Rio de Janeiro

At the G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, India showcased its key initiatives, including the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission, and AMRUT, and reaffirmed its commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to water and sanitation. Leading India’s delegation, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Dammu Ravi, played a pivotal role in the discussions.

The meeting resulted in the adoption of the G20 Ministerial Call to Action, which emphasized enhancing global services for drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Secretary Ravi highlighted India’s proactive approach and its significant national programs aimed at improving sanitation and water access. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, launched in 2014, has greatly improved sanitation infrastructure, reducing open defecation and increasing access to sanitation facilities. The Jal Jeevan Mission, initiated in 2019, seeks to provide piped water to every household, especially in rural areas, by 2024. The AMRUT mission focuses on upgrading urban infrastructure, including water supply and sewage systems.

India also showcased its development cooperation efforts to support other developing nations in the Global South. Brazil, which holds the G20 presidency from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2024, will host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro on November 18-19. The G20 includes 19 countries—Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Russia, Turkey, the UK, and the US—plus the African Union and the European Union.