Naidu: Population control key to development

New Delhi, Sep 15 : Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said that population control, poverty alleviation and environmental protection were key to any country's development.

Addressing a delegation of Asian Population and Development Association which called on him, Naidu said the "fruits of development" should reach the poorest of the poor and it required active participation of legislators.

He said the Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) mirror India's own vision of development and NITI Aayog was leading the efforts to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the goals.

Naidu said India is finalising a national indicator framework to monitor the achievements concerning SGDs and is also engaged in the UN process to evolve a framework of global indicators to monitor progress on SDGs.

He said India had submitted its Voluntary National Review (VNR) at a high-level political forum in New York, the US, in July this year and that global partnership is key to achieving targets mentioned in the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

According to an official release, parliamentarians from 15 countries, who were part of the delegation, commended "the pioneering role" played by India in the process of 2030 agenda and said that sustainable efforts will lead to the success of the implementation of the agenda. 

The delegation also included four sitting Members of Parliament, one former MP and two legislators from India.