transformation:
creating supportive environments for
all learners, empowering teachers,
harnessing the digital revolution in
public education, and advocating forincreased, efficient, and equitable
investment in education.
The EDT WG seeks to make an originalcontribution by distilling a set ofrecommendations that amplify thevoices of the global South, particularly
those of the most vulnerable, driven
by a human-centred and values-driven
perspective.

Universal Declaration of Human
Rights2, and other treaties emphasizing

96

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

when used improperly or maliciously,
can fuel divisions within and between
countries, increase insecurity,
undermine human rights, andexacerbate inequality.

to navigate the complexities of themodern world and drive positivechange. Specifically, the WG seeks topromote core principles of inclusivenessand human-centred approaches throughcompassion-based perspectives,
universal access to education, including
at the international level, skills, anddigital resources, and the reduction of
the digital divide.

While Education and Digital
Transformation are distinct themes, theC20 EDT WG has considered specificrecommendations for each theme andhas also considered inter-connected
recommendations that create synergies
between these two areas.

This aligns with the principle of “Datafor Development,” which is a crucial
aspect of India’s Presidency of G20.
India recognizes digital transformation
as the key to achieving sustainable
development goals related to poverty
reduction, education, health, and direct
benefit transfer. It also aligns withthe aspirations of the Global Digital
Compact (GDC)5, which aims to establish
shared principles for an open, free, andsecure digital future for all, to be agreed
upon at the Summit of the Future6 in
2024 at the United Nations.
The rapid and widespread changebrought about by Digital Transformationis unprecedented, transforming
society and offering unprecedented
advancements in the human condition.
However, it is also crucial to recognizethat education or digital technologies,

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Education & Digital Transformation

Sub-themes and Recommendations
Under the guidance of the C20 India 2023 Chair and building on its consultations,
the EDT WG has identified the following sub-themes:•••

Education for Life andGlobal Citizenship
Education for Persons
with Disabilities•

Skill Development•

Education in Emergencies•

Digital Transformation &Accessibility

Learning Equity & The
Future of Education

We the need to prioritize holistic
education for development, early
identification and intervention for
persons with disabilities, equitable
access and learning equity audit,
capacity building for emergency
preparedness and safety, inclusive
financing for skill development,
and promotion of inclusive digitalaccessibility and technology for societal
impact.
The recommendations below reflect theaggregated results of the consultation
process organized in main areas of often
cross-cutting policy recommendations
for the sub-themes:98C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

A. Promote Holistic Education for
Development & LIFE•

Promote ancient and indigenous
cultures as they recognize the interconnectedness of various aspects ofhuman beings, animals, and nature
through Indigenous Knowledge
Systems and through the lives ofhumanitarian leaders who have
put this into practice, and address
the emotional, social, mental, andspiritual dimensions of people’s
lives.

•

Promote experiential learning
among youth by encouraging
their involvement in serving
disadvantaged communities invillages and sensitizing them of
their potential contribution towards
achieving SDGs.

•

Sensitize the community andeducational ecosystem towards
inclusion through activities that
promote acceptance, foster
cultural inclusion and social justice,provide socio-emotional support,
and encourage respect and carefor persons with disabilities, girls,
indigenous people, and marginalized
populations.

•99

Raise awareness and implement
preventive measures to address
substance abuse and internet abuse
among youth. Establish a protective
space within schools that provides
psychological support to students.

Education & Digital Transformation

B. Provide early identification and swif t inter vention
for persons with disabilities and learning dif ficulties•

Raise awareness and sensitizeteachers, caregivers, parents,
communities, public authorities,
and both private and public sectors
about the importance of inclusion in
education.

•

Design and implement early
detection policies and strategies
for identifying invisible and otherdisabilities in the local context, andensure swift interventions including
relevant technology, and training foreffective inclusion.

•

Encourage research in the fieldof inclusion, disability studies,and assistive technologies withfunding support. Document andmake available best practices ininclusive education for the benefitof stakeholders.

C. Ensure Equitable Access and Learning Equit y•

Promote the inclusion of people
from vulnerable populations indecision-making processes at alllevels of education, research, and ingovernance.

resources to areas with the greatest
need and impact. Develop policies
and mechanisms that ensure fair andeffective allocation of financing.
••

Monitor through learning equity
audit and the effective use oftechnology in education, utilizing
disaggregated data to inform
decision-making and allocate

100

Foster the mutual recognition of
online and on-site degrees andcertificate courses internationally,emphasizing quality, inclusivity, andaccessibility in higher education.

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack•

Provide teachers with pedagogical,
skills, inclusion, and technology
training programs, while
implementing incentives to attract
and retain high-quality educators.

•

Ensure equitable access to
education, including foundational
literacy and numeracy, forvulnerable populations such as
children, persons with disabilities,
women, rural inhabitants,
individuals in emergencies, andindigenous communities.

•

Develop inclusive curricula withdiverse and relevant informationand pedagogical approaches,prioritizing a human-centred
approach to design and delivery.
Ensure that curricula are accessible
to all groups, including those withlimited access to technology due tovarious reasons such as emergencies
or disabilities.

D. Promote Capacit y building for Emergency
Preparedness and Safet y to strengthen Education•

Provide comprehensive training forteachers in emergency situations,prioritizing the well-being of bothstudents and teachers over specificsubjects.

•

Develop and implement localized
emergency curriculum models
to prepare for unforeseen
circumstances in each locality.

•

101

Enhance teachers’ abilities andcapacity to deliver inclusive
education and education in
emergencies, promoting an
inclusive learning environment for
all students. Invest in continuous
professional development forteachers, with a specific focus on
digital skills.

Education & Digital Transformation

E. Take a Multidimensional implementation approach••

Build Education and Digital
Transformation programs basedon context-specific evidence andensure involvement of private andgovernment for regulation of digital
services.
Promote Life-long learning
opportunities, stakeholders
coordination, and international
collaboration

102•

Ensure Community Engagement
and alignment in education and skill
development.

•

Promote affordable emerging
technologies and low-tech solutions,with a focus on practical aspects,
especially in rural areas.

•

Establish quality assurance andinteroperable standards foreducational programs.

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

F. Implement inclusive financing for skill development•

Allocate financial resources of
equal value to public education
spending to finance inclusive skill
development programs targetedat marginalized communities
and vulnerable groups, including
investment in accessible TVET
infrastructure, qualified teachers,
learning materials, and resources(including digital).

•

Mandate corporate social
responsibility contributions
equivalent to 1% of annual profits
from private companies to support
inclusive skill development
initiatives to be spent based on
multi-stakeholder decision-making
mechanisms•

Implement a portable social security
scheme covering 75% of informal
sector workers within the next
five years, providing access tohealthcare, insurance, retirement
benefits, and income support during
emergencies.

103•

Ensure that 70% of individuals
employed under public employment
programmes are provided with
opportunities for skill development
and upskilling within three years.

•

Establish national publicly
accessible online platforms in G20
countries that collects and analyses
disaggregated skill development
and employment data, targeting atleast 90% of training providers andemployers within five years suchthat at least 95% of data is available
in a standardized format andupdated annually.

Education & Digital Transformation

G. Promote Inclusive Digital Accessibilit y•

Develop human-centred designprinciples for all aspects ofeducation/trainining/skill
development.

•

Promote Digital Public Goods andDigital Commons for inclusive,
affordable, and customizable Digital
SDG solutions••

Strengthen digital accessibility andbridge the Digital Divide including
vulnerable populations, low-literate
populations, and persons withdisability, and provide access todigital technologies, the internet,
devices, and curricula in the local
language.

•

Provide comprehensive training
to individuals on responsible
technology use, addressing issues of
misuse and abuse, while fostering
critical thinking, problem-solving,
digital literacy, and ethical skills.

Promote digital literacy and hygiene
among marginalized and vulnerable
communities.

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C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

H. Par tnerships & Funding

105•

Secure sustained politicalcommitment, including financial
aspects for developing programsin Education, Skills, and Digital
Transformation: G20 members could
play a relevant role in financial
terms, providing funds to improveaccess to education, inclusive
practices, and technology in the
Global South. Provide an emergency
fund for the events of unforeseen
circumstances. In those events,
uninterrupted access to educationmust be ensured.

•

Foster the role of PPPP (publicprivate-people partnership) in
Education and Digital Transformation
policies and ensure that they share acommon goal and allow to provide afaster response to today’s and futureneeds. Also foster PPPP partnerships
to support the implementation ofpolicies and programs. These PPPP
need to be appropriately regulated,transparent, and public-oriented.

•

Monitor implementation of practices
and use disaggregated data formonitoring, learning equity audit,
and transparency to ensure efficient
fund allocation.

Education & Digital Transformation

Udaaharans
7Live-in-Labs®

Established in 2013 in India, Amrita
Vishwa Vidyapeetham University,
Live-in-Labs® is a multi-disciplinaryinternational experiential learning
programme that facilitates the research,development, and deployment ofsustainable solutions for current
challenges faced by rural communities
in India. The programme is designed

106

to engage participants in a mutual
learning and sharing experience bybreaking classroom and lab barriers to
implement theoretical knowledge toaddress real-world problems.
www.amrita.edu/live-in-labs/

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

AYUDH 8AYUDH stands for Amrita Yuva Dharma
Dhara, a Sanskrit term that means“the youth which perpetuates thewheel of dharma (righteousness)”. In
Sanskrit, AYUDH also means Peace,
which is symbolized by the dove inthe logo. Established in 1985, it is aninternational youth movement of Mata
Amritanandamayi Math, currently
active in Europe, North America, Asia,
Australia, Africa, and India. AYUDH

seeks to empower young people tointegrate universal values into their
daily lives. Starting with themselves,
AYUDH wants to help establish a futureof hope, peace, and social engagement
while maintaining an awareness ofspiritual principles. It is aiming to use
the powerful force of young people
to perpetuate natural harmony, social
justice, and personal empowerment.

DIKSHA 9
DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure forKnowledge-Sharing) is a national
platform for school education, builtwith the support of a CSO and an
initiative of the National Council

for Educational Research andTraining (NCERT), under the aegis
of the Ministry of Education (MoE),
Government of India.

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Education & Digital Transformation

References
1. United Nations Charter
https://www.un.org/en/about-us/
un-charter

5. Global Digital Compact (GDC)
https://www.un.org/techenvoy/
global-digital-compact

2. Universal Declaration of Human
Rightshttps://www.un.org/en/about-us/
universal-declaration-of-humanrights

6. Summit of the Future 2024
https://www.un.org/en/commonagenda/summit-of-the-future

3. G20 Bali declaration, Nov. 2022
https://www.g20.org/content/dam/
gtwenty/gtwenty_new/about_g20/
previous-summit-documents/2022bali/G20%20Bali%20Leaders%27%20
Declaration,%2015-16%20
November%202022.pdf

4. Transforming Education Summit
2022, United Nations
https://www.un.org/en/
transforming-education-summit

7. Live-in-Labs
https://www.amrita.edu/
international/live-in-labs/

8. AYUDH
https://www.ayudh.in/

9. DIKSHA - Digital Infrastructure forKnowledge-Sharing
https://diksha.gov.in/about/

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Technology,
Security, andTransparency
This policy brief proposes strategic solutions
to some of the most pressing digitaltechnology challenges faced at a global
level. Two cross-cutting recommendations
will strengthen all policies and programmes
designed to regulate technology. Educationof emerging technologies for beneficial
use and mitigation of potential harm andcollaboration between stakeholders andcountries to deal with the ever-evolving
digital environment and promote a secureand inclusive digital world.

109

Technology, Security, and Transparency

Our thematic recommendations include:♦ Technology for Empowerment We
advocate for enhancing accessibility
and inclusivity by setting up
infrastructure bridging the digital
divide, promoting user-centric
design in technology, establishingopen-data policies, democratising
e-commerce platforms, andinvesting in robust technologicalsolutions to achieve the SDGs andcreating an inclusive and fair digitalsociety.

technologies that innately induce
addictive tendencies and negatively
affect user’s health and well-being.
♦ AI and Data for Society We
emphasise that ethical, fair, and safe
deployment of technology must be
ensured, the generation of highquality datasets for marginalisedcommunities is incentivised, andinternational regulations assigningliability for harms arising fromtechnology are created.

♦ Security, Safety, and Resilience This
theme underscores the importanceof international cooperation andcollaboration in cybersecurity,protection against cyber attacks
on critical infrastructure,establishing legal frameworks tocounter online violence, especiallytoward vulnerable populations,and developing norms to prevent
misuse of AI systems and regulating♦ Transparency, Trust, andDisinformation We propose
measures to combat disinformation,
including developing a sharedterminology and a comprehensive
strategy, establishing national
information networks, establishingan effective legal infrastructure, andenhancing transparency and trust
within the technology supply chain.

The recommendations provided in this policy brief aim to create a digital futurethat is more accessible, secure, transparent, and inclusive. A future that leverages
technology to create safer, more equitable societies globally.

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Introduction
Technology has transformed how
we interact with our surroundings
and with each other. Automation,
digitisation, and computerisation
have increased productivity andconvenience in our daily lives. Theinternet and digital technologies have
revolutionised how nations approach
challenges and transformed the global
economy. Digital literacy has becomea prerequisite for most workforce
sectors, allowing people to transition
from low-skill to middle-skill jobs.
However, technology can exacerbate
inequalities. Despite the benefits,
the availability and accessibility oftechnology are not evenly distributed,
with underdeveloped countries and lessdeveloped regions within developed
countries being left behind. Although
the digital economy is challenging tomeasure, it has become a significant
propellant for commerce. There is now
unprecedented dependence on theaccess, quality, and integrity of digitised
information.

1. The digital economy is the primarycatalyst for economic progress indeveloped and underdeveloped
countries; hence, these issues must be
addressed.
2. Ensuring accessibility and availabilityof technology is essential, but it isequally important to address significant
security issues collectively. Technology
has been weaponised in various ways,
including spam mail with viruses
and spear-phishing campaigns. Deeplearning techniques can be misused
to develop tools for harm, suchas: propaganda, manipulation, andeconomic warfare. Cyber attacks are
increasingly prevalent, with an expectedannual cost of 10.5 trillion USD by 2025.
3. Moreover, inadequate security andprivacy is a growing concern, andthe dissemination of disinformation
has aggravated societal divisions andpolarised the world. It is causing severe
harm to individuals and socio-politicalstability. Youth, in particular, are facing
unforeseen effects living in a digital111

Technology, Security, and Transparency

world, including online harassment,
cyberbullying, and internet overuse,
affecting both their mental health andphysical well-being. In addition to thesechallenges, Artificial Intelligence (AI)has brought new ethical concerns, bias,
lack of transparency, and potential
job displacement. These issues areclassified as global risks by the World
Economic Forum.
4. The fast pace of new technology
development and consequent
releases have outpaced the ability ofpolicymakers to adapt and regulatethem effectively. Civilians are the mostimpacted by emerging paradigms intechnology development and use. Thereis a pressing need for online spaces toremain secure, safe, and lawful andensure transparency in the policies thatgovern digital technologies. The C20
Technology, Security, and Transparency(TST) Working Group addresses thesevarious technology-related risks,
opportunities, and challenges society
faces through the following policy
recommendations.

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Cross-Cutting Recommendations
1. Education of emerging technologies
for beneficial use and mitigation ofpotential harm is key to success. G20
countries should prioritise financial
and human resources to design andimplement comprehensive awarenessand educational training programs.
This education must cater to different
age groups for digital up-skilling andreskilling on emerging technologies
and provide an understanding of theirimpacts. This requires collaboration
between the public, private and civilsociety sectors, with input from experts
to develop tailored curricula andtraining activities to exercise criticalthinking and increase competency.
Those with limited financial capacity,
low-income occupations, and thoseliving in low or no-access rural areas
should be prioritised. These training
programs should integrate ethics andensure that citizens of all ages canunderstand, safely use, and adopt
new and upcoming technologies.
Monitoring, evaluation, and national
reporting of these programs should
be integrated into programme design
to measure their effectiveness andensure they remain relevant and up-todate with the rapidly evolving digitallandscape.

2. Collaboration between stakeholders
and countries is required to deal
with the ever-evolving digital
environment and promote a secureand inclusive digital world. We call on
political will, leadership and action to
encourage cross-border cooperation
among governments, internationalorganisations, private industries,
academia, and civil society towards:a). The creation and implementationof multi-stakeholder frameworks,
protocols, and standards that ensure
policy coherence, consistency andfacilitate information sharing, capacity
building, and collective action andb). Support the exchange of bestpractices, expertise, and technologies,
establish trust, promote responsible
behaviour, and uphold digital rights,
inclusivity, and security through theseframeworks. Moreover, it is essential toactively involve all stakeholder groups,
including those from marginalised
groups, in shaping policies andprograms.

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Technology, Security, and Transparency

I. Technology for Empowerment
Technology is now a fundamental pillar of our society. The economies of all
countries are reliant on technology; hence empowering people with technology
increases possibilities for the future. Three primary challenges have been identified
concerning the digital economy.
1. Lack of accessibility, availability, andaffordability inhibits sustainable
development and the bettermentof society. Physical infrastructuredevelopment is a barrier in rural
areas where internet use is only 46%
compared to 82% in urban areas.

3. Approximately 61% of all online
content is in English. Parity inaccess to the digital world in lowEnglish proficiency countries canonly be achieved through theenablement of multilingual internet.
For this, content in local languages
and Universal Acceptance (UA),internationalised domain names(IDNs) and Unicode are necessary.

2. For persons with disabilities, it
is essential to have accessible
technologies to participate in thedigital ecosystem and achievefinancial independence andresiliency.
Technological solutions can help
reduce global imbalances; for example,
digital payment systems can increasefinancial inclusion. Another example isopen-source initiatives allowing accessto Information and Communication
Technologies (ICT) by providing free,
flexible, and customisable technology
for developing countries andmarginalised communities. Improved
access to research publications is also
important for society’s prosperity.

However, access is frequently limited
due to paywalls or fees for access.
In some cases, access to necessary
technology can be impeded by patent
regulations and the reluctance of someorganisations to share information,
citing proprietary or competitive
interests, hindering essential
information sharing necessary for thecommon good and preservation ofhumankind, best exemplified by the
COVID-19 vaccine.

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Policy Recommendations••

solutions at minimal cost for public
procurement. At least 40% of new
software contracts in government
should be open-source software by
the year 2025.

Align with the UN’s universal
connectivity goals by promoting
policies that expand broadband
connectivity and access to digital
devices, especially to remote,underserved, and vulnerable
communities by 2030. Support
multilingual internet by adopting
UA, IDN and Unicode.
Ensure that critical digitaltechnologies such as financial,governmental, and healthcare
services are inclusive and accessible
for persons with disabilities bypromoting user-centric design andestablishing audit mechanisms toenforce accessibility guidelines.
Mandate subsidising importduties and taxes to make assistive
technologies affordable by 2027.

•

Integrate digital unified payment
interfaces to significantly accelerate
the growth and adoption of thedigital economy while enhancing
financial inclusion and economic
empowerment.

•

G20 countries must incentivise,promote, and develop opensource software that enables longterm, customisable technology

115•

Mandate publicly funded nonclassified research to be available
as part of the digital commons tobenefit the public, industries andacademia.

•

Digital platforms for e-commerce
should be democratised andregulated by a public authority
to ensure open and fair digitalcommerce practices that benefit
Micro, Small and Medium
enterprises (MSMEs).

•

G20 countries should incentivise
investments in vital technologicalinnovations that preserve lifeand ecosystems. Speeding up the
distribution and sharing of thesetechnologies is crucial to achieving
the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) by 2030. Furthermore, we
recommend that governments
subsidise these technologies tofacilitate their accessibility for the
least-developed countries.

Technology, Security, and Transparency

II. Security, Safety and Resilience
Widespread cybercrime and cyber
insecurity are among the top 10
global risks. Governments, businesses,
regulators and consumers are placing
strategic priority on safeguarding
technology ecosystems against cyberthreats. While designated organisations
must collect and use data to combat
cybercrime and terrorism, balancing
cybersecurity policies with individual
rights is crucial. With the Second
Additional Protocol to the Convention
on Cybercrime, CSOs have expressed
concern about the privacy risks posedby data sharing.

Addressing cybercrime can posesignificant challenges due to theanonymous nature of virtual attackers.
Targeting critical infrastructure andcausing disruption of essential services
such as power grids, water systems,
health facilities, financial systems,
and all vital services through cyberattacks can cause a colossal impact withsignificant ramifications to society.16
The increasing complexity of crossborder cybercrime makes coordinatinga response challenging, necessitatingstronger international cooperation andinformation sharing between multiple
stakeholders.

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The majority of the general publicoften have limited awareness orunderstanding of the ever-changing
landscape of cyber threats. Vulnerable
populations, including the elderly,
persons with disabilities, and children,
are more susceptible to online threats,such as cyberbullying, asset and identity
theft. Due to scarce resources, there isalso a lack of cybersecurity resilienceamong CSOs and businesses, especiallyin MSMEs. The average cost of data
breaches varies between 38,000 USD
and 4.35 million USD, depending on theorganisation’s size.

Cybersecurity risks threaten AI systems
making them prone to error or theftand potentially destructive. Moreover,AI systems make decisions using
complex functions, making it difficult toensure transparency and explainability.
These challenges are not limited to
specific industries or applications but
pervasive across all AI implementations
and products.
As we rapidly iterate and build newtechnologies, we must also consider
the potential negative side effects oftechnology that can induce overuseand potentially negatively affect users’
mental and physical health.

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Policy Recommendations•

Increase international cooperationin cybersecurity as provided in the
Budapest Convention.

