India is focusing on making its G20 presidency “a unique experience” by seeking proactive partnership with people under the “Jan Bhagidari” scheme, said Muktesh Pardeshi, Special Secretary (G20- Operations) at a conference in New Delhi. “Indian leadership in G20 is unique and distinct because of the two specific approaches that we have adopted to curate the Plan of Actions,” he said at a conference entitled, “India’s G20 Presidency – Forging Actionable Agenda for Global South.” “India has employed the Whole-of-Government Approach which has enormously expanded the scope of G20,” he said. The conference was organised by Vivekanada International Foundation, India Writes Network and Centre for Global India Insights (CGII), a think tank focused on global affairs. Besides Mr Kant, eminent panelists who spoke at the conference included Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF; Sujan R. Chinoy, T20 Chair and DG, MPIDSA; Muktesh Pardeshi, Special Secretary, G20-Operations; V. Srinivas, author of The Roadmap to India’s Presidency; and Manish Chand, CEO & Director, Centre for Global India Insights. “Indian Presidency deviates from the set notion of G20 and has moved ahead to accommodate not only the priorities of the Central government, but accommodates the viewpoints of the state and local governmental institutions,” he said. “More than 200 meetings have been planned, covering each and every state of the Indian subcontinent along with its Union Territories.”
Underlining the “Jan Bhagidari Approach,” Mr Pardeshi explained that “The seven petals of India’s G20 presidency logo are representative of Jan Bhagidari Approach.” He stressed that various engagement groups such as Business 20, Youth 20 and Civil20 are working to provide constructive ideas for India’s G20 presidency agenda.
Mr Pardeshi said that the voice of Global South finds its truest manifestation in India’s G20 presidency. “G20 seeks to promote Indian culture as a whole. Respecting the diversity of the subcontinent, the culture, craft and cuisine of the states where the meetings are to be held will be presented and promoted.” Mr Pardeshi underscored that the remarkable achievement of the Indian Presidency in G20 is its distinct ability to create public awareness among people from the top layer to the grass root level, making the agenda of G20 to promote oneness an “Actionable Agenda”. (Anushka Ghosh contributed inputs for this article)
