As always, at this time of the year we look back to see what the past year has been like, what impacts it had on society, and so on.
Among the most significant events of the year was the Russia – Ukraine conflict. It has been a prolonged and difficult engagement of forces on the two sides with several incidents of fierce fighting. The prolonged war has resulted in hardships to populations around the world mainly on account of supply chain disruptions affecting food supply and thus driving up prices of many food commodities, industrial inputs and raw materials. This in turn has resulted in sustained and stubborn high inflation almost all over the world; prompting central bankers to hike interest rates in their efforts to tame rising prices. One hopes that early in the new year, the situation will get back to normal and put an end to many difficulties.
India has been handed the mantle of G20 Presidency for the year starting December. India will look to make meaningful contribution to the well-being of the world on all fronts keeping in mind the Theme – One Earth, One Family, One Future. The theme will look to unite the members to particularly support environment friendly measures given the stark challenges facing populations in nearly all parts of the globe. Given the country’s praiseworthy achievements on several fronts including creating renewable energy capacities, India is well placed. In another landmark event, the COP27 Conference in Egypt brought to the fore the urgent need for equitable climate financing to support developing nations. Creating a fund for ‘loss and damage’ marked an important area of progress with all agreeing to bring this to the forefront of the agenda as a measure to address the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities whose very lives and livelihoods have been impacted by its worst impacts.
In Indian cities, good progress has been made during the last several years on sanitation, waste management, water supply, affordable housing, etc. These themes will remain central as we move towards making our cities, efficient, vibrant, just and equitable to address the aspirations of the vast populations moving here in search of a better future for themselves and their families. Efficient sustainable urban mobility will remain a key theme in the efforts of policy makers. Given the worsening air quality in many large cities and the threat posed by it to public health, e-mobility and efficient, affordable mass transit must be the key pillars on which will rest our future efforts. Alongside, public health needs to be strengthened by means of significant investments including in strengthening manpower and capacity building. The free insurance scheme for the poor to provide free hospitalisation upto five lakhs per family per annum is a move in this direction and will protect millions from crippling out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. We can look with hope to further progress on many of these vital areas for a brighter future for all Indians.
I take this opportunity to wish our readers and their families a very happy newyear 2023.
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