•

Fund and develop designated nodal
agencies to enhance collective
defence towards cyber threats andimplement preventative measures.
Facilitating collaboration between
governments, the private sector,
and other stakeholders is crucial
to increase cybersecurity incident
reporting.

•

Enhance national cybersecurity
policies and define mechanisms toenforce international standards andmeasures to safeguard cyberspace
while respecting and protecting
human rights.

•

G20 countries should collectively
recommend an additional protocol
to the Geneva Convention
specifically prohibiting any statefrom engaging in cyber attacks
on critical infrastructure systems
affecting civilian safety duringconflict.

•enforcement and technology
companies to mitigate online
exploitation, violence or
cyberbullying, especially towards
children, women and persons withdisabilities. Strengthen institutional
mechanisms, enact comprehensive
legislation, allocate resources for
specialised units towards prompt
investigation, impose stringent
penalties, and enforce strict content
moderation by 2028.

Enhance cooperation between
government, the judiciary, law

118•

Establish regulatory guidelinesthat ensure new technology
releases safeguard users’ physicaland psychological well-being byconducting comprehensive analysesof potential negative side effects
before their releases. This isespecially relevant to the gaming
and social media industries, whoseuser base is more susceptible totechnology overuse.

•

Develop a broad-ranging set ofcybersecurity norms for AI systems,
adaptable to the safety-criticalnature of AI products, to prevent
misuse of AI by malicious entities.

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

III. AI and Data for Society
2023 is likely to be remembered as
the year ChatGPT, an AI language
model, became a household name.
The potential applications of AI are
numerous, including healthcare,accessibility, research, business, andoverall economic growth. It is predictedthat by 2030, 70% of organisations
will be using at least one type of AI
technology. AI is expected to contribute
15.7 trillion USD to the global GDP by
2030. While AI technologies have been
under development for many years,
little regulation has been developed toaddress the considerations required fora safe and harmonious society. Efforts
such as UNESCO’s recommendations on
integrating ethics in AI are broad, farreaching, and exhaustive. However, they

have not been translated into concrete
legislation.
One of the most significant issues
in AI is the proliferation of bias
and discrimination, reflected in AI
algorithms and systems due to humanbiases and systemic inequalities
collected into the datasets used
to power AI. These biases leadto unfair or inaccurate decisionmaking, disproportionately affecting
marginalised groups. While datasets
are not the sole cause of bias, they
are a dominant factor. Anotherpossible risk is sensitive data leakage.
Using external third-party systems
may lead to mishandling personallyidentifiable information (PII) and similar
information.

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Policy Recommendations••

Develop policy mechanisms andregulatory measures to ensure thatdata collection and technology
development are deployed andused ethically, fairly, and safely inaccordance with the OECD valuebased AI principles.

stakeholders to ensure inclusivity
and impartiality by 2028.
•

Incentivize and mandate thegeneration of high-quality datasetsfor and from marginalised andunderrepresented communities tocorrect biases in medical, financial,economic, and all generative
AI applications. Foundationaland current datasets should becollected, debiased, and verified byestablished teams of experts andEstablish international regulations
that explicitly assign liability forharms arising from technology toensure accountability and protect
users’ rights and interests. It is
crucial to foster collaboration
between international legislativeand judicial systems, technology
corporations, civil society, andindependent regulatory bodies;to prescribe policies for noncompliance and dispute resolution
mechanisms that are fair andimpartial.

IV. Transparency, Trust and Disinformation
Disinformation has become a significant
threat to today’s society. While costing
the world a staggering 78 billion
USD annually, its impact has grownsignificantly with the advent of social
media. With 4.8 billion users, social
media platforms have become primary

vehicles for spreading disinformationand polarising content. False
information spreads faster on theseplatforms than accurate information,
leading to the division of populations
and increasing tensions among citizens.

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Economists have recognised thecorrelation between trust andincreased GDP. The potential risks of
disinformation jeopardise the politicalstability and trust in establishedsystems. Disinformation sows confusion
and a lack of trust in establishedsystems such as healthcare andscientific communities, as seen in the
recent COVID-19 pandemic. It is crucial
to develop approaches to address
both dissemination of and response todisinformation without compromising
human rights.

Moreover, the global technology supply
chain, encompassing hardware andsoftware presents a range of challenges.
Recent supply chain incidents such as
the WannaCry and SolarWinds attacks
impacted organisations in over 150
countries, causing over 94 billion USD
in losses. Adulteration, counterfeiting
and sub-standard products are othermanifestations of deficient supply chain
processes that could be mitigated using
technology. Addressing these concerns
is vital to maintaining our global
marketplace’s safety, security, andreliability.

Policy Recommendations••

Facilitate global cooperation
towards ending the spread of
disinformation. Create a sharedterminology and produce acomprehensive strategy against
the spread of disinformation incongruence with UN General
Assembly resolution 76/227.
Establish national information
networks that include professionals,
news, and social media teams to
track and respond to misinformationand disinformation.

121•

Develop an effective legal
infrastructure to transfer thefinancial burden of the fight against
disinformation to the individuals or
entities responsible for its creationand propagation as set in nationallaws and regulations.

•

Design and implement atrusted network for technology
procurement, specifically focusing
on G20 nations’ supply chain.

Technology, Security, and Transparency

Udaaharans
GLIDES

Team4tech

The Global Internet Governance, Digital
Empowerment and Security Alliance(GLIDES), is an alliance of Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs) and the first of its
kind. It is an alliance and a launchpad
for multi-stakeholder policy-making
processes toward security and internet
governance. This alliance focuses on
digital access, internet governance,
inclusivity, online safety, net neutrality,
data privacy, data governance, fakenews, multilingual internet, and digitalrights.

Team4Tech is a nonprofit impact
accelerator, bridging the digital equity
gap in education to foster inclusionand create opportunities for underresourced learners worldwide.
Team4Tech partners with companies
on social impact projects that provide
technology grants and training tobuild nonprofit capacity and provide
opportunities for learners around theworld.

Shakticon
ShaktiCon is an initiative for women by
women that has successfully served asa platform to inspire, train, and upskill
women in cybersecurity by providing an
inclusive environment that showcases
female talent and promotes diversity.
ShaktiCon has mentored over 5,000
beneficiaries from over 70 countries
worldwide in the past five years,
contributing to developing a morediverse and skilled workforce.

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References1.

https://unctad.org/system/files/official-

10. https://c20.amma.org/tst-wg/global-

document/ier2017_en.pdf

internet-governance-digital-empowermentand-security-alliance-glides/11 https://2.

https://www.frontiersin.org/

team4tech.org/

articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.856142/full
11. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_
3.

https://www.weforum.org/

Global_Risks_Report_2023.pdf

agenda/2023/01/global-rules-crack-downcybercrime/

12. https://www.coe.int/en/web/
conventions/full-list?module=treaty-4.

https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_

detail&treatynum=224

Global_Risks_Report_2023.pdf
13. https://edri.org/wp-content/
5.

6.

https://www.itu.int/hub/publication/d-ind-

uploads/2023/04/Civil-society-Open-letter-

ict_mdd-2022/

to-protect-encryption.pdf

https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/

14. https://www.apc.org/en/pubs/open-

when-a-bridge-becomes-a-wall/

letter-un-general-assembly-proposedinternational-convention-cybercrime-

7.

https://www.un.org/esa/ffd/wp-content/

poses-threat-humanuploads/2016/01/Digital-FinancialInclusion_ITU_IATF-Issue-Brief.pdf

15. https://www.firstpoint-mg.com/blog/
analysis-of-top-11-cyber-attackson-critical-

8.

https://www.itu.int/hub/2022/04/

infrastructure/

new-un-targets-chart-path-to-universalmeaningful-connectivity/

16. https://press.un.org/en/2022/gashc4344.
doc.html

9.

https://www.w3.org/WAI/standardsguidelines/wcag/

123Technology, Security, and Transparency

17. https://media.kaspersky.com/pdf/it-risks-

26. https://s3.amazonaws.com/

survey-report-cost-of-security-breaches.

media.mediapost.com/uploads/

pdf

EconomicCostOfFakeNews.pdf

18. https://www.ibm.com/downloads/

27. https://www.statista.com/

cas/3R8N1DZJ

statistics/617136/digital-populationworldwide/

19. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/
security/engineering/failure-modes-in-

28. https://news.mit.edu/2018/study-twitter-machine-learning

false-news-travels-faster-true-stories-0308

20. https://rm.coe.int/1680081561

29. https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/
sites/9789264307278-12-en/

21. https://www.shakticon.com/

index.html?itemId=/content/
component/9789264307278-12-en 31

22. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-https://usa.kaspersky.com/resource-

insights/artificial-intelligence/notes-from-

center/threats/ransomware-wannacrythe-AI-frontier-modeling-the-impact-of-aion-the-world-economy

30. https://www.bitsight.com/blog/thefinancial-impact-of-solarwinds-a-cyber-

23. https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/

catastrophe-but-insurance-disaster-data-and-analytics/publications/artificial-

avoidedintelligence-study.html
24. https://www.unesco.org/en/legal-affairs/
recommendation-ethics-artificialintelligence
25. https://oecd.ai/en/ai-principles

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Disability, Equity,and Justice
PwDs are among the largest minority groups in theworld: 1.3 billion people—16% of the population—livewith a disability, and approximately two-thirds of
PwDs live in G20 countries. Research shows that PwDs
in low- and middle-income countries are often ‘poorer
than their nondisabled peers.’ Even in developed
countries, PwDs are more likely to live in poverty.
Rights of PwDs have been advanced through the UN
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities(UNCRPD). Moreover, in 2016, the G20 committed
to align its work with the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) which commits to disability inclusion andleaving no one behind.

125Disability, Equity, and Justice

Inclusion of PwDs, however, has
yet to receive strategic planning,
implementation, and resources eventhough lack of inclusion can cost
countries up to 7% of their GDP. PwDs,
particularly WwDs, are systematically
excluded in education, employment,
health systems and disaster response.
They face barriers in accessing physicaland digital spaces, and high levels of
all forms of discrimination, abuse, andviolence— often resulting in significant,long-standing physical and mental
health consequences.

It is in the human, social, and economic
interest of the global community that
PwDs find budgetary allocation andcommitment in implementing plansfor inclusive, sustainable, and resilient
growth; and are seen as active citizens,taxpayers, consumers, and nationbuilders. Meaningful participationof PwDs in governance at all levels
is critical to effective planning andimplementation, and confronting stigma
and discrimination that undergirds
exclusion.

Education
Contex t
The G20 Riyadh2, Rome3, and Bali4

school experience exclusion due toinaccessibility, unidentified needs,
segregation, corporal punishment, andbullying8. The result: lower academic
achievement, 37% poorer mental
health outcomes9, grade repetition,
dropout, and limited future educationand employment. They also have
harder transitions to higher andtertiary education due to the stigma
that discourages disclosing disabilities;
inaccessible buildings, learning
resources, and digital access; andinadequate inclusion10.

Leaders’ Declarations commit toinclusive education, noting theimportance of technology. The rightto education for CwDs, free fromdiscrimination, is recognized by the
UNCRPD, UNESCO5, the SDGs6, and
UNCRC 7.
CwDs are 25% less likely to receive
early childhood education, 33% more
likely to be out of lower-secondary, and
27% more likely to be out of uppersecondary school. CwDs who attend

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Recommendations
exhibitions, exposure visits, physicaleducation, sports, etc. for all CwDs andadults with disabilities.

Make time-bound, concerted efforts totransform all schools and universities
into cross-disability inclusive
educational institutions with requisite
disability policies, commitments, andhuman and financial resources.

Support institutions to develop
Personalised Education Plans (PEPs) for
students with varied support needs andlink financial resources with PEPs.

Ensure full and effective participation,
inclusion, and quality education for
all CwDs and adults with disabilities
in urban and rural areas, acrosssocioeconomic strata, residential
facilities, and in situations of conflictand disaster.

Ensure accessible transport andlast mile connectivity for persons
across disabilities to access learning
institutions.
Ensure training, retraining anddevelopment of teaching and nonteaching staff and support personnel tofoster inclusive learning environments.

Conduct screening for early
identification and support CwDs andfamilies through early childhood
education.

Ensure PwDs, especially WwDs andgirls with disabilities have equitable
access and training for STEM, digitalskills, internet and other technologicaldevices.

Ensure equitable, inclusive andaccessible education through adequate
funding in educational, research andtraining institutions across all levels
in terms of design, infrastructure,and information communication
technologies. This should include
universal design for learning, access toreading-teaching materials online andoffline, assistive devices, classrooms,
toilets, exams, laboratories, libraries,

Mandate all formal and informal
educational institutions to institutereasonable accommodations andadopt zero-tolerance for disability
discrimination. Use incentive andpenalty systems to ensure enforcement.

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Disability, Equity, and Justice

Promote synergies between higher
education institutions and job market
stakeholders to ensure equal work
opportunities.

Collect disaggregated data by gender,
disability, caste and other markers ofstudents with disabilities across levels,
institutions and vocational trainings
centres.

Develop education financing that allows
students with disabilities to coverextra disability costs. Provide free andsubsidised education, scholarship andmeal programmes for disadvantaged
students.

Include students with disabilities inall existing and future mainstream
government awareness efforts,
campaigns, policies, schemes,
budgetary allocations.

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Employment
Contex t
The G20 Buenos Aires, Osaka, and Bali
Leaders Declarations acknowledge
the labour market vulnerability of
PwDs and commit to inclusive Futuresof Work—including increased labour
force participation through vocational
training, skill development, reskilling,labour formalisation, and social
protection for PwDs.

inactive. Lack of attention to disability
inclusion in business development
policies forecloses avenues to selfemployment for PwDs. Labour market
exclusion of PwDs has significant
macroeconomic implications.
At work, PwDs are more likely toface workplace discrimination, low
wages, poor working conditions,few prospects for promotion, andheightened harassment and violence—
especially persons with intellectual andpsychosocial disabilities and WwDs.

PwDs—an estimated 785 million
working age persons—are marginalisedin all labour markets worldwide. They
are far more likely to be unemployed,
underemployed or economically

Recommendations
Update labour force participation
surveys to facilitate disaggregated databy gender, social identity, and disability
type.

market skills and apprenticeshipprogrammes include PwDs.
Ensure and enforce legal protections
against all forms of workplace
discrimination, harassment and violenceagainst PwDs, particularly WwDs.

Increase labour force participation
for PwDs through vocational training,skill development, reskilling, training
for platform economy jobs, labour
formalisation, and social protection.
Ensure that mainstream technical,
vocational, education, training, labour

Mandate and enforce the responsibility
for public and private employers toensure accessible physical and digital
infrastructure and provide reasonable

129

Disability, Equity, and Justiceaccommodations to all PwDs.
Incentivise inclusion policies, including
hiring targets and career development.

percentage of procurement fromentrepreneurs with disabilities under
government procurement policies.

Ensure employers report andpublish disability employment data,
disaggregated by career-level, disabilitytype and gender.

Provide technical and financial
assistance to small and medium
enterprises to promote disability
inclusion, and support PwDs within theinformal economy and through self-helpgroups.

Combat stigma around disability
by highlighting contributions andcapacities of PwDs across sectors; andencouraging representation of PwDs in
decision-making positions on boards
and in senior management.

Adapt existing business development
policies and programmes to include
entrepreneurs with disabilities andimprove their access to specialised
trainings, credit, technical and financial
resources.

Prioritise and commit to a set

130C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

HealthContex t
The G20 Rome18 and Bali19 Leaders’
Declarations commit to Universal
Health Coverage (UHC). Health equity
for PwDs is essential to global healthpriorities— including UHC and publichealth interventions that contribute tohealthier populations20. The rights of
PwDs to the same range, quality andstandard of free or affordable healthcare is protected under the UNCRPD21.
Accessible health infrastructureand systems must ensure PwDs areincluded, even during pandemics and indisaster health responses.

Research shows that PwDs receive
lower levels of health care than persons
without disabilities. PwDs experience
health inequities arising fromstructural factors that generate social
stratification; risk factors for disease;and barriers within health systems—
including limited access to healthservices, social care, and rehabilitation;
inadequate treatment; involuntarytreatment and confinement22;
heightened discrimination, and barriers
to sexual and reproductive healthcare23.
The result: poorer health outcomes,
reduced life expectancy and higher
mortality rates24.

Recommendations•

Take urgent action to address
the vast inequities in health careaccess for all PwDs, including thosewith mental health conditions,chronic illnesses and rarediseases. Take integrated action tostrengthen health systems throughdisaggregated data collection,
policymaking, financing andbudgetary allocations.

•

Ensure accessibility of healthinfrastructure at all levels(particularly within rural
areas), including: physical anddigital infrastructure, access to
information, and community-based
rehabilitation. Train all healthprofessionals on disability needs,
and invest in installing adequate

131

Disability, Equity, and Justiceworkforce.

support personnel.
•

Ensure persons across disabilities
are engaged at all stages of design,
implementation, and monitoringof healthcare facilities and publichealth interventions for effective
inclusion.

•

Ensure all public health initiatives,
programmes and curricula aredisability inclusive and gendersensitive.

•

Ensure availability of tax-free, dutyfree, affordable assistive devices andtechnologies that cater to specificneeds of WwDs and PwDs.

•

Improve access to sexual andreproductive health rights including
access to abortion.

••

Ensure early identification,
rehabilitation and ongoing support
to CwDs with rare diseases.

•

Mandate provision of full medical
insurance with no discrimination
by public and private players to all
PwDs, including the elderly, andpeople living with mental healthconditions, rare diseases and chronic
illnesses.

•

Ensure informed consent andsupported decision making for
PwDs, particularly persons livingwith psychosocial and intellectual
disabilities prior to initiating any
health procedures or treatments.

•

Collaborate in advancing thedevelopment of specialised
medications and vaccines for various
disabilities, including improved
availability and affordability.

•

Ensure that mainstream healthschemes for physical, mental andwomen’s health include needs of
PwDs.

•

Streamline procurement of disability
certificates at local levels for all
including those with invisible
disabilities and fluid conditions.

Include PwDs in the health and care132

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Environment, Climate &Disaster Response
Contex t
The G20 Osaka Leaders’ Declaration25
commits to address disproportionate
impacts of environmental disasters
on vulnerable communities. As
disproportionately impacted
communities, PwDs must be included
in mitigating climate change. However,they do not currently have access to
information and inclusion on an equalbasis with others. The rights of PwDs toequal protection from weather eventsand climate disasters is protectedunder UNCRPD, ICESCR, and ICCPR.
The SDG targets also call for ensuring
participation of PwDs in climate action
and disaster risk reduction.

PwDs are particularly vulnerable toenvironmental and climate-driven
disasters—including cyclones, floods,
heat waves, and severe storms. PwDs
may be less able to access warnings
and emergency information, left behindduring evacuation, require accessto medications and assistive aids,
experience greater challenges accessing
basic needs, and face discrimination
when resources are scarce. PwDs
are also excluded from disasterrisk reduction policies, plans, andprogrammes and therefore particularly
at risk in the aftermath of disasters26.

Recommendations•

Ensure that PwDs are included inenvironment and climate justicediscussions and initiatives.

•

Comply with existing commitments
on climate finance, including
the agreed upon and overdue$100 billion/year climate financecommitment to support adaptation
to climate change with a 50/50 split
between funding for mitigation andadaptation. This funding should
prioritise the most vulnerable
countries and communities,
including PwDs.
•

133

Rapidly reduce emissions, stop
subsidising fossil fuels, and end
new fossil fuel projects to prevent
catastrophic climate outcomes andprotect the rights of vulnerable
populations.

Disability, Equity, and Justice•

Include PwDs and their needs
in design, implementation,communication and monitoring at
all stages of disaster management
processes, policies, plansand programmes – including
during mitigation, planning andpreparedness, rehabilitation andreconstruction.

•

Put rights-based mental healthsupport at the centre of policies
related to humanitarian and climaterelated responses.

•

Ensure timely and appropriate
health care including sanitationand hygiene, especially for WwDs,
during extreme weather events anddisasters.

•

Invest in accessible infrastructure
to ensure evacuation centres andshelter homes are accessible during
disasters. Ensure reconstructed
infrastructure is resilient to future
hazards and accessible to PwDs.

•

Collect disaggregated dataon location of PwDs, theirvulnerabilities and needs during
extreme weather events andenvironmental disasters. Maintainreal-time records and a digital

database of PwDs for urgent disaster
response and management.
•

134

Ensure multi-stakeholder
collaboration—including civil society,disabled persons organisations(DPOs), government, businesses
and industry—in developing climate
resilient community action-plans.

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Pover ty Reduction, Social
Protection, & Sustainable
Development
Contex t
The G20 Riyadh Leaders’ Declarationemphasised the disproportionate
impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable
communities, committed to reducing
inequalities and promoting inclusive
growth, and highlighted the importanceof social protection for all27. The right tosocial protection for PwDs is upheld by
the UNCRPD28 and UDHR29.

less employment, and higher poverty
rates. Accordingly, social protection
is critical to support PwDs to develop
more resilient livelihoods and breakfree from long-term poverty traps.
Where social protection programmes
are in place, however, PwDs currently
face barriers to accessing protection,
including: inaccessible procedures andcentres, discrimination from programme
administrators, conditional benefits,
inadequate needs assessments, andlack of information on programmes,
eligibility, and access pathways30.

PwDs are more likely to experience
adverse socioeconomic outcomes thanpersons without disabilities, such asless education, worse health outcomes,

Recommendations•

Ensure access by PwDs, inparticular women, girls and older
PwDs, to CRPD compliant social
protection and poverty reduction
programmes31.

•

Provide direct financial assistance toindividuals and households in need,including through disability-specificcash transfers, pensions, targeted
subsidies, employment supportand incentives, means-tested
benefits, and financial inclusion andcounselling.

