Brazil: MEA Secy Dammu Ravi leads India’s delegation at G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting

At the G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting in Brazil’s capital city of Rio De Janeiro India highlighted its flagship programmes, including the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission, and AMRUT and reiterated India’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to water and sanitation.

Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Dammu Ravi, led India’s delegation at the G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting, where significant strides were made towards enhancing global sanitation and hygiene services.

The meeting culminated in the adoption of the G20 Ministerial Call to Action, underscoring commitments to strengthen drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services worldwide.

During the meeting, Secretary Dammu Ravi underscored India’s proactive role and highlighted key national initiatives aimed at advancing sanitation and water accessibility. Emphasising India’s flagship programmes, including the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission, and AMRUT, Secretary Ravi reiterated India’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to water and sanitation.

The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, launched in 2014, has been instrumental in transforming sanitation infrastructure across the country, significantly reducing open defecation and improving access to sanitation facilities. India’s Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in 2019, aims to provide piped water supply to every household, particularly in rural areas, by 2024.

Similarly, the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) focuses on improving basic infrastructure in urban areas, including water supply and sewage management.

Beyond its national efforts, India also highlighted its robust development cooperation initiatives aimed at supporting other developing countries in the Global South.

Notably, Brazil holds the G20 presidency from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024.

The G20 Leaders’ Summit is scheduled to be held in Rio de Janeiro from November 18-19, with the presence of the leaders of the 19 member countries, plus the African Union and the European Union.

The G20 is made up of 19 countries – Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Russia, Turkey, the UK and the US and two regional bodies: the African Union and the European Union.