2007 MDGs report: Urgent need to strengthen implementation

A mid term 2007 MDGs report by civil society organizations in Madhya Pradesh,India bring the state into focus, as here the situation of children is grim as compared to other states of India. So, the State seeks urgent attention, if the goals are to be met by 2015.

JULY 7 WAS the mid point for evaluating the progress towards achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), set by all the countries of world. These MDGs range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015.

National Social Watch Coalition in India, a network of civil society partners came out with a national report on India’s progress on MDGs. Civil society groups in the State of Madhya Pradesh came out with implementation audit report on seven out of eight MDGs on July 9, 2007.

The civil society groups contributing to this report used available data sources to evaluate the State’s progress and presented some case studies to show the implementation status on the ground. The report suggests an urgent need to strengthen implementation and increase the focus on the monitoring of the situation on ground, which is a challenge. The report brought out analysis of various indicators on the progress of MDGs, which are at different levels of human development.

The report stated that the situation of children in Madhya Pradesh is a cause for concern as compare to other states of India. It was hard one and brought attention on the need of effective implementation and increased monitoring of the goals set by the world’s countries to achieve by 2015 in the area of human development. The report brought Madhya Pradesh into spotlight; where there is an urgent need to increase focus on the progress of these goals, if India wishes to achieve them. But augmented focus does not mean pressure on the system only, in fact there is an urgent need to increase resources, strengthen capacity and increase real engagement of communities. Especially the poor class and the section, which does not participate in decision-making process for human development in the State, should be included and this is something very important.

Civil society partners coming out with this report was an indicator of increased mobilization and concern among them. The increased involvement of civil society in monitoring the progress on the issues, which impact human development, is in line with ’Universal Declaration of Human rights’. This right calls on each individual to strive for securing human rights and these goals are barometers of progress towards fulfillment of these rights. Civil society has a role of duty bearers and needs to ensure that all the promises made by the countries at start of this millennium are met. There is a need to keep a constant vigil on the progress towards achieving the goals and the indicators set up for achievement of these millennium development goals.

It is not for first time when civil society in Madhya Pradesh has shown the increased concern. if one looks back, for last few years the networks of non governmental organizations, media advocacy groups and social activists have been using various forums and multiplicity of methods including media to bring issues of survival and development to forefront. Be it malnutrition among children, poverty, maternal mortality, and female foeticide, impact of displacement or challenges faced in guaranteeing education for all, civil society has always strongly advocated these issues with evidences.

It is a welcome sign as we work in the age of ’accountability’, which demands for the process where ‘systems’ are answerable to its constituencies. This also signifies growing influence and participation of civil society regarding human rights.

Madhya Pradesh State has seen increased civil society participation in State’s effort but still the major input by the NGOs is at the level of delivery or supporting delivery systems of the State. There still exists a glass ceiling when it comes to making decisions, which impact them and the people, which civil society represents. This is important both for civil society and State, as no mobilization of public opinion is perhaps as powerful as that of involvement of people including excluded and poor section.

By Anil Gulati