•

135

Provide insurance protection
for PwDs, including income
replacement; vocational
rehabilitation and job retention
programmes to address
unemployment; and disability
insurance and rehabilitation support
in case of sickness or disability
related challenges.

Disability, Equity, and Justice•

Provide social insurance coverage,
benefits or allowances tocompensate for income loss due tocaregiving responsibilities incurredby caregivers, including family
members of PwDs.

•

Address the mental health needs of
PwDs, including through access tocounselling services, psychosocial
support, and mental healthinterventions.

Inclusive Communities
and Societies
Contex t
In order to foster inclusive communities
and societies, G20 countries shouldtake measures to remove physical,
social, and attitudinal barriers thatlead to the widespread exclusion of
PwDs across domains. To this end, G20

countries should promote integrated
and independent living, access to
assistive devices and technology,
and participation of PwDs; and takeurgent measures to counteract stigma,
discrimination and violence.

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Recommendations
•

•

•

•

Adopt accessibility standards
and Universal Design Principles
in developing and retrofitting
infrastructure, including:transportation systems, publicbuildings, housing, educational
institutions, health centres, parks,
sidewalks, and other essential
facilities.
Develop a time-bound plan andallocate budgets to deinstitutionalise
CwDs and PwDs, through supported
and independent community living
options, and personalised support
services.
Set new standards and benchmarks
to promote inclusive and accessible
public procurement of assistive
devices and technology.
Formulate a joint policy acrosscountries for technology transfer
among member and non-member
countries, specifically targeting
nations that lack the capability to
manufacture devices and assistive
technologies.

137•

Subsidise costs of assistive devices
through grants and low interest
loans.

•

Allocate resources for research anddevelopment of affordable assistive
devices and technology.

•

Establish partnerships with start-ups
and industries to develop low- andhigh-tech assistive tools tailored to
local languages and contexts.

•

End stigma by conducting awarenesscampaigns and programmes topromote inclusion of PwDs in social,economic, cultural, political, andcommunity spaces.

•

Encourage participation of PwDs inpublic discourse by ensuring that all
public communication is accessible
across disabilities.

•

Include PwDs in leadership anddecision making at all levels of local
governance and civic and public life,
including international policy making
forums.

Disability, Equity, and Justice•Strengthen and enforce legal
frameworks to end all forms ofviolence against PwDs.

•

Provide accessible pathways toaccess justice, redressal mechanisms
and support services, including
counselling, legal assistance, andrehabilitation, to disabled survivorsof violence and abuse.

•

Provide training for law enforcement
officers, healthcare providers,social workers, and educatorson identifying and responding todiscrimination and violence faced by
WwDs and PwDs.

•

Collect disability and genderdisaggregated data on discriminationand violence against PwDs.

This Policy Brief was developed throughconsultations with over 2500 persons with andwithout disabilities across 35 countries.

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References
1.

For detailed context and recommendations,informed through extensive civil society
consultations, see India C20: Disability,
Equity, Justice White Paper 2023: https://risingflame.org/project/india-c20disability-equity-justice-white-paper-2023/

2.

G20 Riyadh Leaders’ Declaration, 2020,
para. 26.

3.

G20 Rome Leaders’ Declaration, 2021,
para. 36.

11. G20 2018 Buenos Aires Leaders’
Declaration.

4.

G20 Bali Leaders’ Declaration, 2022, para.
44.

12. G20 2019 Osaka Leaders’ Declaration, para.
21.

5.

The UNESCO Convention against
Discrimination in Education, 1962,
including 109 States Parties at the timeof writing, protects the right to educationand prohibits any form of discrimination,
including any distinction, exclusion,
limitation, or preference.

13. G20 2022 Bali Leaders’ Declaration, para.
39.

6.

14. International Labour Organization (ILO),
Policy brief: Making TVET and skills systems
inclusive of persons with disabilities
2017, available online https://www.ilo.
org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_emp/--ifp_skills/documents/publication/
wcms_605087.pdf.

SDG 4 and Agenda 2030 provide a strong
vision that has guided initiatives to foster
inclusion of children with disabilities(CWDs) in schools.

7.

United Nations Convention on the Rights of
the Child (Article 23).

8.

UNICEF, Seen, Counted, Included: Using
data to shed light on the well-being ofchildren with disabilities, January 2022,
available online, https://data.unicef.org/
resources/children-with-disabilitiesreport-2021/.

9.

Co-opeartion and Development (OECD),
Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in
Tertiary Education and Employment, 2011;
Weqin Chen, “Students with Disabilities
and Digital Accessibility in Higher Education
under COVID-19,” in Rodrigo M.M.T etal. (Eds.) (2021), Proceedings of the 29th
International Conference on Computersin Education. Asia-Pacific Society for
Computers in Education.

15. International Labour Organization (ILO),“The price of exclusion: The economic
consequences of excluding people withdisabilities from the world of work,”
available online https://www.ilo.org/
wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_emp/--ifp_skills/documents/publication/
wcms_146260.pdf.

16. See International Labour Organization(ILO), Disability Discrimination at Work,available online https://www.ilo.org/
wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_norm/@
declaration/documents/publication/
wcms_decl_fs_87_en.pdf; International
Labour Organization (ILO), Violenceand harassment against persons withdisabilities in the world of work, available
online https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/
groups/public/---dgreports/---gender/
documents/briefingnote/wcms_738118.
pdf; International Labour Organization(ILO), Policy brief: Making TVET andskills systems inclusive of persons withdisabilities, available online https://www.

World Health Organization, Global
report on health equity for persons withdisabilities 2023, p. 81, available online
https://www.who.int/publications/i/
item/9789240063600.

10. See Shalini Saksena and Rashmi Sharma,“Deconstructing Barriers to Access Higher
Education: A Case Study of Students
with Disabilities in University of Delhi,”
DU Journal of Undergraduate Researchand Innovation, Volume 1, Issue 2, page316-337; Organisation for Economic

139

Disability, Equity, and Justiceilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_emp/--ifp_skills/documents/publication/
wcms_605087.pdf.

persons with disabilities,” 2 December
2022, available online at https://www.
who.int/news/item/02-12-2022-healthinequities-lead-to-early-death-in-manypersons-with-disabilities

17. This recommendation is in line with ILO
Violence and Harassment Convention (No.
190) and Recommendation (No. 206).

25. G20 Osaka Leaders’ Declaration 2019, para.
35.

18. G20 Rome Leaders’ Declaration 2021, para.
7.

26. See World Health Organization, Global
report on health equity for persons withdisabilities 2023, p. 82-83 available online
https://www.who.int/publications/i/
item/9789240063600; Human Rights
Watch, Leave No One Behind: People with
Disabilities and Older People in ClimateRelated Disasters, 2022; United Nations,
Department of Economic and Social
Affairs—Disability, “Disability-Inclusive
Disaster Reduction and Emergency
Situations, available online https://www.
un.org/development/desa/disabilities/
issues/disability-inclusive-disaster-riskreduction-and-emergency-situations.html.

19. G20 Bali Leaders’ Declaration 2022, para.
19.
20. World Health Organization, Global
report on health equity for persons withdisabilities 2023, p. 37, available online
https://www.who.int/publications/i/
item/9789240063600.
21. UNCRPD Article 25 protects the rights
of PWDS to the same range, quality, andstandard of free or affordable health care.

27. G20 Riyadh Leaders’ Declaration, 2020,
para. 23, 24.

22. The Committee on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities (CRPD) has also expressed
concern about involuntary treatment andconfinement and has recommended States
to take legal steps to abolish surgery andtreatment without the full and informed
consent of the patient (Art. 23, 25). The
Human Rights Committee has affirmedthat special protection is necessary in thecase of persons not capable of giving valid
consent, and that such persons should not
be subjected to any medical or scientificexperimentation that may be detrimental
to their health. See General comment No.
20 (1992) on prohibition of torture andcruel treatment or punishment, para. 7.

28. The United Nations Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)(Art. 28(b) calls upon states to ensure
access by persons with disabilities, inparticular women and girls with disabilities
and older persons with disabilities, tosocial protection and poverty reduction
programmes.
29. The need for disability-inclusive social
protection is stated in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, Article 25 on
the right to adequate standards of living
and security.

23. See World Health Organization, Global
report on health equity for persons withdisabilities 2023, p. 33-34, 61-68, 81, 88,
98-103, available online https://www.who.
int/publications/i/item/9789240063600;
UNFPA and Women Enabled International,
The Impact of COVID-19 on Womenand Girls with Disabilities: A Global
Assessment and Case Studies on Sexual andReproductive Health and Rights, GenderBased Violence, and Related Rights, 2021,
p. 2;

30. See World Health Organization, & World
Bank. (2011). World report on disability.
Malta: World Health Organization;
Gooding, K., & Marriot, A. (2009). Including
persons with disabilities in social cashtransfer programmes in developing
countries. Journal of International
Development, 21(5), 685-698. doi: 10.1002/
jid.1597; Mitra, S. (2005). Disability andSocial Safety Nets in Developing Countries.
Washington, DC: World Bank

24. World Health Organization (WHO), “Healthinequities lead to early death in many

31. Consistent with the UNCRPD Article 28(b)140C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

SDG16 Plus &Promoting
Civic Space
Today the world is witnessing geopolitical issues
that are challenging international security andmultilateralism. Additionally, the global scene
has pushed donor funds to focus on military
expenditures rather than allocating resources
towards conflict prevention, peacekeeping andimproving people’s lives. Finally, the limited
opportunities to collaborate on SDG implementationin the sphere of existing fragmented coordination
at the national level also poses its own challenges.
Non-governmental actors need to be involved inprojects to achieve real outcomes and sustainability.
Structural obstacles, lack of political will, and lackof commitment to foster inclusive partnerships arehindering effective collaboration.

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SDG16 Plus & Promoting Civic Space

Governments have promised to reduce
violence and conflict, but accountability
and transparency remains a major
problem. Recognition and urgency for
a committed and strong partnership isneeded apart from ensuring National

Commitments to SDG Transformation
with transparent and inclusive platform
for showcasing these commitments,
helping to ensure follow-up andaccountability.

Introduction
The year 2022 was confronted withan increase in global instability
that included increased violence,
persecutions, demonstrations, anddivisions. No region or continent is freefrom conflict and this has escalated andexpanded with instability, military coups
and perilous humanitarian conditions
where civilians are the primary target
of armed conflicts and violence.
The Russia Ukraine conflict further
highlights that even states upholding
strong democratic credentials havebeen forced to engage with security
dilemmas rather than build on conflict
resolution strategies.

has given a voice to the voiceless, it has
also given a stronger voice to calls forarmament and securitization. This inturn has led to polarized perspectives
that impact global governanceinstitutions. The collateral damage fromthis is backsliding of the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development. Anothercollateral damage of this polarizationis that facts-based discussions arecountered with value-laden claims
resulting in misinformation.
Recognition and urgency for acommitted and strong partnership totake action as stated in the previous
Rome Civil Society Declaration SDG16+
in 2019, 2021 and 2022 is urgently
needed in order to reduce the gap
between different polarized viewpoints.

Recognizing the geopolitical challenges,
the world is facing today, we arewitnessing an increasingly global trend
the shrinking civil society space. Whilesocial media and the digital paradigm

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1. Promises that couldn’t be achieved
Despite multiple promises, many
people still lack access to justice,particularly the poor, vulnerable andmarginalized communities in different
parts of the world Governments havecommitted to building effective,
accountable, and inclusive institutions,but many institutions are still weak andineffective. For example, the police
and judiciary in many countries areoften accused of being corrupt andlacking independence. Notwithstanding

commitments to promote genderequality, women and girls continue
to face discrimination and violencein many parts of the world with childmarriage and female genital mutilation
still prevalent in many countries.
Despite commitments to promote
peaceful and inclusive societies,
governments have not been able todeliver and are found to be lacking in
multiple dimensions, as mentioned
above.

2. G20 and the SDG 16 Plus Agenda
The G20 signed up for the SDGs in2016 by adopting the G20 Action Planon the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. Without the supportof all G20 countries to SDG16+, theinternational community’s collective
commitment to fostering peaceful, just,and inclusive societies is deemed to fail.
Member countries have committed towork across the relevant G20 working
groups and streams to contribute toimplementing the 2030 Agenda andfollow up on collective actions throughexisting accountability processes andfollow-up mechanisms.

local grassroots civil society groups is
crucial to ensuring the implementationof SDG16+ and that the 2030 Agenda
is community-led. As we reach the
halfway point to the implementation of
the 2030 Agenda, civil society has calledon the G20 to intervene and take bold
actions - including through substantial
financial commitments. Steps takenby the Indian G20 Presidency in its
Action Plan 2023 such as the High-Level
Principles, Financing for Accelerating
Progress on SDGs, Targeted Actions forTransformative Transition Areas andthe High Level Principles on Data for
Development would assist in planning
the next steps for achieving the 2030
Agenda.

In 2018, the G20 made commitments
to review progress on its Action Plan.
G20’s commitment to empowering143

SDG16 Plus & Promoting Civic Space

3. Analysis
In line with the UN Secretary-General’scalls, we urge Member States, UNbodies, multilateral agencies, donors,
the private sector, CSOs, think tanks,
academic institutions, and others
to congregate and collectively workon advancing and bringing progress
on SDG16+ for the realisation ofpeaceful and inclusive societies withthe following priorities for 2023, G20
Presidency.

A. Promoting Civic Space
It is essential that sufficient civic
space is available for civil society
around the world to enable it to fulfil
the role envisaged for it as part of amulti-stakeholder approach to theimplementation, follow up and reviewof the 2030 Agenda.

Despite the clear aim of target 16.10
to protect fundamental freedoms,
existing global-level indicators adopted
to date by the international community
to assess progress do not adequately
measure the extent to which thesebasic freedoms are being protected.
Unfortunately, the Voluntary National

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Reviews submitted by UN Member
States between the years 2016-2022
have not addressed the issue of closing
civic space or how the challenges andsystemic barriers facing civil society inachieving the SDGs are being tackled.

on the Protection and Promotion of
Civic Space adopted emphasises thatstrategic and effective civic spaceaction hinges on stepped up action
around the 3 Ps-Participation in UN
processes, Protection of civil society
actors through clear protocols andprocedures and Promotion of civic
space and participation in national
decision making processes, both online
and offline.

The United Nations has identified
participation and civic space as oneof the key areas to focus it attention.
Under the overall aspiration of theCall to Action, the Guidance Note

B. Preventing illicit financial flows, stolen
assets and organized crime
The latest trade related illicit financial
flows (IFFs) from a report publishedin 2020 by Global Financial Integrity(GFI) estimates $8.7 trillion between
2000 and 2018. It is estimated that $20
billion and $40 billion in stolen assets
are moved across borders every year,
and the growing influence of criminal
networks in the digital realm, as wellas the increased use of violence bycriminal groups to maintain control overtheir operations have cost implications
highlighting the significant scale ofthis problem and the impact it has onachieving the SDG 16+ targets. There isan urgent need for action to promote

greater transparency and accountability
through measures such as strengthening
anti-corruption laws and policies,
increasing financial transparency
and accountability, and supportinginternational cooperation to prevent145

SDG16 Plus & Promoting Civic Space

illicit financial flows, stolen assets andorganized crime.
The G20 Indian Presidency has included
asset recovery, information sharing
and integrity and effectiveness of
public bodies under its anti-corruption
priorities for 2023. In the past, theG20 has adopted various High-Level
Principles, including on Cooperation
on Persons Sought for Corruption

and Asset Recovery, Mutual Legal
Assistance, Beneficial OwnershipTransparency, Public Procurement.
It created a Step-By-Step Guide toRequesting Mutual Legal Assistancefrom G20 Countries and formed
the Global Operational Network of
Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement
Authorities (GlobE). It has also sought toaddress these issues by making specificcommitments to

1. implement the The United Nations
Convention against Corruption(UNCAC), which includes provisions
related to asset recovery, antimoney laundering, and cooperation
between law enforcement agencies.

4. strengthen efforts to counter thefinancing of terrorism, including
through implementation ofenhanced cooperation between
financial intelligence units and law
enforcement agencies.

2. implement high-level principles
on asset recovery, which provide
guidance on issues such as asset
tracing, asset freezing, and mutual
legal assistance.

5. promote greater transparency
and accountability in public sector
institutions, including throughmeasures such as open data
initiatives, public reporting on
budget and spending, implementing
anti-bribery laws, enhancing
whistle-blower protection, andpromoting competition, enhancing
transparency, and preventing
conflicts of interest in public
procurement.

3. promote greater transparency
around beneficial ownershipof companies and other legal
entities, which can help prevent
illicit financial flows and money
laundering.

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C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

However, there are still significant
gaps in implementation and progress.
The G20 ACWG 2020 Accountability
Report, for instance, highlighted thelack of timely provision of mutual
legal agreements, inflexibility in legal
measures, the absence of minimum
tools to trace, freeze, and confiscate theproceeds of corruption, and undefined

focal points for cooperation on issues of
AML and asset recovery. There is a lackof coordination and cooperation among
G20 member states on addressing illicit
financial flows, including in terms of
information sharing and enforcement
apart from a lack of political will toaddress illicit financial flows.

5. Udaharans
India ’s effor ts towards
the G20 accountability ofAnti-Corruption Working
Group
India gave a Nine Point Agenda for
Action Against Fugitive Economic
Offences and Asset Recovery to theArgentina G20 presidency where It
called for strong and active cooperation
across G20 countries in legal processes
and mechanisms to deny safe haven to
all fugitive economic offenders.

Role of audit institutions in anticorruption, Leveraging Information
and Communications Technology (ICT)for combating corruption in the public
sector and most importantly genderand corruption. India is also preparing acompendium of good practices of G20
ACWG members regarding enhancing
the role of auditing in tacklingcorruption.

Indian Presidency is now focussing
on five broad themes in G20 AntiCorruption Working Group namelyInternational cooperation forstrengthening fight against corruption,
Integrity and Effectiveness of Public
Bodies and Authorities Responsible forPreventing and Combating Corruption,

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SDG16 Plus & Promoting Civic Space

Localizing SDGs andWhole of Society
Approach in JapanThe Cour t of Justiceof the European Union(C JEU)

According to Hamamatsu City Plan for
Human Right Policy Promotion, in orderto prevent child abuse and for improved
early detection and response, personnel
are actively put in place including social
workers, clinical therapists, and publichealth nurses, aiming to expand support
based on more expert knowledge andtechniques, and as part of measures toprovide family care environments forvictims of child abuse, the city is raisingpublic awareness on its foster parent
system.

CJEU issued a ruling on beneficial
ownership registries in the case ofAustria v. Germany (C-648/17) in
October 2019. The CJEU ultimately ruledthat EU law does not prevent member
states from requiring companies todisclose information on their beneficial
owners to a central register, as long as
certain conditions are met. The ruling issignificant for the fight against money
laundering and other financial crimes,
as beneficial ownership information isa critical tool for identifying and tracing
illicit financial flows.

Recommendations
a. Promoting Civic Space♦ Key international bodies should
encourage national governments
to enact laws which regulate in afair way ensuring the existence of
healthy civic and democratic spaces.
In this regard, the adoption of civic
space indicators as part of themonitoring framework of SDG 16+
would provide important leveragefor civil society organisations tocommunicate with the governments
to demonstrate progress on the
promotion and protection of civic
space nationally as part of annual
review processes.
♦ We call on governments and theinternational community to expand
citizen-generated data and all other“non-official” data sources.

148

C20 India 2023 - Policy Packb. Preventing illicit financial flows, stolen
assets and organized crime♦ Ensure faster, wider, and more
effective use of mutual legal
assistance through the applicationof a Mutual Recognition Agreement
among G20 Members. These should
include mutual enforcement of “freeze
and confiscate” orders, authenticationof public records, and transparencyof documents. When assets are
returned they need to be aligned to
GFAR principles, including throughthe engagement of civil society andcommunity groups to support thetransparency of this process.
♦ Define and commit to global standards
on beneficial ownership transparency,
i.e. the disclosure of the ultimate
owners of an entity- in a central,public registry with free and open

data, and supported by international
cooperation on these issues amonglaw enforcement agencies.
♦ Ensure all member countries areparty to the OECD Anti-Bribery
Convention and private sector bribery
is criminalized in line with UNCAC
provisions. Policies and procedures forseveral acts of high-risk corruptionincluding bribery toward domestic andforeign civil servants, bribery towards
a third party, facilitation payments,
gratification, political donations, andsocial donations- should be in linewith the G20 High-Level Principles
on Private Sector Transparency &Integrity.

c. Financial Commitments towards the
Deliver y of SDG 16 Plus
♦ The flow of global aid, and inparticular an increased percentage
of ODA flows should be targeted atfunding the promotion and protectionof human rights and civic space,increasing the sense of security
for communities everywhere, andpromoting fair access to the law andto information.

149♦ Civil society actors, especiallygrassroots communities, facestructural financial barriers thatmust be addressed by the financial
architecture of public developmentbanks.
♦ The G20 must also come to the SDGs
Summit with financial commitments

SDG16 Plus & Promoting Civic Space– including around domestic
resource mobilisation and budgetarycommitments to deliver on the SDGs.
For donors, this also includes financial
commitments towards SDG16+ andthe 2030 Agenda, which can also playa key role in helping donors meettheir commitments to 0.7% of GDP for
development cooperation.
♦ We strongly support the SecretaryGeneral’s call for an ambitious “SDGs
Stimulus Plan”, which calls for an
additional $500 billion per year
towards sustainable development
financing.
♦ We reiterate our call from the 2023
Rome Declaration for donors todevelop and invest in a comprehensive
donor-collaborative “ Global SDG16+
Fund”.

