Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today called upon the South Asian countries for peace in the region, saying it is essential for sustainable development.
"There should be peace, peace, peace...Then only there would be development," she said while delivering the inaugural address at South Asia Speakers' Summit which was skipped by Pakistan.
The two-day summit on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is being attended by speakers and delegates from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Nepal.
"India and its Parliament are committed to working with the international community to craft an ambitious, comprehensive and equitable development agenda with poverty eradication at its core," she said.
Pitching for inclusive economic growth to reduce the widening gap between the rich and the poor, Mahajan said development at the cost of culture is not sustainable.
Quoting BJP ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay, she said integral humanism is the basis for development as it espouses indigenous economic model that puts the human being at the center stage.
"First and foremost is the citizen. No development is possible and sustainable unless it has a human face," Mahajan said.
The Lok Sabha Speaker said India is expected to incur an expenditure of about USD 565 billion per annum approximately in the next 15 years to achieve SDGs.
"This would require help from all possible quarters, including the developed countries and international institutions," she added.
"There is little doubt that we have overcome many political, social and economic challenges in the past century and are marching towards a better future," she said adding, "However, resource limitation is a challenge all of our respective governments are grappling with."
The SDGs have set global priorities for progress of humanity and emphasis on achieving balance between the three pillars of economic growth, social development and environmental protection, she said.
Stressing on the role of parliamentarians as the bridge between people and their government, the eight-time MP said, "As elected representatives, it is our duty to ensure that our respective governments take concrete measures for realising these sustainable development goals."
On the issue of discrimination against girl child, she said there is an urgent need for continuous efforts to promote the welfare of the girl child.
Elimination of child marriage, access to reproductive healthcare facilities and overall emphasis on hygiene and personal care of women are some of the critical areas which are needed to be focused on, she added.
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