G20 Summit: Our approach of 'Back to basics' reason for India's success, says PM

Prime Minister PM Narendra Modi made an address on Social Inclusion and the Fight Against Hunger and Poverty at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro Brazil on Monday According to news agency ANI in his address PM Modi underscored Indias success in lifting 250 million people out of poverty over the past decade and expressed full support for Brazils initiative to form a global alliance against hunger and povertySpeaking about Indias efforts in tackling food security PM Modi outlined the countryrsquos strategy based on a dual approach of Back to Basics and March to Future which he claimed had been yielding positive results He highlighted Indias extensive measures to promote womenled development including providing free foodgrains to more than 800 million people and ensuring that over 550 million benefit from the worldrsquos largest health insurance schemeIn the past 10 years we have lifted 250 million people out of poverty Modi stated More than 800 million people are being given foodgrains free of cost and 550 million are benefitting from the worldrsquos largest health insurance scheme Now 60 million senior citizens above the age of 70 will also benefit from free health insuranceThe PM also supported Brazils proposal to establish a Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty emphasising that the Global South has been severely impacted by the crises in food fuel and fertiliser caused by ongoing global conflicts He called for these concerns to be prioritisedWe support Brazilrsquos initiative for a Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty This is an important step towards implementing the Deccan HighLevel Principles for Food Security adopted at the New Delhi Summit Modi affirmedAccording to ANI Modi highlighted the importance of including the challenges of the Global South in the discussions stressing that the decisions made at the G20 Summit must reflect their specific needs He noted that just as the Global Southrsquos voice was amplified by granting permanent membership of the G20 to the African Union at the New Delhi Summit similar reforms in global governance institutions would continueOur focus on womenled development and social inclusion PM ModiCountries of the Global South are most adversely impacted by the food fuel and fertiliser crises caused by global conflicts Our discussions can only succeed if we address the challenges and priorities of the Global South he said adding that the outcomes of the New Delhi Summit were shaping the ongoing discussions in BrazilReferring to the theme of the summit PM Modi emphasised that the decisions made last year in New Delhi were peoplecentric focusing on inclusive development womenled progress youth empowerment and the aspirations of the Global South It is clear that One Earth One Family One Future is as relevant at this summit as it was last year he saidAccording to ANI PM Modi also discussed the progress made in empowering women and supporting farmers in India He revealed that more than 300 million women microentrepreneurs had been linked to banks and given access to credit Additionally under the worlds largest crop insurance scheme more than 40 million farmers had received benefits worth USD 20 billion with total financial assistance to farmers amounting to over USD 40 billionMaintaining our focus on womenled development and social inclusion over 300 million women microentrepreneurs have been linked to banks and given access to credit he explained adding Under the farmersrsquo scheme assistance worth over USD 40 billion has been given to 110 million farmers Institutional credit worth USD 300 billion is being provided to farmersPM Modi also spoke about Indiarsquos Integrated Nutrition Support Programme which supports women and children and the countryrsquos commitment to ensuring both food security and better nutrition India is not only ensuring food security but also focusing on nutrition Through the MidDay Meal scheme we are paying special attention to the nutritional needs of schoolchildren he saidIndiarsquos role in contributing to global food security was also highlighted with PM Modi pointing out that India had provided humanitarian assistance to countries such as Malawi Zambia and ZimbabweRegarding Indias agricultural policies PM Modi said that the countryrsquos success was attributed to its approach of blending traditional methods with modern technology The main reason for our success is our approach Back to Basics and March to the Future We have focused on sustainable agriculture organic farming and new technologies promoting millets and climateresilient crop varieties he saidHe further mentioned the creation of over 2000 climateresilient crop varieties and the launch of the Digital Agriculture MissionPM Modi also thanked Brazilian President Luiz Inaacutecio Lula da Silva for hosting the G20 Summit and providing exceptional hospitality He reiterated that the Indian G20 presidencyrsquos call for One Earth One Family One Future continued to resonate strongly in RioI would like to congratulate President Lula for the grand arrangements made for the organisation of the G20 Summit and for his successful G20 Presidency I am confident that during the next session there will be even more positive and detailed discussions on this subject he saidWith ANI inputs