♦ We support the call for expanding
measurement of economic progress toa “Beyond GDP” model.
♦ G20 and the international community
must make efforts to solve theincreasingly urgent sovereign debt
crisis. To do so, debt cancellation or
restructuring must be considered, as
well as other innovative mechanisms
such as “debt swaps” that will further
incentivize action towards SDG16+ andthe 2030 Agenda overall.
♦ The G20 countries should takemeasures to effectively involve
companies, international financial
institutions and communities in theimplementation of global agendas anddemand transparency and credibility
around their contributions

d. Recognizing and utilising SDG16 + as anenabler for achieving the 2030 Agenda& responding to current global crises♦ We call on the United Nations andits partners to ensure that “National
Commitments to SDG Transformation”
called for by the Secretary-General
are adequately compiled and tracked
around the SDGs Summit, including
by providing a transparent andinclusive platform for showcasingthese commitments, helping to ensure
follow-up and accountability.

150♦ We reiterate our call for SDG16+ tobe reviewed annually at the HLPF
going forward, including through thenegotiations around the review of the
HLPF modalities taking place in 2024.
This affirms that SDG16 strongly links
with all other goals, in line with the
integrated and indivisible nature of
the 2030 Agenda.

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Human Rights as
Human Values
The Preamble of United Nations’ Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (1948) states that“recognition of the inherent dignity and of theequal and inalienable rights of all members of
the human family is the foundation of freedom,justice, and peace in the world. Whereas it isessential if the man is not compelled to haverecourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against
tyranny and oppression, that human rights should
be protected by the rule of law”. [1]151Human Rights as Human Values

The UNESCO Valencia Declaration of
Responsibilities and Human Duties(1998) states that “States have a general
responsibility to implement and respect
all the provisions related to Human
Rights”. If people are duty conscious,
the country and its institutions
automatically follow the duties without
any deviance. The human rights debate
necessarily calls us into the sense ofshared responsibility and the common
good. Rights and duties have an

inseparable relationship. If people dotheir duty according to the establishednorms of society and their conscience,
they can have a better life. While
such norms may not be common to allsocieties, they must adhere to accepted
norms such as those established underthe International Covenants of Civil
and Political Rights (ICCPR) as well as
Economic Social and Cultural Rights(ICESCR).

Evolution of Human Rights
The genesis of the modern concept ofhuman rights may be traced back to theideas of the French philosophers, which
triggered the revolution in France inthe late eighteenth century. The slogan
of the French Revolution, i.e. “liberty,
equality and fraternity”, was the firstformal declaration of the dignity ofhumanity. Human rights enshrined inancient Indian literature reflect themessage of equality and brotherhood.
The Rigveda, which is regarded as
the oldest spiritual tract in India callson all humanity to “live together,
talk together, and know each other’s
minds; may your consultations andassemblies be unified, may your minds
and intellects be common; may yourresolutions be united, and your hearts
beat in unison; may your minds unite
to make you happy.” It shows that the
Indian value system discusses equality,
harmony, and fraternity. Human dignity
is the tradition and culture of ancientIndia.

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Ancient Indian texts (Vedas,
Dharmashastras, Ithihasas and theArthshastra) speak of the duties ofkings, judges and subjects, as well
as of norms of justice and judicial
procedures. The foundation of humanrights in these ancient times revolved
around the concepts of Dharma (duty)
and Danda, which regulated thegovernance of the state and the duties
of citizens. The foundation of humanrights in Sanatan Dharma encompasses
a moral code, righteousness andresponsibilities.[3] Human rights havealways been paramount in India’s
rich legacy because India believedin the principle of “VashudhaivaKutumbakam” (The world is one family).

Education & Human Rights
Human rights and fundamental
freedoms help us to develop our
intrinsic qualities, intelligence, talents,
and conscience to meet our materialand spiritual needs. It is pertinent tounderline that, without recognizing
the right to education, realisation of
the right to development of every
human being is impossible. Article
26 of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights (1948) states that“education shall be directed to the fulldevelopment of the human personality
and to the strengthening of respectfor human rights and fundamental
freedoms”.[4] Moreover, education
promotes understanding, tolerance,

and friendship among all nations andsocial or religious groups. Historically,education has been an instrument ofdevelopment and an important factor
in social change. Human rights andeducation are inarguably two of themost important factors in realisingother human rights, ranging fromprotection of the environment toempowerment of children, women, andother vulnerable sections of society.
The right to education and its relevancefor nation-building and holistic
development of societies require thechild to gain knowledge in a safe anddiscrimination-free environment that
protects her from exploitation.

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Human Rights as Human Values

Human Rights and Gender Issues
The preamble to the United Nations
Charter sets forth women’s equality
with men, as does Article 1 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights(UDHR), which describes that “womenare born free and equal in dignity andrights. Moreover, women and men are
endowed with reason and conscienceand should act towards one another ina spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood.”[5] At the very heart of this concept
is the understanding that women areautonomous individuals fully capableof determining the course of their lives,and possessing independent agency
to act for themselves and for others.
Indian philosophical belief is that man
and woman make absolute humanbeings, as symbolised in the conceptof Ardhanaareeswara, where Iswara,
the creator, is depicted as half-man
and half-woman. Notwithstanding
the elements of patriarchy in the
Hindu philosophical tradition, women
occupied superior positions on par withmen. In the Sanskrit language, strengthand power are feminine qualities ‘Shakti’ means “Power” or “Strength”
and all powers, including in males, weresaid to originate from the feminine.
The position of women in a society is
the true index of its social, economic,
cultural and spiritual attainment.
India is moving fast from the conceptof women’s development to womenled development. Women’s economic
empowerment is an important agendaof the G20 summit.

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Div yang (Disabilities) andHuman Rights
The United Nations Convention
on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (UNCRPD) has reframed
the nature of the disability from apersonal impairment, resulting in
activity limitation, to a form of social
oppression caused by discrimination
and a denial of citizenship and civic
participation. Disability inclusion andenhancing accessibility are crucial toachieving Sustainable Development
Goals and health for all. It is difficult toachieve “Universal health coverage” andhealth for all without providing quality
health services equally to persons withdisabilities.[6] Therefore, investing inuniversal health coverage for persons
with disabilities will benefit individuals
and communities.

Environment and Human Rights
Protection of the environment andprotection of human rights are global
issues affecting people, communities
and our planet worldwide. The
environment and human rights
are closely inter-connected, as
environmental degradation adversely
impacts human rights, such as the rightto life, health, hygiene, sanitation,
sustainable lifestyles, access toresources, and, generally, a clean

environment. Therefore, protecting theenvironment is important to safeguard
human rights, ensure sustainable
development and live together
peacefully. The right to life, humandignity, health, food, shelter, and wateris at risk when communities are forced
to migrate due to climate change.
Environmental pollution, including air
and water pollution, also significantly
threatens human rights.

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Human Rights as Human Values

Media and Human Rights
Article 19 of the UN’s Universal
Declaration of Human Rights states:“Everyone has the right to freedomof opinion and expression; this rightincludes freedom to hold opinions
without interference and to seek,
receive and impart information andideas through any media and regardlessof frontiers.” [7]government accountability andtransparency.” [8]The advent of the internet has
introduced “new” media, including
information communication
technologies, the internet, websites,and social media platforms like Twitter,
Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
Media has an important role when it
comes to promotion and protection ofhuman rights. It gives people a platform
or means for their voices to be heard,
raises awareness of specific humanrights issues, exposes violations andacts of discrimination, and empowers
people to act.

“The hallmark of a strong democracy
is an active civil society. Civil society
and media serve as an important link
between governments and the public,
as they provide public concerns toauthorities, press governments toshare critical updates and promote156

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LGBTQIA and Human Rights
LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender, Queer, Intersex andAsexual /Agender) individuals facediscrimination and violations of
their basic rights in many parts of
the world. They also face barriers toaccessing education, employment,
housing, and healthcare due to theirsexual orientation or gender identity.
The principles of human rights suchas non-discrimination, equality, andfreedom from violence and persecution
apply to all individuals, regardless ofsexual orientation or gender identity.
Advocating for LGBTQIA rights andensuring their protection is essential topromote human dignity, social justice,and equal treatment under the law.

Democracy, Good Governance andHuman Rights
Human rights are inextricably linked
with democratic governance. Nurturing
good governance underpins and isessential to ensuring respect forhuman rights. History teaches us thattransparent, responsible, accountable,and participatory governance is aprerequisite to enduring respectfor human dignity and fundamental
freedoms. Democracy is an essentialcondition for the protection of humanrights. Human rights cannot be
respected and protected sustainably
without good governance.

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Human Rights as Human Values

Cultural Rights and Human Rights
Human rights and cultural rights areinter-related concepts that play a crucialrole in ensuring the dignity and wellbeing of individuals in society. Culturalrights include practising one’s religion
or language, participating in cultural
events and celebrations, and accessing
cultural education and resources. The
rights identified in the International
Covenant for Economic, Social andCultural Rights (ICESCR) are essential toa just, equitable, harmonious society.

of discrimination in the State’s legal
systems, violence, and abuse. The
United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
states in Articles 9 and 33 thatindigenous peoples have the right tobelong to an indigenous community or
nation in accordance with the traditions
and customs of the community or
nation concerned and that they havethe right to determine their own
identity.”[9] At the same time, humanrights provide the foundation for asociety that respects the dignity andworth of every individual and cultural

Indigenous peoples are often
marginalized and face different kinds

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rights, and recognise the importanceof cultural diversity and how culture
is expressed in varying ways. The
challenge is in ensuring these rights
are protected and promoted in a waythat respects and preserves different
communities’ cultural identity andheritage while upholding universal
human rights principles. While cultural
practices are an important part ofcultural identity and heritage, theycannot be allowed to violate universal
human rights norms.

Child Rights and Human Rights
Children’s human rights are violated
every day in many parts of the world.
Human rights related to children areoften disproportionately impacted
by the highest risks arising frompoverty, malnourishment and abuse.
The Universal Declaration of Human
Rights stipulated under para of Article
25 states that childhood is entitled to
special care and assistance.

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Human Rights as Human Values

Recommendations
The C20 policy brief on Human
Rights invites G20 leaders to adopt astronger position towards promoting

and protecting Human rights. The
recommendations call upon G20
members,by the individuals in their day-to-day
lives.

1. To promote education as aninnovative vision and mission for thecornerstones of sustainable growthand stability. All G20 members
should encourage cooperationin education for sustainable
development. Furthermore, it isexpected to advance women’s
and girls’ equal access to inclusive
and quality education. In addition,
they have to promote coordination
between employment and equitable,
quality education policies.

4. To provide all necessary assistanceto the countries that cannot afford
quality health services for persons
with disabilities. The G20 members
must ensure access to equitable andeffective health services for persons
with disabilities across the world.
5. To protect the rights of LGBTQIA
persons, G20 members must play aconstructive role, at both bilateraland multilateral levels, to promote
and protect the human rights of
LGBTQIA people and work closelywith civil society organizations toadvance their human rights.

2. To identify that gender equality
is critical for economic growthand equitable and sustainable
development. Therefore, G20
leaders should commit to promoting
initiatives to end discrimination
against women. It will help toreduce gender gaps and inequality,
as envisaged under the United
Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development.

6. To promote harmonious andcooperative relations between
State and indigenous peoples.
The G20 members should work
towards accepting the rights of theindigenous people.

3. To protect and advance democraticvalues and human rights bypromoting democracy, human rights,
and good governance programmes
at various levels. The G20 countries
should initiate such programmes as
to ensure these values are imbibed7. To expand the civic space byensuring the inclusion of civil society
and making them a stakeholder inthe policy formulation. The G20
members should regularly consult
the civic society and prepare a160

C20 India 2023 - Policy Packmutual respect and understanding
enabling them to work together topromote human rights and cultural
diversity.

multi-layered model of policy
formulation.
8. To address climate change andother environmental issues, theG20 members should broaden theirscope encompassing economic,
social, cultural and politicaldimensions of human rights. Climatechange should be addressed notjust at the macro level but at the
micro level. LiFE (Lifestyle forEnvironment) must be promoted by
the G20 members.

11. To promote respect for democraticvalues as well as for diversity,
inclusion and mutual respect withspecial reference to preserving theinterests of the weaker sections ofsociety.
12. To protect all human rights in an
era where non-State actors often
play a negative role. Globalization
has meant that non-State actors
are more involved than ever inviolations of human rights. While
globalization has enhanced theability of civil society to function
across borders and promote humanrights, other actors have gained thepower to violate human rights in
unforeseen ways. The G20 members
must create conditions and put inplace policies that would reduce theadverse impact of market forces andgross violations of human rights.

9. To adopt a holistic approach toprotecting human rights in boththe physical and digital realms.
This will need to be done throughdifferentiated actions to address
new and emerging risks. As work isdone to advance technical skills andcompetencies, G20 countries mayneed to ensure respect for humanrights and non-discrimination in
the digital world through adequate
attention, legislative provisions,
regulatory frameworks, andmechanisms for their effective
implementation.

13. To follow the principle of Vasudhaiva
Katumbakam (the world is one
family) and promote values of coexistence. The G20 members must
promote value-based education thatcan shape various perspectives andnorms. Values and norms could playa very important role in protecting
Human Rights.

10. To promote cultural diversity andrespect multilateralism throughdialogue, G20 members should
encourage an atmosphere ofengaging in open and respectful
discussions for the individuals andcommunities through which they
can develop relationships based on

161Human Rights as Human Values

CONCLUSIONAs global citizens, it is our duty topromote humanity and the sustainable
future of the planet. To achieve this,our foremost objective should be to
become good human beings. We appeal
to the G20 leaders to protect humanrights as human values, stressing ourduties towards the planet and to all
its creatures, to reduce inequalities
and protect the most vulnerable. Ourpriority must be the sustainability of life
and the welfare of all.

1. “Universal Declaration of Human
Rights”, https://www.un.org/en/aboutus/universal-declaration-ofhuman-rights

6. “Disablity” World Health Organisation,
March 7, 2023. https://www.who.
int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/disability-and-health

2. Ibid

7. United Nations: Universal Declarationof Human Rights, https://www.un.org/
en/about-us/universal-declarationof-human-rights#:~:text=Article%20
19,media%20and%20regardless%20
of%20frontiers

3. SS Rana, “Human Rights in India:
Historical Perspective”, International
Journal of Research and Analytical
Reviews(ICRAR), Issue 1, January-March
2018, p.473.

8. “US Department of State” Covid-19,
Democracy, Good Governance andHuman Rights, https://www.state.
gov/u-s-support-for-democracy-goodgovernance-and-human-rights-inthe-global- response-to-the-covid-19pandemic/

4. “Universal Declaration of Human
Rights” United Nations https://www.un.org/en/about-us/
universal-declaration-ofhumanrights#:~:text=Article%20
26,Elementary%20education%20
shall%20be%20compulsory.

9. “United Nations Human Rights Officeof the High Commissioner: About
Indigenous People and Human Rights”
https://www.ohchr.org/en/indigenouspeoples/about-indigenous-peoplesand-human rights

5. “United Nations Universal Declarationof Human Rights” https://www.un.org/
en/about-us/universal-declaration-ofhumanrights#:~text=All%20
human%20beings%20are%20
born,in%20a%20spirit%20of%20
brotherhood.

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Diversity,
Inclusion, Mutual
Respect
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are terms used
to describe policies and programs that promote
the representation and participation of different
groups of individuals and encompass peopleof different ages, races, ethnicities, abilities,
disabilities, genders, religions, cultures and sexual
orientations. The term Equity is essential for
Inclusion but if Diversity is to be sustainable itmust be accompanied by Mutual Respect.

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Diversity, Inclusion, Mutual Respect

This is the rationale that led this year’s
C20 Working Group to adopt the themeof Diversity, Inclusion, and Mutual
Respect. ‘Mutual Respect’ is essential
for Diversity and Inclusion to flourish
in a harmonious society. The need for adiverse approach to development wasrecognized by the leaders of G20 for the
first time in 2005. The G20 communiqueof 2005 said, “We recognized there isno uniform development approach thatfits all countries. Each country shouldbe able to choose the development
approaches and policies that best
suit its specific characteristics...”. The
recognition of diverse approaches andmethods further needs to be taken
forward in other areas of social life.

The Diversity Inclusion and Mutual
Respect Working Group considered
four sub-themes:
1. Respecting native traditions all over theworld and their representation
The combination of imperialism,
commercialism, and exclusive religious
and political ideologies have driven
various native traditions to the wall
to the extent that some have almost
become extinct. But these traditions(including Indian traditions) haveprominently contributed to protectionof environment and biodiversity
by their very practices. Their
traditional wisdom about protectionof environment, harmonious social
life, herbal knowledge and skills arevery important for the world. They
should be supported and given theplace and prominence in international
forums. The world saw biased research
towards traditional cultures, customs,
communities discrediting them as evil,
false, backward and superstitious withgovernmental machinery being used
to establish these biases. The tangible
and intangible damage caused tothese communities has affected themprofoundly and remains unrepaired tothis day.

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Today it is generally acknowledged
even by the United Nations that “there
is an urgent need for new approach...
which emphasize(s) harmony amongpeople and between humans andnature, equity, dignity, well-being andsustainability. These new approaches
should fully acknowledge the roleof culture as a system of values anda resource and framework to build
truly sustainable development.... We
recognize that one size does not fit all
and that different cultural perspectives
will result in different paths todevelopment. At the same time, weembrace an understanding of culturethat is open, evolving and strongly
framed within a rights-based approachand respect for diversity, free access towhich enables individuals “to live andbe what they choose”, thus enhancing
their opportunities and humancapabilities while promoting mutual
understanding and exchange amongpeoples.” [1]165Diversity, Inclusion, Mutual Respect

Recommendations
G20 governments must:♦ Establish research centres forthe study of diverse indigenous
communities to find solutions fromtraditional wisdom of indigenous/
traditional communities, solving
complex global problems.

♦ Establish a department for thepromotion of indigenous faith andculture.
♦ Include ancient native philosophy
and cultural values included in
textbooks to make it a part of theeducational system to mould thefuture generations to save natural
resources, degradation of earth,environmental pollution, and toprevent conflicts, wars, etc.

♦ Voice and support the traditional
communities in the remotest partsof all countries who have beenpracticing sustainable developmentwith unique mechanisms suiting
their environmental, material,
intellectual and spiritual needs.

♦ Bring the native medical knowledge
and practices into the mainstream
to help over-burdened modern
medical system, which will be a low
cost–high benefit method to help
the world.

♦ Legislate “Right to Culture” or
way of life by governments all over
the world- it forms a fundamental
principle of cultural freedom,
freedom of thought, well-being,
expression, religion, faith, forms,
etc.

♦ Have a G20 forum for networking
and exchange among traditional
communities where representativesof native cultures of the world would
meet annually to support nativeskills, wisdom traditions, regional
herbs and food for better health,
to save species at the brink ofextinction, reduce global warming,
prevent ethnic strife, restore
ecological balance, etc.

♦ Stop religious intolerance,
terrorism, intolerance towards
ancient ways of life by means ofvandalism of ancient monuments,
places of worship, academic
terrorism by academically disputing
and misrepresenting ancient
cultures.

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2. Persons with physical and mental
disabilities, economically backward
sections, and children born with HIV/AIDS
who need special care and acceptance inthe society.
About 15% of the world’s population
lives with some form of disability, ofwhom 2-4% experience significant
difficulties in functioning 1. Around
970 million people suffer from mental
disabilities 2. It is acknowledgedthat many social, economic andinfrastructural changes have been
witnessed in the 21st century to suitpersons with disabilities. However,these are not adequate to address
the needs of persons with disabilities(PWD). People affected by various
physical, sensory, motor, neuro-physiological, behavioural, cognitive or
multiple challenges have impediments
to live life with happiness and tocontribute to the progress of afamily and society when they are nottreated with holistic care. When their
impediments are well-handled, then,instead of dependency, the PWDs
can contribute in multiple ways andshoulder bigger responsibilities. The
imparting of value education should
include information about disabilities
and how society/family should care forit and work for its cure.

Recommendations♦ Early identification and earlyintervention with AI apps, referral
network, eco-system for functional
independence, technology-solutions
catering for special needs, tax
incentives for the products that arevital for successful rehabilitation.

♦ Knowledge bases relevant todisability and intervention systems
should be built and libraries withinformation and databases shouldbe accessible in most global
languages.

167

Diversity, Inclusion, Mutual Respect♦ Measures to give concessions andreservations for education and jobs
to the economically weaker sections
to cross over the poverty line.

basics of early interventions andrehabilitation services.
♦ HIV- affected children since birthshould be provided with timely
medical support at hospitals/
health-centres. Designated medical
facilities in a district can nominate
a section to treat HIV-affected
persons♦ Rehabilitation training: Educational
curriculum at school level should
include inputs about different
types of disabilities and their
management. For example, medical
education should accommodate the3. Persons irrespective of their biologicalsex identity, sexual orientation and gender
identity and expression need to live withrespect in society by respecting each other.
Though under the acronym LGBTQ+(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender,
Queer, Intersex, Asexual etc.) all
the persons with different sexual
orientation and gender identity(SOGEISC, as they are now referredto) are included it was found that theneeds of each group is different. Thus,

to take care of the rights and needsof all these persons the formulationof policies should be more diverse,
precise and purposeful. All should
not be subjected to fit in the needs of
one or other group. Many European
countries are adopting a very cautious
approach towards gender treatment

168

C20 India 2023 - Policy Packfor children12. Many countries havebanned the irreversible surgeries forthe children or have adopted very
restricted approach, even 18 states in
USA have banned surgeries on children.
We need to take a long-term view that
protects family and society, along withmaterial and spiritual well-being of
human beings and their rights to live
life happily and purposefully. In India
and many other countries, intersex havetheir own systems, temples, festivals
etc., which give them spiritual succour.
These temples and festivals need to beprotected as these give spiritual identityand path to this group of people14.

