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"Country not on track in health-related parameters"

Staff Correspondent

Director of UN Millennium Development Campaign visits M.P.

BHOPAL: The data available from the Tenth Five year Plan mid-term appraisal shows that the country is not on track on many of the health-related parameters and for a State like Madhya Pradesh to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) it is essential for the State Government to takes things in a focused manner and meet the challenges on the implementation side with firm determination.

This was emphasized by the Director UN Millennium Development Campaign, Salil Shetty while talking to a group of journalists here on Wednesday.

Mr. Shetty said that adequate resources are available to implement programmes and policies to improve the quality of life of the economically weaker sections but the challenge is to ensure proper implementation and "the idea is to build a campaign to ensure that the leaders are held accountable by the people."

He said that even the attention of the media has to be focused on issues that confront the civil society.

Mr. Shetty expressed surprise on excessive speculation by sections of the Indian media on whether or not the former test Cricketer, Saurav Ganguly would get selected in the Indian team. He went on to add that the amount of news coverage given to the recent hospitalization of the popular film star AmitabhBachchan was "unbelievable".

Mr. Shetty said that the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has personally taken the initiative and set up the UN Millennium Development Campaign. "Our mandate is to work with civil society organizations", he said adding that the advocacy campaign with the participation of NGOs can go a long way when it comes to putting pressure on Government to deliver. He stressed the need for an awareness building initiative and more community level monitoring— both at the State and at the village level.

The UN Millennium Development Goals were signed by the heads of 189 countries in September 2000. The goals have committed the rich and poor countries to eradicate extreme poverty, hunger, gender inequality and environmental degradation and ensure access to education, healthcare and clean water to all by 2015, Mr. Shetty said adding that the commitments of the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre and the State Bharatiya Janata Party Government are highlighted by their policies aimed at reducing poverty and tackling the unemployment problem as well as improving the situation on the health and education front, he said asserting that what is needed is governance and accountability to meet the MDGs.

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