BY DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY
UDAIPUR (RAJASTHAN), 5 DECEMBER 2022
The 1st Sherpa Meeting of India’s G20 Presidency commenced yesterday , on 4 December 2022, in Udaipur Rajasthan. A series of briefings and interactions with the media and a side event on Transforming Lives at the Midpoint of the 2030 Agenda: Accelerating Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in an Era of Cascading and Multiple Crises were organised. The day also witnessed the arrival of Sherpas and delegations of various G20 nations and heads of invited International Organisations at Udaipur. Various Rajasthani cultural activations were carried out to welcome the delegates and showcase to them the tradition of Indian hospitality and performing arts.
An informal press interaction was organised with media persons across television and print media in the backdrop of Udaipur’s famous Lake Pichola. India’s key priorities for the upcoming year, spanning across resilient economic growth, climate action, women-led development and more were discussed. The structure of India’s G20 Presidency and various working and engagement groups were explained during the briefing. Priorities of the working groups were also highlighted. It was reasserted that in spite of facing several global challenges, India will advocate a sense of oneness for all and find solutions collectively with other nations. There was also focus on India’s stand as a voice for the global south.
The first side event was a panel discussion on accelerating implementation of SDGs. For the past seven years, India has been at the forefront of adopting, implementing, and monitoring the SDGs and localising it to suit the subnational and local realities. While there is a long way to go, many of India’s programmatic interventions have been successful in creating impact at scale. India’s innovative approaches, tools and experiences in areas such as digital transformation especially ‘data for development’, just green transition, women-led development, and economic growth for SDGs offer a variety of good practices and lessons learned, from which other nations can benefit to address their own challenges to SDG acceleration. The side event witnessed fruitful discussions on how these four accelerators can help overcome many of the obstacles that the 2030 Agenda currently faces due to the cascading and multiple crises the world faces, as it reaches the midpoint of the SDG journey. In the welcome note to all delegates, India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant stressed on India’s belief that every crisis is an opportunity and leadership is about finding path breaking solutions in the midst of crisis. He focused on the onerous responsibility on all G20 sherpas to give shape to a new future. At the end of the discussion, the panel concluded that the G20 platform is in a unique position to provide leadership and financial resources and work together to bring the world back on track to achieve the SDGs.
The Jal Sanjhi art form is an incredible 300-year-old Rajasthani rare art form where the canvas is the surface of water. Mr. Rajesh Vaishnav, a Jal Sanjhi Artist, created a beautiful piece of art for all the guests to view and appreciate. The Desert Music Symphony led by the renowned Sangeet Natak Academy awardee, Shri Gazi Khan Barna including maestros of both the Langa and Manganiyar folk musical linage of Rajasthan delivered a memorable performance for the guests. Apart from presenting folk music, the program also showcased an ensemble of Rajasthani folk musical instruments like kamaicha, sindhi sarengi, surinda, algoza, matka, murli, dholak, khartal, bhapang, tandura, morchang, manjira. Going back to the roots, the Desert Music Symphony was specially curated to give the esteemed guests an immersive cultural experience, embedded in the folk tradition of Rajasthan. The Sherpas and members of visiting delegations also sampled traditional millets snack boxes and Rajasthani bandhini bags.
The four-day gathering (04-07 December 2022) of the Sherpas of G20 Members, invited countries and International Organizations will set the stage for the important conversation on some of the most pressing issues of our time, including technological transformation, green development and LiFE, spotlighting women-led development, accelerating implementation of the SDGs, and facilitating inclusive and resilient growth.
The G20 delegates will be served the world famous lip smacking delicacies of Rajasthan like Dal bati churma, gatta ke sabzi, ker curry, Jodhpuri kabuli pulao and mewa kachauri, Bikaneri ghevar, shirkand, safrron kheer, malai gevar etc besides other indian dishes.
Traditional food corners have been set up in the venue.
On Sunday , a grand reception was held at the Hotel Leela Palace ( near Lake Pichola) for the delegates and from Monday onwards the discussions will take place at the Darbar Hall of hotel Taj Fateh Prakash Palace. Delegates from over 40 countries are expected to participate in this four day meet.
The G 20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s major developed and developing economies and comprises of comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US, and the European Union.
Drawing inspiration from its G20 Presidency theme of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth One Family One Future’, India will host over 200 meetings in over 50 cities across 32 different workstreams, and would have the opportunity to offer G20 delegates and guests a glimpse of India’s rich cultural heritage in the next one year.
Padharo Mhare Desh! As the inaugural meeting of the #G20India Presidency begins tomorrow in Udaipur, Rajasthan, the city of lakes and palaces is ready to welcome #G20 delegations @my_rajasthan pic.twitter.com/pgq1ZwdD7Z
— G20 India (@g20org) December 4, 2022
Breathtaking Udaipur preparing to showcase its rich culture, cuisine, traditions and hospitality to the world! Truly incredible state of India! #G20India pic.twitter.com/B3SvCyw2fw
— G20 India (@g20org) December 4, 2022
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