Recommendations
G20 governments must:♦ Make different policies to take careof diverse needs of the persons
combined in the term LGBTQ+.

♦ Protect the indigenous religious
traditions of the persons covered in
the term LGBTQI+.

♦ Provide hostels/shelters forintersex children who are generally
discarded by families.

♦ Preserve living spiritual traditions
for the intersex and gender nonconforming persons as done in
India, Thailand and other countries
are doing to provide them spiritualsuccour and space. ‘International
Study Center’ should be establishedin India for the study, protection
and promotion of these indigenous
traditions existing amongst intersex
and gender non-conforming persons
all over the world.

♦ Ban treatments such as puberty
blockers, life-long hormones, andirreversible surgeries for gendertransformation among transgenderchildren as many countries havealready done.

169Diversity, Inclusion, Mutual Respect

4. Respecting the methods and approaches
adopted by various countries, cultures,and communities to solve their problems
and interpret terms like human rights, etc.
in the light of their cultural ethos
Today, the discourse on human rights
needs further refinement. In protecting
the rights of the accused whether
in cases or terrorism or in those
involving violence against women, theright to dignity and privacy as well as
the right to life of the victims often
gets overlooked. Further, in-depth
protection of rights of all is required.

it is perhaps time to launch a discoursethat looks upon human being not
only as an individual but in terms of
his connections and responsibilities
towards his family, society, nature, etc.
Many traditional societies even today
are not just contract-based but also
relations-based. Thus, the diverse ways
in which various issues related withhuman life are dealt with within various
cultural contexts need to be respected.

The human rights discourse has evolvedin the United Nations system over the
past four decades. While recognisingthat the human rights machinery ismostly treaty-based, that is, anchoredin international law, where the State
that ratifies the treaty willingly
assumes legally binding obligations
under the treaty and submits periodic
compliance reports to the respective
treaty body, subjecting itself to scrutiny
by the treaty body for monitoring ofcompliance. and while accepting thatit must not give any member State apass in the name of cultural ethos or
freedom to “interpret” human rights,

The G20 communique of the year 2005,says,
We recognized there is no uniform
development approach that fits all
countries. Each country should be able
to choose the development approaches
and policies that best suit its specificcharacteristics, while benefiting fromtheir accumulated experience inpolicy making over the last decades,
including the importance of strong
macroeconomic policies for sustained
growth.

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The time has come that, not only ineconomic development, but in all rounddevelopment ‘no one size fits all’ is tobe adopted. The diversity of ways ofdevelopment also are to be recognized.
Every culture must have the right tofollow one’s own civilizational values
through vision of life, values of lifeand develop systems to implement thesame, not on the basis of uniformity
or mechanical sameness but a living
Oneness where the care of all istaken and the diversity of individuals
as well as communities and themethods adopted by them to protect
the freedom and happiness of all isrespected.

Recommendations
G20 governments must:♦ Declare as was done in case of economic development in the communique of2005 that there is no one model that fits all even in the development of humanbeings and society and culture.

Udaaharans or Best Practices•‘Microsign’, an enterprise at
Bhavnagar, Gujarat is a successful
example of how differently abled
persons are sought after andconstitute preferred staff. It’s 60%
workforce are differently-abled
as preferred HR. Harvard business
review mentions it in its publication
March 16, 2016, based on the studyof IIM Ahmedabad.

•

A residential school at Rang avery remote part of East Kameng
district, Arunachal Pradesh is a living
example of imparting of modern
education with cultural ethos. The

students learn modern subjects
based on a curriculum prescribedby the Central Board of Secondary
Education. Subjects such as
indigenous arts like dances, songs,
etc., sports, crafts like weaving,basket making, and environment,
chanting hymns-verses, singing
devotional songs, folklores and tales
comprise of cultural and traditional
wisdom. It has caught the attentionof many other tribes in that part as
the right way to ‘development with
culture’; i.e. to develop in modern
way as well as to retain the diverse
cultural identity.

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References1.

https://www.who.int/teams/
noncommunicable-diseases/sensoryfunctions-disability-and-rehabilitation/world-report-on-disability

2.

https://www.who.int/news-room/factsheets/detail/mental-disorders3.

https://data.unicef.org/topic/hivaids/
global-regional-trends/#:~:text=Of%20
the%20estimated%2038.4%20
million,were%20children%20aged%20
0%E2%80%9319.

4.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopi_
Shankar_Madurai#:~:text=Gopi%20
Shankar%20Madurai%20(born%20
13,Tamil%20Nadu%20Legislative%20
Assembly%20election

5.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/
news/2018/10/its-intersex-awareness-dayhere-are-5-myths-we-need-to-shatter/6.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/
NBK64806/

7.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/10/
science/transgender-teenagers-nationalsurvey.html

8.

https://leg.mt.gov/bills/2017/Minutes/
House/Exhibits/juh33a14.pdf, https://rightwingnews.com/gays/liberalsfurious-johns-hopkins-chief-psychiatristtransgender-mental-disorder/

9.

10. https://www.thefp.com/p/i-thought-iwas-saving-trans-kids?r=7xe38&utm_
medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
11. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_
Zucker
12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/
articles/PMC6020665/
13. https://www.forbes.com/sites/
joshuacohen/2023/06/06/increasingnumber-of-european-nations-adopta-more-cautious-approach-to-genderaffirming-care-among-minors/ https://nypost.com/2023/01/30/even-progressiveeurope-wont-go-as-far-as-america-in-childtransgender-treatments/ https://www.
euronews.com/next/2023/02/16/as-spainadvances-trans-rights-sweden-backtrackson-gender-affirming-treatments-for-teens
https://cne.news/article/2931-pubertyblockers-meet-more-and-more-resistancehttps://www.usnews.com/news/beststates/articles/2023-03-30/what-is-genderaffirming-care-and-which-states-haverestricted-it-in-2023
14. https://aeon.co/essays/the-west-can-learnfrom-southeast-asias-transgender-heritagehttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/
articles/PMC7539026/
15. http://www.g20.utoronto.
ca/2005/2005communique.html
16. UNESCO International Congress “Culture:
Key to Sustainable Development” (15-17
May 2013) Hangzhou Declaration

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/
news/2023/03/30/the-gender-cultistshave-taken-over-our-schools/, https://www.edfirstnc.org/post/transgendertoddlers-treated-at-duke-unc-andecu?s=09

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Preservation and Conservation of

Traditional Ar ts,
Crafts and Culture
Traditional and Innovative Ways ofLivelihood and Employment
Globalisation, industrialisation, and changing lifestyles have all
posed serious problems for traditional art, crafts, and culture.
As active members of the larger Civil Society, it is importantthat CSOs come together to help sustain these traditional art
forms.
Craft, with its focus on handmade products and sustainable
practices, aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 12:
Responsible Consumption and Production. By promoting the
production of handmade goods with a lower carbon footprint,
the goal of achieving more sustainable patterns of consumption
and production can be achieved. Art, craft and creative
economies have the potential to empower individuals andcommunities to engage in responsible and conscious choices,
fostering a shift towards a more environment friendly andsocially equitable society.

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Traditional Arts, Crafts and Culture

Traditional craftsmanship is perhaps
the most tangible manifestation of
intangible cultural heritage. Traditional
craftsmanship can be seen in many
forms, including tools, clothing,jewellery, costumes and props forplays and festivals, storage containers,
objects for transportation and shelter,decorative art, ritual objects, musicalinstruments, household utensils,
and toys for both entertainment andeducation.

conditions since man’s earliest days. The
first examples were necessities such as
clothing or protection. Handicrafts werelater improved and adapted in response
to environmental factors, eventually
becoming “traditional” and accepted
as an art form reflecting a society’s
artistic sense, feelings, and culturalcharacteristics.
G20 member states should use
measures to promote and maintaintraditional art, crafts, and culture tosolve these issues and further theirpreservation and conservation.

Handicrafts have existed in accordancewith the prevailing environmental

The policy brief aims to:♦ Identify and preserve traditional art,
crafts, and culture♦ Develop a cultural foundationand engage the people of all
backgrounds to foster pride in theircultural heritage and engage cultural
exchange♦ Promote traditional art, crafts, andculture as a means of livelihood andemployment♦ Promote research and innovation:
Invest in research, data mapping anddevelopment initiatives focused on
traditional art, crafts, and culture.

♦ Promote innovative ways of
livelihood and employment that
preserve and promote traditionalart, crafts, and culture♦ Foster intergenerational knowledgetransfer: Implement programs andinitiatives that facilitate the transferof traditional art and craft skills
from older generations to♦ Create a sustainable ecosystem forthe preservation and promotion of
traditional art, crafts, and culture174

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

♦ younger ones. This will help ensure
the continuity and preservation ofvaluable techniques and cultural
practices.
♦ Strengthen market linkages:
Support artisans and craftspeople
by establishing direct market
connections, both domestic andinternational.

Preser vation and Conser vationof Traditional Ar ts, Crafts, andCulture:1. Documentation &Digitization
The first step in preserving andconserving traditional arts, crafts,
and cultures is to document them.
G20 member states should undertake
an extensive documentation exercise
to identify the different traditionalarts, crafts, and cultures prevalent indifferent regions of the country. This
documentation should be carried out
with the help of experts and scholars
in the field. Once the documentation iscomplete, the G-20 should undertakea digitization exercise to ensure thatthese traditions are accessible to people
worldwide. This digitization exercise
should include creating an online
repository of information, including
videos, images, and articles on these
traditions.

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training and support to artisansand craftspeople and encouragethem to pass on their skills to future
generations. G20 should also provide
grants and funding for research anddevelopment in traditional arts, crafts,
and cultures.

3. Providing Training
and Suppor t

2. Establishing
Centres ofE xcellence
The G-20 should establish centres of
excellence in traditional arts, crafts,
and cultures in different parts ofthe country. These centres should
act as hubs for the promotion andpreservation of traditional arts, crafts,
and cultures. They should provide

G20 should provide training and support
to artisans and craftspeople to enhancetheir skills and knowledge. G20 statesshould also provide financial assistanceand marketing support to help these
artisans and craftspeople to promote
their products and earn a decent
livelihood.

4. Encouraging
Entrepreneurship
G20 should encourage entrepreneurshipamong artisans and craftspeople byproviding support, including but notlimited to, access to finance, training,and mentoring, to artisans andcraftspeople to start their enterprises.

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5. Market
Development

7. Promotion and
Education

Developing markets for traditionalarts and crafts are critical for theirsustainability. This can be done throughestablishing markets, promoting
them through e-commerce platforms,
and encouraging local tourism.
Apprenticeship programs should
be developed that provide aspiring
fashion designers and artisans with
opportunities to learn from experienced
craftspeople.

Promotion and education of traditionalarts and crafts can be done throughpublic events, exhibitions, and festivals.
This will help to raise awareness andappreciation of traditional arts andcrafts. There is also a need to foster
collaborations between traditional
artisans and design institutions, such as
fashion schools and universities.

8. Inclusivity andDiversity

6. Collaborations

Preserving and promoting traditionalarts and crafts should be inclusiveand diverse. This can include
supporting artisans and craftspeople
from marginalized communities andpromoting gender equality in theindustry.

Collaborating with other organizations,groups, and communities can help topreserve traditional arts and crafts. Thiscan involve partnerships with museums,
galleries, and cultural institutions.

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12. Suppor t
Marginalized
Communities

9. Promote Skill
Development
G20 could promote the skill
development of artisans andcraftspeople by organizing workshops,
training programs, and apprenticeships.
This can help to preserve traditional
techniques and ensure that they are
passed down to future generations ofcraftspeople.

G20 should support marginalized
communities by providing skill
development opportunities andpromoting the use of traditional artsand crafts in sustainable livelihoods.
This can help to empower marginalized
communities and ensure that theircultural traditions are preserved.

10. Encourage
Innovation

13. Promote
Environmental
Sustainability

G20 should encourage innovation in
traditional arts and crafts by supporting
the use of modern technologies anddesigns while preserving the traditional
techniques. This can help to maketraditional arts and crafts moreaccessible and appealing to younger
generations.

G20 can promote environmental
sustainability in traditional arts andcrafts by supporting the use of ecofriendly materials, reducing waste, andpromoting sustainable livelihoods forartisans and craftspeople. Advocate
for the adoption of circular economy
principles in the art and craft sectors.
Encourage the recycling, repurposing,and upcycling of materials to minimize
waste and reduce the environmental
footprint of the industry. This can help
to ensure that traditional arts and crafts
are produced in an environmentally
sustainable way.

11. Promote Market
Access
G20 should promote market access for
traditional artisans and craftspeople
by creating online marketplaces,
promoting tourism, and establishingmarkets for traditional products. Thiscan help to increase the demand for
traditional arts and crafts and provide
more opportunities for artisans andcraftspeople to sell their products.

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Udaaharans
Traditional Turkishhandicraf ts

Gzhel is a Russian
ceramic styleCreate a rich mosaic by combining
genuine values with the cultural
heritage of the various civilizations
that have passed through Anatolia
over the millennia. Carpet-making,rug-making, sumac, cloth-weaving,writing, tile-making, ceramics
and pottery, embroidery, leather
manufacture, musical instrumentmaking, masonry, copper work,basket-making, saddle-making, feltmaking, weaving, woodwork, cartmaking, and so on are examples of
traditional Turkish handicrafts. Wool,
mohair, cotton, bristles, and silk
are common weaving materials in
traditional Turkish handicrafts.

It has been producing pottery since the14th century and is known as one of
Russia’s oldest and largest producers.
It is the true birthplace of Russian
ceramics. It is shipped both domesticallyand internationally. Gzhel rose toprominence in the Eighteenth Century.
It was well-known for its beautiful
majolica-coloured clay with polychrome
paintings on white glaze, but it wasn’t
until the Nineteenth Century that
Gzhel’s Golden Era began.

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The key recommendations on
traditional and innovative ways of
livelihood and employment are:
♦ Recognize and preserve traditional
occupations, skills, and knowledge
systems by providing support
for training, upskilling, andinfrastructure development.

♦ Skill development and capacity
building•

Establish skill development
programs: Develop
comprehensive skill development
programs that address the needsof traditional and innovative
livelihood sectors. Collaborate
with industry experts,
educational institutions, andlocal communities to design
and implement these programs
effectively.

•

Promote apprenticeships
and internships: Facilitate
apprenticeships and internships
to provide hands-on training
and experiential learning
opportunities for individuals
pursuing traditional andinnovative livelihood options.

♦ Encourage innovation andentrepreneurship that fosters an
ecosystem towards innovationand entrepreneurial activities by
providing access to resources,
mentorship, and financial support.
♦ Ensure that both traditional andinnovative livelihood options areaccessible and inclusive, particularly
for marginalized communities,
women, and youth.
♦ Promote sustainable practices:
Encourage environmentally
sustainable livelihood options,promote conservation, and support
the use of clean technologies.

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♦ Access to finance and resources:
1. Establish dedicated funds: Create
dedicated funds to provide financial
assistance, grants, and loans ataffordable rates to individuals andcommunities engaged in traditional
and innovative livelihood practices.
2. Support infrastructure development:
Invest in the development of
infrastructure, such as marketplaces,
incubation centres, and technology
hubs, to facilitate the growthof traditional and innovative
enterprises.
3. Support Artisan Cooperatives:
Establish and support cooperatives
that bring together artisans andcraftspeople to collectively produce
and market their products. Provide
them with training, access toresources, and marketing support
to enhance their business skills andincrease their market reach.
♦ Knowledge preservation andpromotion:
1. Document traditional knowledge:
Undertake comprehensive
documentation of traditional
livelihood practices, including
techniques, tools, and cultural
significance. Create digital
repositories and databases topreserve and disseminate thisknowledge.

2. Promote cultural tourism: Encourage
cultural tourism initiatives thatshowcase traditional livelihood
practices to domestic andinternational visitors, generating
income for practitioners and creatingawareness about India’s rich cultural
heritage.
♦ Entrepreneurship and innovation
support:
1. Establish incubation centres:
Set up incubation centres andinnovation hubs to support
aspiring entrepreneurs in
traditional and innovative sectors.
Provide mentorship, networking
opportunities, and access to market
linkages.
2. Provide technical assistance andadvisory services: Offer technicalassistance, business advisory
services, and mentorship programs
to individuals and enterprises
engaged in traditional and innovative
livelihood practices.
♦ Policy and regulatory framework:
1. Review and revise existing policies:
Continuously review and update
existing policies and regulations
to align them with the needs of
traditional and innovative livelihood
sectors. Simplify procedures, reducebureaucratic hurdles, and ensure
consistency across different regions.

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Traditional Arts, Crafts and Culture

2. Incentivize sustainable practices:
Introduce incentives and rewards for
traditional and innovative livelihood
practices that promote sustainability,
environmental conservation, and theuse of clean technologies.

c. Stakeholder engagement:
Foster active engagement withstakeholders, including traditional
practitioners, entrepreneurs,
community organizations, NGOs, andacademia.

3. Ethical Supply Chains: Encouragetransparency and ethical practices
in the supply chains of crafts andfashion products. Advocate for fairwages, safe working conditions, andsustainable sourcing of materials.
Promote certifications and labelingsystems that verify the ethical andsustainable practices of artisans andcraftspeople.

♦ Promote Cultural Exchange:
G-20 Nations should promotecultural exchange programs thatallow artisans and craftspeople toshare their skills and techniques withother communities. This will help topreserve traditional arts and crafts
and promote cultural diversity.
♦ Support in Research andDocumentation:♦ Implementation and Monitoringa. Implementation authorities:
Designate a dedicated authority,
such as a Livelihood and Employment
Promotion Agency, to oversee theimplementation of this policy. This
agency should work in coordination
with relevant departments, industry
associations, and community
representatives.
b. Monitoring and evaluation: Establish
a robust monitoring and evaluation
framework to track the progress
and impact of the policy. Regularassessments should be conducted
to identify challenges, address gaps,
and make necessary improvements.

182

G-20 Nations can support researchand documentation of traditionalarts and crafts. This can involve
providing funding for research
projects, creating databases of
traditional crafts, and promoting
access to these resources. Thiscan include sharing best practices,conducting joint research projects,
and organising international eventsand exhibitions.

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Delivering
Democracy
The Delivering Democracy Working Group(DDWG) seeks to ensure engagement from all theconcerned stakeholders in generating a platform
for discussions for strengthening democracy, andfor members of civil society organizations acrossthe world to voice people’s aspirations before world
leaders who are members of the G20 nations. The
DDWG has anchored various knowledge assimilation
events such as International Conference,
International Webinar Series, Campus 20 Poster
Competitions, etc. through both in-person andvirtual mediums.

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Delivering Democracy

Structural features like multi-party
elections, an independent judiciary, andfree media - are important instrumentsof democracy. However, the basic
strength of democracy is the spirit andethos that lie within its citizens andsocieties. Democracy is not only of thepeople, by the people, for the people
but also with the people, within thepeople.

equality and dignity; the idea that has
welcomed debate and discourse; theculture that has given wings to thought
and expression.
Different parts of the world havefollowed different paths of democratic
development. There is much we canlearn from each other. We all need toconstantly improve our democratic
practices and systems. And we all needto continuously enhance inclusion,transparency, human dignity, responsive
grievance redressal and decentralizationof power.

For countries like India, democracy is asacred and shared value. It has evolved
over a long time, and taken various
forms and systems. Through history,
however, one thing is clear. Democracy
has been the spirit that supports

Strengthening and Deepening
Democracy: Youth Media and Civil
Society
Strengthening democracy is a
responsibility, not only of thegovernment but also of core societal
stakeholders such as the youth,
media and civil society organizations(CSOs). What is needed is an enabling
environment and strong support to beprovided to enable these stakeholders
to contribute effectively to thestrengthening of democracy.

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Recommendations
Youth
Departments of Education
should make funding available
for civic education that focuses
on democratic principles1. There

1. Technology should be leveraged
to increase youth participation indemocratic processes. For example,
building online voting systems foryoung people to exercise their rightto vote.

should be pedagogy on democracy,
democratic institutions, andresponsibility of citizenry whichshould be practical and provide
experiential learning from class 6th
onwards. In Sweden, the school
curriculum includes lessons on thetheory and practice of democracy.
Representatives of political parties
visit schools, helping students tolearn about the political system. Thismodel may be referred to.

2. G20 nations should use participatory
training and engagement tools to
inculcate democratic values andcompetencies in young people.
Exemplars include UNICEF India’s
YuWaah!’s which has initiatedgamified tools combining knowledge
development and on-ground action
to nurture the capacities of young
people to lead volunteerism.

4. Local Governments should introduce
mandatory youth outreachprograms. Youth can be engaged
to solve local issues (such as traffic
congestion, design innovation, etc.).
This engagement should also be
credited academically as well.

3. Schools in G20 nations should
include civic education in theyounger generation. Legislation
should require countries to develop
basic content and benchmarks ofachievement for civic education.

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Delivering Democracy

5. Introducing student politics onuniversity campuses is key tofacilitating youth engagement
in decision-making processes.
However, the implementation ofreforms for free and fair student
elections and politics is a mustfor improving youth perception of
campus politics.

6. Have fellowship programs foryouth to engage them on issues of
democratic values and democratic
processes e.g. have youth fellows inlocal self-governing institutions
7. Youth Empowerment Ministry in
Governments, present in different
countries should keep Governanceand Democracy as the major agenda
items in the department’s programs.

