Lessons Learnt During the Lockdown

In the last couple of months, for the first time in many years, the people of Delhi breathed fresh air! Thanks to the Covid-19 lockdown our overused lungs got a welcome break! The chirping of birds replaced the horns and loud speakers.Delhi has also become less crowded. The Lockdown has given us time to reflect upon the changes that we need to make in our city so that we are better prepared for the future. It is time we take the Sustainable Development goals seriously.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly are a collection of 17 global goals. These goals have been designed to ensure a better and more sustainable future for all. The deadline that has been set to achieve these goals is 2030. I recently completed a very interesting online capacity building program conducted through the CHALKLIT platform, called “Introducing United Nations Goals in Class”. It is high time that we incorporate these goals in some way or the other in our classroom and also in our online teaching and learning process.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are:

No Poverty	Zero Hunger	Good Health and Well-being	Quality Education	Gender Equality
Clean Water and Sanitation	Affordable and Clean Energy	Decent Work and Economic Growth	Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure	Reducing Inequality
Sustainable Cities and Communities	Responsible Consumption and Production	Climate Action	Life Below Water	Life On Land
Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions		Partnerships for the Goals

All our states need to become self-sufficient, so that there is limited migration of people to the metropolitan cities of India. The migrant crisis during the lockdown is the result of this large scale migration. Sustainable cities and communities are therefore very important to reduce poverty.

The rich are dying of lifestyle diseases whereas the poor don’t get a single meal during the day.They die due to malnutrition, lack of clean water and sanitation facilities. Those who have the resources to lead a good life should focus on responsible consumption so that there is adequate supply for everyone.   

Quality education is the only solution for Indians. Without which there can be no upward social mobility. Online learning has increased the accessibility of education. Research in this area can solve the problem of education in India. This would facilitate a decent work for all and economic growth of the nation. Industrial development, innovation and growth in infrastructural facilities can happen only if Indians are not just literate but educated. We should prioritize and facilitate research and development to attain affordable and clean energy.

Taking climate action seriously, preserving life below water, celebrating biodiversity, respecting eco-systems, would go a long way in ensuring that we don’t have natural calamities like earthquakes, cyclones, floods etc. Mild tremors were felt in Delhi at least six times during the last two months! We also had two cyclones- Amphan and Nisarga. It’s high time start respecting Mother Nature!

Development can’t be achieved if you prevent a section of your population from contributing to the economy. Gender and social equality, both, are important. Communal, regional and social peace and harmony, quick system of imparting justice and having strong law enforcement agencies would ensure that our limited resources are not wasted in communal riots and violent demonstrations. For the first time after the Sikh Riots in India, Delhi witnessed communal violence in the last week of February,2020. We don’t need this. The people of Delhi have always been united, we are a truly cosmopolitan state. There can be no development without tolerance and mutual understanding amongst all Indians. During the Covid19 crisis, there has been e productive partnership among all Indian state governments. Considering our huge population we have dealt with this crisis, commendably. The Indian people have to stand united for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, which should also become our national goals.