India committed to achieving MDGs of UN by 2015

United Nations, Sep 26 (UNI) India has expressed commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the United Nations for the target date of 2015.

The MDGs are a set of eight targetted objectives established by Heads of State/Government at the UN Millennium Summit in 2000. The eight objectives are, achievement of universal education, gender equality, improved child and maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, environment sustainability, end to poverty and hunger and creation of a global partnership.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who attended the inaugural plenary of the High-level Meeting on MDGs held at the UN Headquarters here, along with several other Heads of State/Government, also held bilateral meetings with some of the leaders and discussed regional and international situation.

The meeting was convened by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the mid-point of the targetted date of 2015 by which all stake holders are expected to meet the MDGs.

''Prime Minister's presence at the inaugural plenary of the MDGs was a sign of India's commitment to the achievement of MDGs. This was also in keeping with the high-level pesence of a number of other Heads of State/Government,'' India said.

After the Plenary, Dr Singh held bilateral meetings with his Netherlands counterpart Mr Jan-Pieter Balkenende and Jamaican Premier Bruce Golding.

The Plenary was inaugurated by the President of the UN General Assembly, Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann. Following the inauguration, discussions continued in three separate thematic round-tables, the themes of which collectively included the eight MDGs.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram is representing India at the round-table on 'Poverty and Hunger'.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, who is attending as a special invitee, will also make a pesentation.

Other speakers included the UN Secretary General, Pesident of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete, Amir of Qatar, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and European Community Pesident Borrosso.

Special invitees included Bill Gates and Elabehn Bhatt of India, founder of the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA).

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