Civil Society Organizations
1. G20 States should focus on
strengthening civil society; there
should be institutional mechanisms
set up for smooth coordination withand capacity building of CSOs, withdedicated funds for the same.

to contribute to policy-making andimplementation; these mechanisms
can enable civil society to help
find pragmatic solutions on various
issues of national importance. These
practices should be encouraged in
all G20 states.

2. In some countries, CSOs sit in thepanel or in government committees

Media
1. G20 states must support
independent and public interest
journalism by designing incentives
for philanthropic donations to
the news sector and considering
tax concessions to support public
interest journalism2.

2. Citizen journalism and participatory
video-making, wherein people
disseminate information using
websites, blogs, and social media,
should be encouraged and fostered.

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Responsible Citizenr y andResponsive Governance:
Effective Voting and Beyond
evaluation of performance. Suchindicators may include attendance
and frequency of speaking inparliament/legislature3, decorum

1. Creating Electoral Literacy Clubs
in educational institutions andplanning activities like Each One
Reach One (every youth to educate
one voter) are recommended.

and parliamentary speech andconduct, and contribution to thedevelopment of the electoral
constituency.

2. G20 State should create a
Democracy Coalition including
members of Civil Society to plan andimplement democracy campaigns
beyond the election period. Training
programs should be conducted
for communities and communitybased organizations to enhancetheir understanding of democracy
and their role as stakeholders in thedecision-making process.

5. More important documents orpolicies prepared by the government
should be floated in the publicdomain by employing the aid oftechnology. Placing the draft billin the public domain for a suitable
period of time should be followed
diligently and for a larger number ofbills.

3. CSOs should assist to enhance thenumber of registered voters and toencourage registered voters to casttheir ballots.

6. On the lines of the UN General
Assembly, there should be Global
Citizen’s Assemblies for debating
issues of global importance. Bothin-person and virtual participation
mechanisms for the same should bemade available.

4. Performance indicators andmeasurement systems forlegislators should be developedand implemented, for independent187

Delivering Democracy

Decentralization and Grassroots
Democracy
Challenges
Empowered Deliberative Democracy(EDD) involves public meetings ordeliberative forums in local governance,
whereby local residents gather, discussand decide on governance issues
affecting their lives.

2. Innovations in grassroots democracy
and people’s participation such as
habitation/micro level assemblies
should be implemented for effective
grassroots-level community
participation even in remote areas.

EDD forums such as Village Assemblies
in actual practice are constrainedby certain challenges such as low
attendance in meetings and inability
to exercise any decisive influence on
decision-making.

3. Each Village Council/unit oflocal government can think of acommunity radio station that canbe used to hear the problems of the
public directly.
4. There is a need for suitable trainingof elected representatives of rural
local self-governing institutions:

1. CSOs should conduct capacity
building and sensitization ofmembers of the community
for more active and effective
participation in deliberative forums
such as Village Assemblies.

188•

Training should use suitableparticipatory pedagogies so thatthe lessons are found engaging
by the participants. It should
engage peer networks of elected
representatives from vulnerable
communities for mutual learning.

•

Social audits carried out by
villagers be supported andinstitutionalized, and made activein their functioning with thesupport of CSOs.

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Digital Democracy
1. Digital literacy campaigns should becustomized and implemented for
different age groups, genders, social
categories and education levels.

3. Digital Dignity Volunteers at thegrassroots level are required toupkeep sanity and sanctity on thesocial media platforms.

2. For citizens to better understandpolicies, and have informed opinions
on them for better accountability,
more infotainment content on policy
matters should be developed anddisseminated through social media.

4. Digital technology should bewell utilized to make governancemore transparent, innovative andparticipatory (see Udaaharans
section).

Inclusive Democracy
example through voter educationof specially-abled individuals, which
also use role models from thecommunity of PwDs.

1. Evidence shows that gender quotas
have helped enhance women’s
participation in political governanceforums 4. G20 countries that have not
adopted such quotas as per the law
should take steps to do so.

4. Migrants should be empowered
to participate in the democratic
process. In Australia, thegovernment has invested on
educating the migrants in several
languages through the Democracy
Ambassadors Program. In thisprocess, migrant women havebecome the most active participantsin voting.

2. Governments should incentivize
the participation of citizens fromsocial and economic sections of the
population via non-monetary meansin the decision-making process.
3. There is a need for democraticempowerment of the mostvulnerable sections of society, for

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Delivering Democracy

Democratising Development
To make development more responsive,
participatory mechanisms should be
adopted at the local or hyper-local
levels for enabling local communities toparticipate actively in decision making,resource allocation, implementationand monitoring of services in various

domains such as health, education,etc. This section provides several bestpractices and Udaaharans that shedlight on such mechanisms adopted
in India, Brazil, Thailand, and othercountries.

Udaaharans
Digital Platform for Community Par ticipation
Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Govt of Karnataka, India
is contemplating live streaming Gram Sabha (Village Assembly) on social media
platforms. This would enable the community members out of the village to jointhese assemblies from wherever they are and have their say as well.

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Community Monitoring for Strengthening
Responsible Par ticipation Leveraging ICT –E xperience of Arogya Shreni in Karnataka
GRAAM, India has pioneered atechnology-based citizen participation
model, bringing community ranking
cards for strengthening community
participation and accountability ofprimary health care services in thestates of Karnataka (‘ArogyaShreni’)
Arogyashreni - an action research
project implemented by GRAAM acrossMysore District of Karnataka covering
112 rural Primary Health Centres(PHC)s, involved building the capacityof communities for monitoring the
PHCs with the aid of technology. The
community representatives responded

to a questionnaire about the availability
and quality of services of their PHCs
using Interactive Voice Response
technology (IVRS) through their mobile
phones. The responses were analyzed
and used to rank PHCs in Mysore
district. The innovation in the wholeprocess of community participation
described above lies in how the project
leverages simple communication
technology for unbiased, free andefficient monitoring and empoweringcommunities.

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Delivering Democracy

International Best Practice
1. The Ostbelgien Model of Belgium
providing a permanent Citizen’s Council
In 2019, a permanent Citizens’ Council
was established in Ostbelgien (Eastern
Belgium).

The Citizen’s Panel can also constitutead-hoc Citizens’ Panels on the mostpressing policy issues of their choice.

24 randomly selected citizens form the
Citizens’ Council5.

The obligation of the authorities toconsider the recommendations of the
Citizen’s Panel is a noteworthy featureof the system. The Ostbelgien modelis thus an example where citizens
are given a genuine voice in setting
the policy agenda and empowered toactively explore issues of their choice.

Every six months, one-third of thecohort of members of the council
is rotated out, to be replaced withrandomly selected citizens.

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2. Par ticipator y Budgeting for thepar ticipation of and enhancing
allocation of resources towards thepoor in Por to Alegre Brazil 6
Participatory Budgeting is aparticipatory tool to allow local
residents to shape decision-making andallocation of resources in their areas.
Participatory Budgeting (PB) in thecity of Porto Alegre, Brazil, is widely
considered to be the most noteworthy
use of PB in the world.
PB in Porto Alegre involves threestreams of meetings: neighborhoodassemblies, thematic assemblies, andmeetings of delegates for citywide
coordinating sessions.

193

Through the PB process, each of
the 16 districts in the city gives
rankings of priorities at the end of thedeliberations. They also elect delegates
who proceed to the Council of theParticipatory Budget (COP) with the
districts’ suggestions. In the PB process,women, ethnic minorities, low-income,and low-education participants wereoverrepresented, and as a result,funding shifted to the poorest parts ofthe city.

Delivering Democracy

3. Institutionalized Engagement of CSOs
with Health S ystems: National Health
Assembly of Thailand
In Thailand, the National Health
Assembly has helped build civilsociety’s capacity to engage with thepolicymaking process7.

institu­tions (‘knowledge sector’). (WHO,2021).

The National Health Assembly in
Thailand is based on the concept of the‘triangle that moves the mountain’. The
3 points of the triangle, all of whom
have to be consulted in the policy
process, are the ‘govern­ment sector;
civil society, communities, and the
population (‘people’s sector’); and theacademia, think tanks, and research

194

The National Health Commission Officeassociated with the NHA invests efforts
in building the capacity of the ‘people’s
sector’ so that they are able to betterand more effectively engage in the
NHA and other participatory spaces.
The NHA has obtained legal status andits sustainability as a participatory
structure is a lesson for other healthsystems 8.

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

4. People’s Committee to Communitise
Development
School Development and Monitoring
Committees (SDMCs) in the publicschools of Karnataka, India are auseful platform for community andparental participation not only inschool management but also in school
development and monitoring. However,in practice, the functioning of thesecommittees often lack inclusion andparticipation and is dominated by headteachers. In this context, GRAAM, India
under its Sugamya Shiksha program,has taken up the sensitization andcapacity building of stakeholders formore active, inclusive, and participatory
SDMCs.

References
1. https://freedomhouse.org/policyrecommendations/strengtheningdemocracy-abroad

democratic-institutions-catchingthe-deliberative-wave-highlights.pdf
6. https://www.local.gov.uk/casestudies/case-study-porto-alegrebrazil#:~:text=Participatory%20
budgeting%20in%20Porto%20
Alegre,Council%20of%20the%20
Participatory%20Budget).

2. https://idea.int/gsod-2021/sites/
default/files/2021-11/global-stateof-democracy-2021.pdf
3. https://nowaraga.com/2023/02/03/
scorecard-the-best-measure-ofperformance-of-members-ofparliament/

7. Lahariya, C et al. (2020) Community
action for health in India: evolution,
lessons learnt and ways forward toachieve universal health coverage,
WHO South East Asia Journal of
Public Health 9 (1)4. https://www.unwomen.org/en/
what-we-do/leadership-andpolitical-participation/facts-andfigures

8. WHO (2021) Voice, agency,
empowerment: Handbook on social
participation for universal healthcoverage

5. https://www.oecd.org/gov/
open-government/innovativecitizen-participation-new-195

Civil-20 Working Groups’ Policy Briefs

Special Mention
The world views of civil society organisations of various
countries evolve along with the ethos of their respective
countries. Naturally, they reflect the civilisational
values and principles of their respective countries more
prominently. It may be noted, in this backdrop, that thefollowing three Policy Briefs prepared by the respective
Working Groups on Sewa, Lifestyle for Environment
or LiFE, and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam are reflectiveof the world view as well as the ethos essentially thatof the Civil Society Organisations from India, the hostcountry. Notwithstanding reservations of CSOs of someother countries, briefs on these themes have been
included in this policy pack with a view to generating alarger conversation in the larger interest of the global
community.

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Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam(One Earth One Family One Future)
We envision a future where people from diverse backgrounds
co-exist with mutual respect and understanding.

अयं बन्धुरयं नेतिगणना लघुचेतसाम्।
उदारचरितानाम् तु वसुधवै कु टुम्बकम्।।
(This one is my relative and that one is not – this is the calculation ofsmall-minded people. But for noble-minded people, the entire cosmos
and all beings in the planet Earth are but one family – Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam.)Mankind has exploited Mother Earth and its beings to apoint where extinction seems to be an inevitable outcome,
if corrective measures are not undertaken immediately.

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Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

The spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
derived from the Maha Upanishadsof India, envisages a world where thevirtues of empathy, mutual respectand harmonious coexistence would
guide mankind in protecting itself fromextinction by restoring the beatitude ofMother Earth.

this truth early on and successfully
institutionalised its practice byconnecting all day-to-day actions of thecommon folk with the divine – thereby
ensuring that Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
becomes a way of life!
The recommendations included in the
Policy Brief have been framed with thesame objective of creating a platform
for people to practise this concept

It would be pertinent to note that thecommon man would require someorientation to attain the desired
level of calmness that is essential
for a human being to appreciate thesubtlety contained in the Upanishadic
philosophy. The intuitive Rishis, thethinkers of the oriental world, realised

seamlessly as part of their day-to-day
lives. We wish to submit that if effective
steps are taken to implement them overa short term, these measures would
be pivotal to the achievement of thetransformative vision in about 25 years.

VisionWe envision a future where people fromdiverse backgrounds will co-exist withmutual respect and understanding. The
declaration Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
finds its origin in the ‘Maha Upanishad’,
which the ‘Rishis’ (visionaries), of thepast in India, realised and shared forthe welfare of mankind. This essentiallymeans that the whole of creation is one
family, and it calls upon mankind to set
aside all differences and live in harmony
with all other forms of creation.
It is a statement of fact and not amere ancient saying of ornamental

importance. While diverse knowledge
systems speak of the essential onenessof all entities, human beings, andnations are divided along multiple
identities. The time has come for us tohand over an undivided, integrated, andharmonious world to our children.
Most ancient civilizations focusedon preserving mother earth forthousands of years. However, grippedby selfishness and greed, mankind has
become negligent and irresponsible tothe point where living on the planet198

C20 India 2023 - Policy Packhas become difficult. This situationmust change. To protect mankind
from extinction, it is time for us tocommence a measured U-turn.

Together, we have the power to shapea narrative that fosters inclusivity,
compassion, and shared responsibility
for the betterment of our global
community. To promote discussions
and deliberations around this concept,
the Working Group conducted 75
seminars and conferences acrosscountries, featuring international
experts from various fields, on ninemajor sub-themes. The speakers
who dwelt on these sub-themes
included public figures, bureaucrats,
educators, scientists, environmentalists,
sportspersons, artists, and sages.

The recommendations included in thisPolicy Brief have been framed withthe objective of enabling the common
people to internalise and practise theconcept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
seamlessly as part of their day-today lives, and we believe that thistransformative vision can be achievedin about 25 years. However, the successof this project will be dependent on theeffectiveness of its implementation overthe next two to three years.

Recommendations
As explained, humankind’s mostancient philosophical values advocate
the spirit of co-existence with love,mutual respect and acceptance. Thanks
to the vision of its Rishis, India has
been successfully able to put this into
practice in all aspects of their lives.
India’s initiatives towards extending
support in the form of vaccines tomultiple countries during Covid aswell as during natural calamities areexamples of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
in practice. People across the world
can build the spirit of co-existencein their lives but for that to happen,
sustained effort will have to be made in
the form of education, discussion anddeliberation over the coming years. The
following five key recommendations aresuggested apart from subtheme-based
recommendations, for considerationand implementation by the G20:

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1. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam should
be a permanent Working Group
in future G20 summits, involving
discussions and deliberations as partof its agenda.

3. Every G20 nation should select fiveambassadors for each sub-theme,
who can be exposed to online
orientation programs and one
physical orientation before the 2024
Summit in Brazil.

2. Each G20 nation should form a
10-member Core Committee on
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (CCVK).
The Committee should comprise
influential members from therespective countries for immediate
engagement with the citizens on
the theme of co-existence andcivilizational appreciation. These
discussions can be undertaken on
the nine sub-themes and beyond.
After that, it can be implemented inthose countries in a phased mannerin alignment with their civilization
values.

4. The CCVK of the G20 nations shouldhave bi-monthly online meetingsand one physical meeting in Brazil
at least two months before the G20
2024 Summit for further action.
5. India has, over many centuries,
successfully practiced connectivity
with the divine in all aspects ofsocial life, and this worked very
well for the nation, despite diverse
lifestyles.

For every Indian, connectivity with God
is a way of life – every day begins withearly morning prayers, and every action/function performed during the day – fromsomething as simple as buying new clothes,vehicles, land, or even a pen, is treated as200

an offering unto the Almighty.
Other G20 nations can consider connecting
various aspects of their social life with thedivine or any other higher ideology that is
culturally acceptable to their society.

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Our recommendations under sub-themes:
1. Dharma (Religion/Spirituality)•

Governments, educational
institutions, and CSOs should actively
encourage public dialogues anddiscussions on the importance of coexistence with nature.

••

Representatives of different religious
institutions should assemble on acommon platform to discuss matters
impacting the lives of ordinary people
and suggest constructive solutions topromote harmony.

The G20 countries should consider
adopting appropriate Resolutions
that would facilitate changes to theirconstitutions to foster tolerance for all
religions.

201

The G20 nations should consider
taking initiatives enabling theircitizens to shift their focus towardduties rather than aggressively
pursuing their rights.

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

2. Ecology and Ear th Revering Traditions••

Governments should proactively
adopt responsible measures toaid people to live together, suchas establishing a minimum family
size for property acquisition andproviding assistance programs forjoint families.

•

Members of society should be
encouraged to go back to the era of‘circular usage’-reduce, reuse, andrecycle, rather than ‘use and throw.’•

The Government, jointly with CSOs,
should pro-actively introduce
programmes to educate the urban
population about the sustainable
practices adopted by the indigenous
communities, through experiential
learning.

The G20 nations should consider
amending their respective
constitutions for providing
constitutional protection to theanimal and plant kingdoms, toensure lawful and legitimate usage
by the human population.

3. Ar t, Culture, and Literature••

Different art forms, focusing on
exchanging knowledge and bestpractices, should be included in the
education curriculum for students at
different stages.

of the ongoing G20 activities as anannual feature.
•

A cultural festival on thecivilizational celebrations of G20
countries should be included as part202

The G20 nations should also actively
focus on art exchange programs
involving established practitionersof various art forms across all thecountries.

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

4. Education•••

The G20 countries should consider
including a common subject on
co-existence as part of the school
curriculum. Efforts should be madefor the leaders from these countries
to interact with the students on this
topic at least once a year.
School curriculum should include
specific portions to acquaintchildren on the importance of needbased living, varied art forms andcultural practices.

consumption patterns, exhibit
tolerance towards others fromdiverse backgrounds and show
sensitivity towards the animal andplant kingdoms.
•

Children should be encouraged tolearn multiple global languages thatwill ensure a seamless connection
with the worldwide community.

•

Educational institutions should
actively focus on the attitudinaldevelopment of the learners by
including spiritual lessons as part ofeducation.

Schools can run special recognition
programs to incentivise children
who exhibit prudence in their

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5. Spor ts•

The G20 countries should embrace
opportunities to appreciate talent
by forming unified teams comprising
players from multiple nations in
sporting events. This G20 league
approach will promote admiration
for skill rather than fostering mere
rivalry.

•

Initiatives to ensure easy mobility ofsportspersons across geographies,
like a more straightforward visa
process, should be guaranteed.

•

The G20 countries should encouragecross-country training programs forathletes to train with each other,enabling them to learn about people
and cultures.

6. Business and Economy•

There should be a more significant
representation and broader
consultation from across countries
on ESG-related matters. The
G20 nations should broad basethe platform to ensure effective
compliance and prevent theweaponization of any kind.

•204

The G20 nations should consider
constituting a disaster relief fundto support the sustainability ofthe pandemic affected smaller
and poorer nations to ensure an
uninterrupted supply of food andresources to the deserving sectionsof the world population.

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Udaaharans
Conser ving Natural Resource•

Faith and conservation go handin-hand. For thousands of years,
temple ponds have played anessential part in water conservation
efforts in India. Not only did
they serve as a source of watersupply, but they also served torecharge groundwater. The spiritualconnectedness of Bharatiyas withnature is evident in that every
temple is associated with a tank,tree, and local history. The temple
tree is considered a single genetic
resource for conserving species
diversity. Further extending thisconcept, entire groves of trees (likekavus in Kerala and kaadus in Tamil

Nadu) have been declared as placesof worship, thereby conserving
nature.
•205

Indigenous communities like theBishnois, Bhils, and Swadhyayas
have shown how parched lands
can be converted into lush fields.
The Saurashtra region of Gujarat
constantly suffers droughts where
the deepest wells run dry. The
Swadhyayas harvested rainwater
into inter-connected wells thatwere dug at strategic spots. They
mobilized the villagers to build
Nirmal Nirs (collection wells) thatrecharged the wells and raised thewater table.

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

A Way of Life that has enabled Conser vation•

18% of the world population lives
in India, but India is responsible
for just 3% of total greenhouse gas
emissions.

meat on certain days and seasons,sustainability has been a lived
tradition.
••

Despite having only one-fifth of theworld’s agricultural land, India canmanage its food needs and supply
food to the world, primarily becauseof traditional and responsible
food habits. The per capita meat
consumption of Indians is only
about 3.1 kg per head comparedto 84 kg per head in the European
Union. Cereals form the bulk of the
Indian plate. Combined with faithbased practices that restrict eating

206

Living practices in India havedirectly contributed to economic
and infrastructure requirements.
The concept of living together withfamily and extended family has led
to the average number of occupantsin a house being 4.9 per home. If
this number were to drop to 3.9 per
home, India would need 51 million
more homes. A living practice has
thus unburdened the government
and the world.

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Providing Hope During a Crisis•

Amidst the pandemic’s peak in
January 2021, when developed
nations stockpiled vaccines, India
emerged as a beacon of generosity.
The country selflessly gifted its
indigenous Covid-19 vaccines,
medical supplies, and medications toover 100 nations worldwide.

•

Operation Dost - During thedisastrous earthquake at Turkiye andSyria in February 2023, India was
one of the first nations to extend
support towards search and rescue
operations, in addition to a Field
Hospital set up by the Indian Army.

207•

The Government proactively
facilitated food security forvulnerable sections of society
through the Public Distribution
System (PDS). From April 2020 to
December 2022, the government
provided 5 kg (11 lb.) of subsidized
food grains monthly, costing
approximately $47 billion, tounderprivileged families as part ofthe program. Additionally, under the
National Food Security Act, nearly
75% of the rural and 50% of theurban population received highly
subsidized food grains, with thegovernment spending two trillion
rupees ($24.16 billion).

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

Resource Conser vation•

To sensitize and create awareness among people to conserve resources andadopt a need-based way of life, an eminent 3 times Grammy award winner has
popularized ReWear4Earth. Repeating your clothes to make a fashion statement
is sustainable fashion – Fashion can be trendy twice.

Admiration through Spor t•

The Sporting Leagues in cricket, soccer, badminton, and hockey have allowed
sportspersons to develop a sense of togetherness and admiration for eachother’s skill sets and talent.

