Aksha Dialogues

Social development in large, complex countries like India depends a great deal on collaborations between multiple entities. This includes partnerships between the government, non-profits, the private sector and the community. What it also relies upon, in good measure, is entrepreneurship and innovation.

In 2023, India held the G20 presidency with the theme of One Earth, One Family, One Future.” The presidency reinforced the gains India has made in health, agricultural development, science and technology, and digital public infrastructure, lessons that have wider relevance for other parts of the world.

The Government of India has put women-led development at the heart of its vision for progress. Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and the State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs), India today has over 8.5 million self-help groups (SHGs). It is the largest such network of women in the world. 

Numerous efforts to improve crop yield and food security are underway in countries facing the effects of climate change, as they are largely dependent on rainfall and weather patterns for crop planning and yields.

More than 200 years since the discovery of the world’s first vaccine against smallpox, immunization has proven to be one of modern medicine’s biggest public health successes. Annual childhood vaccination programs currently prevent four million deaths globally.

Over the last few decades, India has demonstrated significant progress in diverse fields including space research, science and technology, biotech, nutrition, healthcare, and building a digital first economy. Many of these gains have been made possible with the important but sometimes invisible work of frontline workers, whose determined commitment has translated into action in the field, ensuring success of multiple local, regional, and national strategies.

COVID-19 reconfirmed that progress is only sustainable if it is built on health equity. The pandemic helped shine a light on the interconnected nature of health and demonstrated the repercussions it can have on development outcomes across the globe.