Describing B.R. Ambedkar as a global “icon” for marginalised people, a top UN official has voiced the world body’s commitment to working closely with India to help realise the noted Indian social reformer’s vision of empowerment and social and economic equality.
“On behalf of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), I commend India on celebrating this important anniversary at the UN,” UNDP Administrator Helen Clark said in her keynote address at a special event organised by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN to commemorate Ambedkar’s birth anniversary for the first time at the world body.
“We are committed to continuing our very close partnership with India to help realise the vision of the 2030 Agenda and ensure that Ambedkar’s vision becomes reality for the poor and marginalised around the world,” said Helen Clark who is among the candidates for the post of the next UN Secretary General.
The 125th birth anniversary of the principal architect of India’s Constitution was observed yesterday at the world body.
The event was organised in association with civil society advocacy groups Kalpana Saroj Foundation and Foundation of Human Horizon.
Ms. Clark who is Chair of the UN Development Group, addressed a packed audience of diplomats, scholars and Ambedkar’s followers and said the occasion commemorates the “legacy of a very great man” who understood that “rising and persistent inequalities” pose fundamental challenges to the economic and social well-being of nations and people.
Emphasising that Ambedkar’s ideals are as relevant today as they were 60 years ago, former New Zealand prime minister Ms. Clark said his work on the empowerment and inclusion of excluded groups, reform of labour laws and promotion of education for all “made him an icon for marginalised people in India and in other countries”.
On the occasion, a panel discussion on ‘Combating inequalities for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals’ was also organised featuring Professor Stan Kachnowski and Associate Professor Anupama Rao from Ambedkar’s alma mater Columbia University and Harvard University lecturer Christopher Queen.
Ms. Clark said reducing inequalities and discrimination in all their forms, the cornerstone of Ambedkar’s vision and work, is also at the “heart” of the new development agenda the world has committed to achieving by 2030, adding that Ambedkar had a “deep understanding” of the far-reaching measures that are needed to address inequalities.
“When groups of people are prevented from fully accessing resources, markets, basic services like health and education, and the forums through which their voices can be heard in policy-making processes, the result is entrenched inequality. That is the situation faced by disadvantaged groups in many countries,” she said.
Outlining the measures needed to “achieve” Ambedkar’s vision of equality, Ms. Clark said there is need to promote inclusive and sustainable growth and governance that responds to the needs of the poorest and most marginalised.
“The benefits of growth need to be shared across society. This calls for economic and social policies which prioritise lifting the incomes and circumstances of poor and marginalised groups at a higher rate than the national average,” she said.
“To eradicate poverty, it is imperative to address inequality in all dimensions,” she said.
On the occasion, a 14-minute video on the life, struggles and vision of Ambedkar was also screened.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said traces of Ambedkar’s vision can be found in the universal and transformative 2030 Development Agenda, adopted last year at the world body by global leaders.
Outlining the “commonality” of vision between Ambedkar and the SDGs, Mr. Akbaruddin said both focus on reducing inequality and achieving gender equality.
Ambedkar fashioned a pluralistic and inclusive Indian Constitution guaranteeing equal opportunity and freedom of expression and provided for special provisions for women’s equality both in formal and sustainable senses in India’s constitution, he added.
He said Ambedkar “braved the walls” of prejudice and discrimination in early 20th century India to emerge as an “exemplar and unflinching” crusader against social inequities and economic deprivation that afflicted millions of Indians.
“He was a modern day giant whose life and philosophy is a profile of courage and conviction; a reformer who strides in the league of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela as a champion of the down trodden and a conscience keeper,” the Indian envoy said.
Ms. Clark stressed that it is important to tackle biases that are found across legal systems, institutions and social norms “which are the systemic drivers of discrimination and inequality”.