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Sewa
(Sense of Service, Philanthropy andVolunteerism)
Civil society globally thrives on valuesof empathy, selflessness, and missionorientation. It is designed for sustainability,
executed by volunteers, and driven bycommunities. This scalable and sustainablemodel embraces the idea of selfless service,
known as “Sewa” in multiple cultures acrossthe world. Our working group aims toconceptualize a Sewa-model of development,
uniting individuals on Earth as one family withthe tools of volunteerism and philanthropy.

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Global Relevance of the Working Group
1. Re-imagining Development: The
Sewa working group advocatesa regenerative development
paradigm that goes beyond thelimits of sustainable development.
It emphasizes community-driven
approaches, resource preservation,and optimum utilization based on
the values of selfless service for the
ecosystem by keeping a spiritual
perspective of development.

4. Strengthening Civil Society’s Role:
The working group expands therole of civil society organizations
beyond implementation. It promotes
community-owned and driven
development through philanthropy
and volunteerism. By engaging
with governments, internationalorganizations, and stakeholders,it shapes development agendas,delivers quality services, and drives
transformative change at all levels.

2. Nurturing Civic Engagement: The
working group fosters empathy,
selflessness, and mission-orientation
within civil society organizations. It
cultivates a culture of service andphilanthropy, instilling a sense of
responsibility towards communities
and the planet.

5. In summary, the Sewa Working
Group envisions a development
paradigm centred on selflessservice, empathy, and sustainability.
By embracing community-led
approaches, integrating traditional
wisdom, and strengthening civilsociety’s role, we can create amore inclusive and regenerative
world. The working group provides
a platform for CSOs to collaborate,
advocate for change, and contributeto the development agenda,
ultimately fostering a sense ofservice and selfless love for one
another within societies across theglobe.

3. Integrating Traditional Wisdom:
Recognizing the significance oftraditional wisdom and culturalvalues, the working group
incorporates local development
needs, goals, and practices. Rooted
in the inherent concept of selflessservice, it harnesses diverse cultural
perspectives for a more inclusiveand holistic approach to societal
progress.

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Policy Recommendations
Re-imagining & Redefining
Development
1. Shifting from GDP to an
Ecosystem-Centric Index:
Recognize the limitationsof Gross Domestic Product(GDP) as a sole measure ofdevelopment and prioritize thedevelopment of an ecosystemcentric index. This index should
consider the ecological balance,sustainable resource utilization,and preservation of biodiversity.
It should measure the wellbeing of both human societies
and the natural environment,
fostering a holistic approach todevelopment.
2. Strengthening Bottom-Up
Development:
Encourage governments toadopt policy frameworks
that prioritize community
engagement and participationin decision-making processes.
This can be achieved throughregular consultations,participatory rural/urban
appraisals, and participatory
budgeting exercises. Establish

mechanisms for Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs) to actively
engage in policy formulation,
implementation, and monitoringat the local level. This can
include the creation of advisorycommittees or the inclusion of
CSO representatives in relevant
government bodies.
3. Promoting Cultural Sensitivity
and Localization:
Encourage governments
to design and implementsocial schemes that take into
account the unique cultural
practices and traditions of local
communities. This can help
ensure that policies are more
effective and resonate withthe target population. Support
research and documentation of
local practices and traditional
knowledge that contributeto community development.
This can be done throughpartnerships between
government institutions,academic institutions, and CSOs.

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Role of Civil Society in Development
1. Strengthening Civil Society’s
Role in Policy Formulation:
Expand the role of civilsociety beyond ground-level
implementation to meaningful
participation in policy tables.
Ensure their representation andactive engagement in decisionmaking processes at local,
national, and international
levels. Foster inclusive andparticipatory governancemodels that value the input
and expertise of civil society
organizations in shaping
development policies.
2. Promote multistakeholder
partnerships for social
development: Governments
should facilitate and promote
multistakeholder partnerships
for social development
projects involving pooling ofresources from government
agencies and corporate social
responsibility initiatives, policy
design and contextualization
by civil society organizations,academic best practices, and212

active participation fromthe corporate sector. Suchcollaborations can leverage thestrengths of each stakeholder
and result in more effective andsustainable social development
outcomes.
3. Cultivating a Sense of
Responsibility and Reducing
Dependency: Integrate civic
education and awarenessprograms into school curricula
to promote a sense of
responsibility, active citizenship,
and community engagementfrom an early age with asense of service towards thesociety. Encourage programs
and initiatives that empower
individuals and communities
to address local challenges,
such as community gardens,
cooperative enterprises, andself-help groups. Governments
can provide support throughcapacity building, technicalassistance, and access tomarkets.

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Strengthening Civil Society Organizations
1. Real-Time Information Sharing and
Collaboration:
Create a digitized dashboard thatprovides real-time public accessto comprehensive information on
CSOs’ performance and integrates
activities from the governmentand civil society. Establish districtlevel administration platforms for
streamlined coordination of public
good initiatives.

create a rating system for social
development projects based oncommunity involvement, women’s
participation, volunteerism, civic
engagement, environmental
sustainability, and outcome/impact
goals.
3. Streamlined Documentation andReporting:Minimize documentation
requirements for fund allocation to
CSOs and simplify reporting formats
for Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) initiatives. Consolidate andstandardize reporting formats to
reduce administrative burden.
Allocate funding specifically fororganizational development andcapacity building.

2. Transparent Funding and
Performance Assessment:
Develop indicators for each
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
to measure CSOs’ performance andpromote transparency in funding
allocation. Collaborate with CSOs
and subject matter experts to

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4. Recognition for Seasonal Volunteer
Groups:Establish a system to recognize andprovide temporary registration tovolunteer groups that work during
specific periods, such as culturalcelebrations or important nationaldays. These groups should be
eligible for tax benefits for a shorter
period with fewer regulations,recognizing their significant
contribution to nation-building andencouraging sustained participationin community service initiatives.

in the social sector, providing
standardized skills and qualifications
recognized internationally.
This system enhances mobility,
encourages cross-bordercollaborations, and improves
employment prospects in the social
sector.
6. Clear Classification System:
Implement a clear classification
system to differentiate between
development organizations, CSOs,
and NGOs. This classification systemenables accurate identification
and understanding of active
organizations, facilitating targeted
policies and support mechanisms

5. Global Training and Certification
System:Create a global training body or
certification system for individuals

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Sewa in Education S ystem
1. Education Institutes as Catalysts
for Local Development with Sewa:
Reimagine educational institutions
as centres for Sewa, creating
responsible global citizens. The
curriculum and extra-curricular
activities should instill a senseof responsibility and Sewa Bhaav(selfless service) in students. Engage
with community organizations toaddress local challenges, fostering
ownership and social responsibility.

learning projects and activities into
lesson plans. Incentivize teacher
trainees to engage in Sewa activities
during their induction period,
fostering practical experience andunderstanding.
4. Parental Guidance for Inculcating
Sewa:
Guide parents to instill Sewa
values through their behavior andstorytelling. Encourage involvementin family and community service
activities, fostering a culture of
Sewa at home.

2. Formal and Informal Sewa in Daily
Life:
Encourage organized Sewa throughprograms like the National Service
Scheme (NSS) and volunteering
initiatives. Promote informal acts of
Sewa in daily life, such as kindness
towards animals, serving elders, andassisting those in need. Recognize
and reward volunteer services,highlighting the importance ofcommunity-building efforts.

5. Integrating Sewa as a Mindset
Shifter:
Shift the education focus toemotional growth and Sewa, moving
beyond material achievements.
Prioritize values, ethics, andresponsibility through curriculum
revisions.
a. Fostering a Shift from Egocentric to Eco-centric Thinking:Promote Sewa as a transformative
tool for shifting mindsets towards
caring for the environmentand society. Emphasizeinterconnectedness, gratitude,
and sustainable living.

3. Teacher Training for Value-Based
Learning:
Provide comprehensive training
for teachers to deliver valuebased education, emphasizing
empathy, compassion, and Sewa
principles. Incorporate service-

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b. Sewa as Interdisciplinary
Thinking Rooted in Empathy:
Integrate Sewa across subjects,
demonstrating its relevance tovarious disciplines. Foster holistic
understanding of social issues
and problem-solving throughcompassion.

b. Neighbourhood Sewa to
Encourage Small Sewa Initiatives:
Promote small-scale Sewa initiatives
within schools, such as mentoring
and local service projects. Develop
responsibility, leadership skills, andawareness of individual impact.
c. Activity-Based Learning:
Promote Sewa through ageappropriate activities, stories, anddiscussions that foster empathy andcompassion.

6. Promoting Hands-on Learning for
Sewa: Incorporate field visits andpurposeful learning experiences thatcultivate abundance, divinity, andresilience. Address mental healthand build a compassionate society.
a. Peer Teaching and Education
Imparting: Encourage peer teaching
initiatives, where college students
impart education to underserved
children. Promote mutual learning,
empathy, and responsibility.

Globalization of Selfless Ser vice, i.e., Sewa
1. International Year of Sewa: Declarea specific year as the “InternationalYear of Sewa” to promote andrecognize the importance of
Sewa activities globally. This yearlong campaign will serve as aplatform to raise awareness, foster
collaboration, and inspire individuals
and organizations to engage inmeaningful service-oriented
initiatives.

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2. International Day of Sewa:
Designate a specific date as the“International Day of Sewa” tocommemorate and celebrate thespirit of selfless service globally.
This annual observance will provide
an opportunity to showcase
diverse Sewa activities, recognize
outstanding contributors, andinspire individuals to engage inacts of service in their respective
communities.

3. International Sewa Awards:
Institute international Sewa
awards to recognize individuals,organizations, and initiatives
that demonstrate exceptional
commitment and impact in the fieldof Sewa. These awards will not only
celebrate achievements but also
inspire others to follow suit andmake a difference through their own
service endeavors.

Promoting Volunteerism
1. Individual Social Responsibility(ISR): Introduce the concept of
Individual Social Responsibility(ISR) where every citizen is
encouraged to actively engage involunteer activities. Incentives andrecognition should be provided
to individuals who participate involunteering efforts. Pilot programs
can be implemented to assess theeffectiveness of ISR initiatives.

Emphasize that volunteering should
go beyond office-based initiatives
and encourage employees toactively participate in communitybased projects and activities.
3. Leveraging Volunteerism forSocial Development Programs:
Governments should recognize thepower of volunteerism in drivingsocial development programs.
Establish platforms, such as
National Youth Corps (NYC) or
Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK), tomobilize and engage volunteersin activities aimed at addressing
social challenges. Provide necessary

2. Integrating Volunteerism into
Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR): Encourage companies toincorporate volunteerism as a coreelement of their CSR activities.

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5. Behavioural Change Researchon Volunteerism: Collectcomprehensive data on volunteering
to identify levers of change andunderstand the impact of volunteer
efforts. The information can help
shape policies and strategies that
promote and expand volunteering
initiatives. This can be achieved
through surveys, research studies,and collaboration with relevantorganisations.

support and resources to facilitate
the implementation of these
programs.
4. Legal Frameworks for Volunteerism
for Working Professionals: Develop
and enhance legal frameworks that
support and facilitate volunteering
activities. This includes providing
incentives, protections, andrecognition for volunteers, as wellas creating a conducive environment
for organisations to engage involunteer work. It can also be
extended to bring provisions forvolunteer leave, recognition ofvolunteer work in employment
records and legal protections forvolunteers.

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Deepening Philanthropy
1. Prioritize and incentivize CSR
spending in backward areas:
Governments should encouragecompanies to prioritize and allocate
a significant portion of theircorporate social responsibility (CSR)
funds to backward areas, rather
than focusing solely on resource-richareas. This will help address regional
disparities and promote balanced
development.

creation of human and social capital.
This can be achieved by supporting
initiatives that enhance education,
healthcare, skills development, andsocial empowerment.
4. Explore philanthropic social
investments: Governments
should explore and promotephilanthropic social investments,
such as zero coupons and zeroprinciple instruments, which
bridge the gap between traditional
donations and investments in thestock exchange. These innovative
financial instruments can attract
more private capital for social
development projects while still
generating positive social impact.

2. Support tech-enabled giving
platforms: Governments should
support the expansion of the donor
pool by encouraging the use oftechnology-enabled giving platforms
such as crowdfunding platforms
and social stock exchanges. These
platforms can facilitate easierand more transparent access tophilanthropic funding, thereby
encouraging increased participationfrom a wider range of donors.

5. Promote the community
philanthropy model: Promoteand scale up the community
philanthropy model, whichemphasizes mutual support andcollaboration within communities.
Governments should encourage
the establishment and growth ofcommunity foundations that canmobilize local resources and addresscommunity-specific challenges. Thismodel encourages self-reliance and3. Foster a regulatory framework that
promotes human and social capitaldevelopment: The regulatory
framework should encourage
philanthropy and giving that not
only focuses on investing in capital
infrastructure but also prioritizes the

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sustainable approaches to social
development.

with enabling and encouraging laws
to promote generating self-sufficing
income through sustainable means.
Encouraging self-reliance among
NGOs will contribute to the longterm sustainability of their work.

6. Promoting Self-Sustainability
in Civil Society Organizations:
Governments should promote selfsufficiency in finances for NGOs,

Udaaharans♦ Shivganga, Madhya Pradesh,
India: Shivganga is a movement

constructing 160,000 contour
trenches conserving 8700 million
litres of water, planting 500,000+
trees, Shivganga represents thevalues of volunteerism, community
philanthropy, sense of service andcultural sensitivity.

based out of the Bhil Tribals
of Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh to
restore the ecosystem to promotesustainable living through holistic
village development. With 12,000+
youth as community volunteers

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♦ Sewa International Inc, Houston,
United States of America:♦ Baripada, Maharashtra, India: As
a winner of the India Biodiversity
Awards by UNDP, Baripada
exemplifies the communityownership model for environment
sustainability. The villagers, throughcommunity participation, haveplanted 1100+ acres of forest
improving the groundwater levels,
precipitation rate, and natural
resource availability in the village.
Baripada exemplifies IndividualSocial Responsibility (ISR), Bottomup Development and Community
Philanthropy.

Sewa USA is a Hindu-faithbased humanitarian organization
specializing in disaster response,
based out of the United States ofAmerica, with service projects in 12+
countries. As a major civil society
organization, Sewa USA has 150,000
registered volunteers, and donors
who wish to experience onenessthrough selfless service or sewa.
With a tech-enabled platform for
fundraising and multi-stakeholder
partnerships for social development
projects, Sewa USA represents thevalues of sewa and selfless service.

♦ Youth For Seva, Karnataka,
India: As a pre-eminent volunteer♦ Fyunli Kauthig, Uttarakhand,India: Fyunli Kauthig is a celebration

engagement platform, YouthFor Seva has engaged 1,10,000+
volunteers across 250+ Civil Society
Organizations across 15+ statesof India. With its unique, selflessservice-based volunteer engagement
model, Youth for Seva exemplifies
corporate volunteerism, hyperlocal problem-solving and interdisciplinary thinking.

of womanhood in the state of
Uttarakhand in India. With 5000+
women participants across 400+
villages in the Himalayas, thisfestival celebrates the sense ofservice women exhibit for theirenvironment, land and other natural
resources. Recognized even in the
textbooks in the United Kingdom,
this festival represents the valuesof community participation, ecocentric development, and Bottomup Development.

♦ Food for Life, ISKON, Global:
ISKCON, or the International Society
for Krishna Consciousness, is a
global spiritual organization that
promotes the practice of Bhakti

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Yoga. ISKCON runs its Food forLife program to provide nutritious
vegetarian meals to millions ofpeople around the world who are
suffering from poverty, hunger, ordisaster. With over two billion meals

in over 60 countries in the last 50
years, it is one of the largest foodrelief organizations in the world.
ISKON exemplifies multi-stakeholder
partnerships, prioritized CSR, andSelfless Service

Conclusion
In conclusion, the policy
recommendations put forth by the
Sewa - Sense of Service, Philanthropy,
and Volunteerism working group for theC20 engagement group aim to fostera development paradigm centeredon selfless service, empathy, andsustainability.

The recommendations also emphasize
the importance of integrating Sewa
principles into the education system,
fostering a global movement of selflessservice, promoting volunteerism,
deepening philanthropy, and promoting
self-sustainability in civil society
organizations.

By prioritizing an ecosystem-centricindex, strengthening bottom-up
development, promoting cultural
sensitivity, and integrating traditional
wisdom, the group envisions a more
inclusive and regenerative world.

These recommendations are supported
by examples of successful initiatives
such as Shivganga, Sewa USA, Fyunli
Kauthig, Baripada, and Youth For Seva,
which demonstrate the values andprinciples advocated by the working
group.

Furthermore, by expanding the roleof civil society in policy formulation,
promoting multistakeholder
partnerships, and cultivating a
sense of responsibility and reducing
dependency, the working group seeks
to strengthen civil society’s contribution
to development.

Ultimately, the working group provides
a platform for civil society organizations
to collaborate, advocate for change, andcontribute to the development agenda,
with the goal of fostering a sense ofservice and selfless love for one anotherwithin societies across the globe.

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LiFE
(Lifestyle for Environment)
There exist numerous international multilateralframework conventions directed at reducing humanimpacts on the environment. These framework
conventions provide scientific, economic, and politicalmeasures for environmental governance. However,
the effectiveness of these treaties is limited despite
the enormous resources spent and efforts put in by
the global community in creating and implementing
these conventions1.

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Increase in the Greenhouse Gas (GHG)
missions, rising global temperature andsea level, pollution of air, water and soil,
the unprecedented rate of biodiversity
extinction and desertification and many
more are the symptoms of the global
environmental problem. Most of theinternational framework conventions
for the environment are aimed at
reducing these symptoms. Unless there
are concrete global actions towards theroot causes, addressing symptoms will
have limited results.
Voluntary contribution by individual
citizens and collectives of individuals
in the form of change in lifestyleextractive to sustainable consumptionis important in addressing theenvironmental problems.

Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE)
LiFE is rooted in culture,
traditions, customary practices,and (environmentally) conscious
contemporary practices.
India has always had a legacy ofenvironment consciousness. The
Indian sub-continent has historically‘lived with nature’ and promoted thisenvironmental consciousness throughits oral traditions. Coined by the
Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra
Modi, Lifestyle for Environment or
LiFE is India’s contribution to find thesolutions towards climate change andenvironmental degradation.

The larger discussions on climatechange and environmental degradation
seem to have reached a stalemate
with development policies of States.
However, addressing this challenge
requires a comprehensive approach
which covers education to values,
and from lifestyle to developmental
philosophy. LiFE, as envisioned by the
Indian PM, focuses on behaviouralchange. Respect for nature, thejudicious use of resources, reducing
our needs and living within ones means
have all been important aspects of both
India’s traditions and its present-day
efforts. As Prime Minister Modi has

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C20 India 2023 - Policy Packsaid, respect for nature is an integral
part of our culture and protectionof environment comes naturally tous. The present generation, has the
responsibility to act as a trustee ofthe rich natural wealth for future
generations.

India has traditionally been practising
this approach for centuries.
Civil society organizations are importantfacilitators in such situations to bringthe community experiences fromdifferent countries in the global
environmental frameworks.

LiFE complements scientific,
political, and economic measurescurrently undertaken towards global
environmental governance. It has close
linkages with several SDGs, particularly
SDG 12 pertaining to sustainableproduction and consumption. The
global discussion on sustainableproduction and consumption has
started comparatively recently with
Italian G20 Presidency and the European
Union (EU) hosting an online workshop
on circular fashion on 7 June 2021. But

The Foundations of LiFE
Panch Tatva (the five fundamental
elements) – They are Akash (Space),
Vayu (Air), Agni (Energy/Fire), Jal (Water)and, Bhumi (Earth). These five elements
form the foundation of the universe. The
Atharva Veda emphasizes this fact andstates that the creation of the universe
is a result of the combination of these
five essential elements. It is said that
our existence is intricately connected tothese five basic elements.

Components of LiFE in Previous G20
Summits
Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi introduced the Lifestyle forEnvironment (LiFE) movement at
COP 26 of the Climate Convention in
Glasgow, UK in 2021. He called upon
the global community of individuals
and institutions to drive LiFE as aninternational mass movement towards‘mindful and deliberate utilisation,
instead of mindless and destructive
consumption’.
Environment and climate have beenpart of the G20 discussion process for asignificant time. The last 5 Presidencies
from 2017 to 2021 have reiterated

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LiFE

commitments towards the protection
and conservation of the environmentand securing the future of our planet.
These commitments are in the form of
improving climate finance, technology
transfer, switching over to renewableenergy etc.
G20 Indonesia 2022 declaration
integrated nutrition, poverty,
development and conservationcommitments. The G20 Indonesia
Environment Ministers recognizedcultural diversity as a source ofsustainable living. The chair summaryof ministerial meeting has specificreflection towards some aspects oflifestyle and environment linkage.
Continuing support towards the G20
platform for the localization of SDG isanother commitment which is linked
to lifestyle-related aspects. Agriculture
ministers reiterated support for thetechnical platform on measurement andreduction of food loss and waste.

Life Working Group of C20 under
India’s Presidency
LiFE has been introduced for the firsttime as a working group theme of
C20 under India’s G20 presidency. It
is being presented at a time when
global environmental governanceneeds cultural and value-basedtransformation.

The working group deliberated on
sub themes: grassroots innovations,
Panchatatva, food, Indic wisdom,
fashion, water, habitat, waste,industry, education, and naturebased solutions and conducted twooutreach programs specially meant
for community engagement (Higher

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C20 India 2023 - Policy Packeducation student engagement programand LiFE, the Nandurbar way). The
deliberations of the group in the formof conferences, workshops, plenaries,
presentations, and web meetings wereattended by various stakeholders.
These deliberations covered various
facets of human life and brought about
recommendations pertaining to bothlife vision and lifestyle.
The deliberations were focusedon formulating certain principles,and recommendations, building an

ecosystem of CSOs and learning alliancethat will continue working on LiFE in the
future G20 presidencies and in othermultilateral forums. It is now building
the required momentum to individualand community efforts towards
sustainable lifestyles and ultimately
towards Sumangalam, the global wellbeing.
Following are the recommendations of
LiFE working group based on its subthematic deliberations

Recommendations and Implications
1. To prepare a value-basedsustainability framework to guideand assess the progress of countries.
•

a sense of responsibility,
decentralisation, harmony,using local resources (and not
drawing from far-off places) etc.
Behavioural indicators, goals andlevels of progress can be definedfrom these sets of values.

Global wellbeing i.e.,
Sumangalam will be the universal
principle of this framework. This
framework will include a set ofvalues, concepts, instruments
and actionable for individuals
and communities. This willbring a much-required holistic
perspective to the subject ofsustainability. The set of values
would comprise of compassion,
gratitude, respecting diversity,•

227

LiFE along with the value-basedsustainability framework aims
to bring in a paradigm shift froma rights-based approach to a
responsibility-based approachin global environmental
governance.

LiFE

2. To create a knowledge repository on
LiFE: G20 member countries should
set up a knowledge repository ofgood practices - of individuals,
communities and business entities.
Such knowledge repositories will
be helpful in developing guidelines
to bring out changes in individual
lifestyles, and community lifestyles
so that ecological and carbon
footprint can be reduced.

processed, stored and value-added
foods. It is desirable for humanhealth and for the environment
also. Local production – local
consumption saves transportationand energy also. Local foodconsumed locally may support theconservation of local varieties ofcrop varieties. Seasonal food hasless preservatives and is healthierfor the populace.

3. To recognize grassroots innovations
as an important asset to humanity
and as a separate category in
all kinds of international policy
formulations. Grassroots innovators
have been an important asset ofhumanity. They are assisting in
improving resource efficiency andthe effectiveness of the circular
economy. Their role in the three ‘R’s
- reuse, recycle and repair - out of
the six ‘R’s of the circular economy
is important. Recognizing theircontribution and linking them inaddressing environmental problems
is urgently required.

5. To encourage sustainable greenfashion over fast-fashion: The global
fashion industry is estimated tobe responsible for 10% of global
carbon emissions – more thaninternational flights and maritime
shipping combined. G20 member
countries should encourage andpromote sustainable-green fashion
which is all-inclusive. There should
be a thrust on products, processes,
activities, and stakeholders(policymakers, brands, consumers)
aiming to achieve a carbon-neutral
fashion sector based on equality,
social justice, animal welfare, andecological integrity.

4. To promote and encourage local
and seasonal foods for local
consumers: G20 member countries
should promote and encourage
consumption of locally grown,

6. To encourage and incentivize
mindful consumption andresponsible disposal: In most of thedeveloping and emerging countries,

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C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

waste collection and segregation
value chains remain largely informal.
The linkage between formal andinformal waste collection andsegregation should be strengthened.
Lack of awareness and education
hinder effective waste management.
Promoting pride and responsibility
and incentivizing responsible
disposal in keeping cities clean canhelp overcome this problem.

•

When implemented in a proper way,
they have multiplier effects such as
integrated watershed management
resulting in soil and water
conservation, improving agriculture
productivity, enhancing tree cover,and strengthening livelihoods in a
cost-effective manner.

9. To mandate the implementation of
circular economy principles in all
economic sectors.

7. To recognize that switching over to
LiFE is a socio-emotional-ethicalspiritual exercise: Connection andreconnection with Nature must
begin from the foundational stage(i.e., ages 3 to 8 years) itself throughpractical, real-life experiences.
Practical and experiential, activitybased learning with hands-on
engagement is required at all levels.

•

G20 member countries shouldmake it mandatory in all sectorsof their economy to implement
the circular economy principles.
They should formulate and/orbring out necessary changes intheir existing policies.

•

This linear economic model
generates about 50 per cent of
all greenhouse gas emissions.
Materials are transformed
through production processes,
used or consumed, and discarded
into the environment.

•

Circular economy offers a
response to these challenges
by reducing waste and closing
material and process loops,
thereby preserving natural
capital.

i). To promote and adopt Naturebased Solutions (NbS)
8. NbS are well-known techniques(for example, sacred landscapes,
traditional agroforestry etc.) with anemphasis on local-level adaptationand in many cases, building upon the
traditional wisdom and techniquesof communities.

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LiFE

•

Industries and businesses that
implement projects on efficient
resource management andsustainable waste management
should be given green credits
which can be redeemed fortax benefits, grants, or otherfinancial rewards.

10. To ensure judicious use andequitable distribution of water inall walks of LiFE.
•

Water is an important tatva(basic principle) in panchatatva.

•

Reuse and recycle water in daily
use is like creating fresh water.

230•

Adoption of less water-intensive
practices – in food, crops, etc. isimportant.

•

Effective demand side and supply
side management in all sectors
where water is an integral
component is needed.

C20 India 2023 - Policy Pack

Udaaharans
Recognizing Grassroot Innovators
Palle Srujana is a volunteer group basedin Hyderabad, India. It is dedicatedto enhancing the life of grassroots
innovators. Palle Srujana undertakes
shodh yatras (search expeditions) to
identify and document innovators.
After identifying the innovator, it
supports the technical improvementof the raw innovation, validation,and patenting the same. So far Palle
Srujana has identified about 78
innovators, more than 1000 traditional

practices and registered them with
National Innovation Foundation. Three
innovators received have PadmashreeAward, India’s third highest civilianaward for their innovations. Palle
Srujana runs purely on volunteer
basis. Dedicated volunteers who are
passionate about grassroots innovations
and have immense compassion for thegrassroots innovators are key to thework of Palle Srujana.

LiFE as Sustainable Domestic
Consumption
Mumbai Grahak Panchayat is amembership-based consumer
organization with 32000 members
based in Mumbai, India. With 3500
volunteers, this is wholly managed byvolunteers. Every month it conducts
cooperative buying of groceries andessential household items for its
members and subsequent decentralized
distribution.

of energy and fossil fuels. At thesame time, they reduce use of plastic,
make available environment friendly
products at doorsteps, encourage local
production- consumption cycle etc.
All these lead to a lifestyle which is
eco-conscious and action oriented.
Along with that it promotes a thoughtof connectedness and collectiveness in
all its members which is key precursor
for LiFE.

Cooperative buying and decentralised
distribution save considerable amounts

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LiFE

LiFE as a CSO initiative
Tree Plantation in Nandurbar District,
Maharashtra State, India.
Nandurbar is a remote district locatedin Satpuda mountains in Western
India. The predominant populationof Nandurbar is tribal and forest

dependent. As a step towards LiFE,
CSOs in the district have plannedplantation of 25,000 plants on the 25th
foundation day (1st July 2023 ) of the
district.

Digital pledge on LiFE
LiFE Working Group of C20 inassociation with premier higher
educational institutes and a network of
CSOs has facilitated the digital pledge2

on LiFE by hundreds of citizens fromvarious parts of the country throughsocial media platforms and in person
meetings.

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A Case of Individual urban LiFE
Mr. Mayur & Mrs. Sujata Bhave andtheir family are residents of Pune
city, India. This family of six members
has adopted 5 R principles - Refuse,
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Replenish.
Bhave family’s biogas runs on kitchen
waste to fulfil 75% fuel requirement
and 100% waste treatment. A terrace
garden with a honeybee box provides acooling effect and promotes pollinationin the surrounding area. Bhave family
has adopted multiple water saving ideas
and imbibed them into their lifestyle.
Continuous conscious efforts to reduce
environmental burden of everyday
activity is the key for LiFE.

LiFE as community water conser vation
through revival of age-old tradition
Halma is an age-old practice in the Bhilcommunity in Jhabua district of Madhya
Pradesh state in India. The practice ismeant to help the distressed without
expecting anything in return. In Jhabua
district, the distressed was the motherearth. The underlying feeling of Bhilcommunity was ‘She is thirsty’. From
2010, Shivganga Abhiyan, a community
organisation is calling Halma every year.
Thousands of tribal villagers participate

in this movement. They come with theequipment needed for the manual soil
work. They prepare contour trenches onhills dig pits for plantations. All this has
been done for society and not for any
individual benefit. This self- initiative
takes place in their own villages. Thiseffort has shown changes on the
ground in the form of improved water
availability.

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LiFE

References
1.

Reports of COPs of UNFCCC, Convention on
Biodiversity, and Convention on Combat
Desertification attest the limited results.

2.

https://pledge.mygov.in/life-movement/

3.

For detailed context and recommendations,informed through extensive civil society
consultations, see India C20: Disability, Equity,
Justice White Paper 2023: https://risingflame.
org/project/india-c20-disability-equityjustice-white-paper-2023/

4.

G20 Riyadh Leaders’ Declaration, 2020, para.
26.

5.

G20 Rome Leaders’ Declaration, 2021, para.
36.

6.

G20 Bali Leaders’ Declaration, 2022, para. 44.

7.

The UNESCO Convention against
Discrimination in Education, 1962, including
109 States Parties at the time of writing,protects the right to education and prohibits
any form of discrimination, including
any distinction, exclusion, limitation, orpreference.

8.

SDG 4 and Agenda 2030 provide a strong
vision that has guided initiatives to foster
inclusion of children with disabilities (CWDs)
in schools.

9.

United Nations Convention on the Rights of
the Child (Article 23).

10. UNICEF, Seen, Counted, Included: Using data
to shed light on the well-being of children
with disabilities, January 2022, available
online, https://data.unicef.org/resources/
children-with-disabilities-report-2021/.

11. World Health Organization, Global report on
health equity for persons with disabilities
2023, p. 81, available online https://www.
who.int/publications/i/item/9789240063600.
12. See Shalini Saksena and Rashmi Sharma,“Deconstructing Barriers to Access Higher
Education: A Case Study of Students with
Disabilities in University of Delhi,” DU Journalof Undergraduate Research and Innovation,
Volume 1, Issue 2, page 316-337; Organisation
for Economic Co-opeartion and Development(OECD), Inclusion of Students with Disabilities
in Tertiary Education and Employment, 2011;
Weqin Chen, “Students with Disabilities andDigital Accessibility in Higher Education under
COVID-19,” in Rodrigo M.M.T et al. (Eds.)(2021), Proceedings of the 29th International
Conference on Computers in Education. AsiaPacific Society for Computers in Education.
13. G20 2018 Buenos Aires Leaders’ Declaration.
14. G20 2019 Osaka Leaders’ Declaration, para.
21.
15. G20 2022 Bali Leaders’ Declaration, para. 39.
16. International Labour Organization (ILO),
Policy brief: Making TVET and skills systems
inclusive of persons with disabilities 2017,
available online https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/
groups/public/---ed_emp/---ifp_skills/
documents/publication/wcms_605087.pdf.
17. International Labour Organization (ILO),“The price of exclusion: The economic
consequences of excluding people withdisabilities from the world of work,” available
online https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/
public/---ed_emp/---ifp_skills/documents/
publication/wcms_146260.pdf.

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C20 India 2023 - Policy Packsuch persons should not be subjected toany medical or scientific experimentationthat may be detrimental to their health.
See General comment No. 20 (1992) on
prohibition of torture and cruel treatment or
punishment, para. 7.

18. See International Labour Organization (ILO),
Disability Discrimination at Work, available
online https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/
public/@ed_norm/@declaration/documents/
publication/wcms_decl_fs_87_en.pdf;
International Labour Organization (ILO),
Violence and harassment against persons
with disabilities in the world of work, available
online https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/
public/---dgreports/---gender/documents/
briefingnote/wcms_738118.pdf; International
Labour Organization (ILO), Policy brief:
Making TVET and skills systems inclusive of
persons with disabilities, available online
https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/--ed_emp/---ifp_skills/documents/publication/
wcms_605087.pdf.

25. See World Health Organization, Global
report on health equity for persons withdisabilities 2023, p. 33-34, 61-68, 81, 88, 98103, available online https://www.who.int/
publications/i/item/9789240063600; UNFPA
and Women Enabled International, The
Impact of COVID-19 on Women and Girls with
Disabilities: A Global Assessment and Case
Studies on Sexual and Reproductive Healthand Rights, Gender-Based Violence, andRelated Rights, 2021, p. 2;

19. This recommendation is in line with ILO
Violence and Harassment Convention (No.
190) and Recommendation (No. 206).

26. World Health Organization (WHO), “Healthinequities lead to early death in many persons
with disabilities,” 2 December 2022, available
online at https://www.who.int/news/item/0212-2022-health-inequities-lead-to-earlydeath-in-many-persons-with-disabilities

20. G20 Rome Leaders’ Declaration 2021, para. 7.
21. G20 Bali Leaders’ Declaration 2022, para. 19.

27. G20 Osaka Leaders’ Declaration 2019, para.
35.

22. World Health Organization, Global report on
health equity for persons with disabilities
2023, p. 37, available online https://www.who.
int/publications/i/item/9789240063600.

28. See World Health Organization, Global reporton health equity for persons with disabilities
2023, p. 82-83 available online https://www.
who.int/publications/i/item/9789240063600;
Human Rights Watch, Leave No One
Behind: People with Disabilities and Older
People in Climate-Related Disasters, 2022;
United Nations, Department of Economic
and Social Affairs—Disability, “DisabilityInclusive Disaster Reduction and Emergency
Situations, available online https://www.
un.org/development/desa/disabilities/issues/disability-inclusive-disaster-risk-reductionand-emergency-situations.html.

23. UNCRPD Article 25 protects the rights
of PWDS to the same range, quality, andstandard of free or affordable health care.
24. The Committee on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (CRPD) has also expressed concern
about involuntary treatment and confinement
and has recommended States to take legal
steps to abolish surgery and treatment
without the full and informed consent
of the patient (Art. 23, 25). The Human
Rights Committee has affirmed that special
protection is necessary in the case of persons
not capable of giving valid consent, and that

29. G20 Riyadh Leaders’ Declaration, 2020, para.
23, 24.

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LiFE

30. The United Nations Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)(Art. 28(b)calls upon states to ensure access by persons
with disabilities, in particular women andgirls with disabilities and older persons withdisabilities, to social protection and poverty
reduction programmes.
31. The need for disability-inclusive social
protection is stated in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, Article 25 on
the right to adequate standards of living andsecurity.
32. See World Health Organization, & World
Bank. (2011). World report on disability.
Malta: World Health Organization; Gooding,K., & Marriot, A. (2009). Including persons
with disabilities in social cash transfer
programmes in developing countries. Journalof International Development, 21(5), 685698. doi: 10.1002/jid.1597; Mitra, S. (2005).
Disability and Social Safety Nets in Developing
Countries. Washington, DC: World Bank

38. https://www.oecd.org/gov/opengovernment/innovative-citizen-participationnew-democratic-institutions-catching-thedeliberative-wave-highlights.pdf
39. https://www.local.gov.uk/casestudies/case-study-porto-alegrebrazil#:~:text=Participatory%20budgeting%20
in%20Porto%20Alegre,Council%20of%20
the%20Participatory%20Budget).
40. Lahariya, C et al. (2020) Community action
for health in India: evolution, lessons learnt
and ways forward to achieve universal healthcoverage, WHO South East Asia Journal of
Public Health 9 (1)41. WHO (2021) Voice, agency, empowerment:
Handbook on social participation for universal
health coverage

33. Consistent with the UNCRPD Article 28(b)34. https://freedomhouse.org/policyrecommendations/strengthening-democracyabroad
35. https://idea.int/gsod-2021/sites/
default/files/2021-11/global-state-ofdemocracy-2021.pdf
36. https://nowaraga.com/2023/02/03/scorecardthe-best-measure-of-performance-ofmembers-of-parliament/
37. https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/
leadership-and-political-participation/factsand-figures

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CIVIL20 INDIA WORKING

1. Integrated
Holistic Health:Mind, Body andthe Environment

2. Sustainable& Resilient
Commnities:
Climate,Environment and
Net Zero Targets

3. Education
and Digital
Transformation

4. Gender Equality
and women’s
empowerment

India Coordinators: Dr. Priya Nair and Dr. Jaideep Menon,
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and M A Math,(priyanair.aims@gmail.com) , (menon7jc@gmail.com)
International Coordinators: Dr. Sarthak Das, Asia Pacific
Leaders Malaria Alliance, (sarthakdas630@gmail.com)
Dr Krish Ramachandran, Harvard Medical School,(skrama@BIDMC.Harvard.edu) and
Dr. Andy Carmone, Clinton Health Access Initiative,(andy.carmone@gmail.com)
India Coordinator: Dr. Maneesha Ramesh,
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and MA Math,(maneeshasudheer@gmail.com)
International Coordinator: Dr. Vinod Menon,
RedR India, The International Emergency Management
Society (TIEMS), (nvcmenon@gmail.com)
Dr. Athi Sivan, Amritewari Foundation of Malaysia,(athisivan@gmail.com)
India Coordinator: Dr. Venkat Rangan,
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and MA Math,(edt.c20india@gmail.com)
Dr. Prema Nedungadi, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and
MA Math, (prema@amrita.edu)
International Coordinator: Dr. Joost,
Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative, switzerland,(jmonks@hqai.org)

India Coordinator: Dr. Bhavani Rao,
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and MA Math,(bhavani@ammachilabs.org)
International Coordinator: Ms. Meg Jones,
Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand,(megempower@gmail.com)

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GROUP COORDINATORS

5. Technology,
Security, andTransparency.

India Coordinators: Dr. Krishnashree Achuthan,
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and MA Math,(krishnashree.achuthan@gmail.com)
Dr. Nava Subramaniam,
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and MA Math,(nava@amrita.edu)
International Coordinator: Ms. Alison Richards,
Intel, (alison.l.richards@intel.com)

6. Lifestyle forEnvironment(LiFE)

7. Preservation andConservation ofArts, Crafts andTraditional Waysof Livelihood &Employment

8. Human Rights
as Human
ValuesIndia Coordinators: Mr. Gajanan Dange, YOJAK India,(life@yojak.org.in)
Mr. Sailesh Singhal, Youth of India Foundation,(sailesh@youthofindia.org.in)International Coordinator: Ms. Adriana Salazar Vega,
ICCS, Colombia, (adriana.salazar@iccsglobal.org)

Working Group Coordinator: Ms. Kshipra Shukla ,FIWA, (kshiprashukla974@gmail.com)
Er. Tana Nekam Tara, Arunachal Pradesh,(tananekamtara@gmail.com)
Himadrish Suwan, Confedration of Youth Leaders, India,(officesuwan@gmail.com)

India Coordinators: Mr. Durganand Jha,
Centre for Policy Analysis, India,(durganjha@gmail.com)
International Coordinator: Nitin Sharma,
WOSY, (nitinsharma80@gmail.com)
Denise Scotto, International Federation of Women inLegal Careers, (denise.scotto@gmail.com)

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CIVIL20 INDIA WORKING
9. Revival of Rivers
and WaterManagement

India Coordinator: Ms. Vasuki Kalyanasundaram,
The Satsang Foundation, India,(connect@satsang-foundation.org)
Mr. Devangshu Dutta,
The Satsang Foundation, India,(satsangworkdevangshu@gmail.com)
International Coordinator: Bobby Nimbalkar,
Delivering Change Foundation, (bobby@apglobale.com)

India Coordinator: Swami MitranandChinmaya Mission, (mitrananda@gmail.com

10. Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam

11. Sewa: Service,
Philanthropy andVolunteerism

12. Diversity,
Inclusion and
Mutual Respect

International Coordinator: Shri Virendra Gupta,
Indian Council for International Cooperation,
India, (virendragupta@gmail.com)
Dr. Vikrant Tomar, United Consciousness Global,(vikrantsingh.miit@gmail.com)

India Coordinator: Shri Santosh Gupta, ISRN India,(ceo@isrn.in)International Coordinator: Shri Shyam Parande,
Sewa International, India, (shyamparande@gmail.com)

India Coordinators: Dr. Joram Begi,
Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture, India,(jorambegi@gmail.com)
International Coordinator: Dr. Shashi Bala,
International Council For Cultural Studies, India,(drshashibala56@gmail.com)

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GROUP COORDINATORS
13. SDG 16+,
Promoting Civic
Space, Ensuring
Inclusion

14. Disability,
Equity, Justice(DEJ)

15. Delivering
Democracy –Retrospect andProspect

16. Special
Committee
on Financial
IssuesIndia Coordinator: Dr. Amit Tuteja, Connecting Dreams
Foundation, India, (amit@connecting-dreams.org)
Ms. Neha Chauhan, India, (neha.n.chauhan@gmail.com)
Mr. Sanjay Chaturvedi, Divya Prem Sewa Mission, India,(sanjayprem03@gmail.com)
International Coordinator: Ms. Jyotsna Mohan,
ADA Cambodia, (jyotsna@ada2030.org)
Mr. John Romano, TAP Network USA,(romano@tapnetwork2030.org)

India Coordinator: Ms. Nidhi Ashok Goyal,
Rising Flame, India (nidhi@risingflame.org)
International Coordinator: Ms. Risnawati Utami,
OHANA, Indonesia (risnautami@gmail.com)

India Coordinator: Dr. Basavaraju R Shreshta,(basavaraju@graam.org.in)International Coordinator: Benedetto Zacchiroli,President of ICCAR, (bzacchiroli@gmail.com)

Working Group Coordinator: Ms. Deepti George, Dvara
Research, India, (deepti.george@dvara.com)

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