Table of Contents
May 10, 2024 | 
Nidhi Bhasin
“Unless we act now, the 2030 Agenda will become an epitaph for a world that might have been,” says UN Secretary-General António Guterres. These words echo the urgency embedded in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a shared blueprint for peace and progress adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015. Comprising 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the goals serve as a compelling narrative for collaboration and concerted efforts to address the world’s most pressing challenges.
The SDGs present both formidable challenges and unprecedented opportunities for businesses, governments, and communities in India and worldwide. It is crucial to acknowledge that the decline in SDG progress is not confined to specific regions; it is a universal concern that demands collective attention.
The pursuit of the SDGs presents a multifaceted challenge for India and the global community. Let’s understand the complex nature of roadblocks we are up against while driving any far-reaching and meaningful change in India.
One major challenge that persists is infrastructural roadblocks. Rapid urbanization and digitalization widens the digital divide making it critical to address the gaps in infrastructure and digital accessibility. As per the National Family Health Survey (2019-21), only one in three women in India (33%) have ever used the internet, compared to more than half (57%) of men. Rural India faces an even more pronounced divide, with men twice as likely as women to have used the internet (49% vs 25%). Additionally, institutional challenges like restrictive laws and conservative social norms limit innovation crucial for SDG achievement. Addressing these demands, revisiting legal frameworks to foster innovation and a cultural shift towards endorsing risk-taking, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Creating a supportive environment that celebrates innovation is essential for SDG progress.
The absence of robust networks and collaboration among various stakeholders poses a significant obstacle to achieving the goals. This lack of engagement hampers the sharing of best practices, innovative solutions, and lessons learned, hindering progress toward sustainable development. Overcoming these network roadblocks necessitates fostering strong partnerships, encouraging dialogue, and facilitating platforms for information sharing and collaboration.
Another key challenge includes the lack of competencies and resources that impedes the use, adoption, and creation of new knowledge and technology. A recent NSSO survey assessing digital skill levels among Indian youth aged 15-29 paints a disconcerting picture, with only 27.5% of the population classified as “digitally skilled.” Insufficient expertise limits the application of innovative solutions crucial for sustainable development, slowing down the adoption of new technologies. Addressing this requires investments in skill development and resources, enabling communities to leverage innovation effectively and accelerate progress toward the SDGs.
Despite considerable strides, persistent issues such as entrenched gender inequality, digital divide, poverty and inadequate healthcare access also remain significant hurdles.
These challenges can be tackled through the intersectionality of technology that makes it a force multiplier and holds promise for progress. In India, digitalization has sparked a revolutionary transformation to empower individuals, enhance data accessibility, and promote inclusivity. And as the next 7 years become crucial, the realization that technology is a key deciding factor in determining whether the UN SDGs are met or not, is becoming irrefutable. According to a World Economic Forum report, over 70% of the SDG’s 136 targets could be enabled by technology applications already in deployment. For this to happen, the following enablers are critical to leverage the potential of technological innovation:
Technology, driven by initiatives like Digital India and Aadhaar, has reshaped businesses and daily life in India. This digital revolution has spurred e-commerce, financial inclusion, and access to information, creating new opportunities and accelerating economic activity. Leveraging technology in aspirational districts can bridge infrastructure gaps, enhance digital literacy, and foster sustainable development, contributing to economic growth.
Breaking socio-economic barriers, particularly in rural and tier 2 and 3 cities, is key to achieving the SDGs. Technology facilitates education through online platforms, connects remote communities, promotes economic growth, civic engagement for marginalized groups, skill development, and employment opportunities. Embracing inclusive design principles ensures accessibility for individuals with disabilities, creating a more equitable society.
The Nitro boost in the race to SDGs:
Social innovation offers inventive technological solutions to societal issues, empowering local communities and aligning interventions with diverse needs. Prioritizing sustainability and scalability, these innovations aim for enduring impacts adaptable to various situations, contributing significantly to multiple SDGs. Partnerships among private entities, NGOs, and governments drive equity and extend development initiatives to marginalized groups.
Finally, collaborative efforts, united by a shared goal of leveraging technology for positive change, are crucial for SDG achievement. Bringing together expertise from governments, businesses, NGOs, academia, and communities allows for comprehensive problem-solving. A collective perspective on using digital innovation, data-driven solutions, and connectivity tools amplifies efforts to advance the SDGs.
The last word remains that the integration of technology, along with concerted collaborative efforts, can accelerate progress in education, climate action, poverty and the role of data and digital technologies in achieving at least 70% of the 169 SDG targets. It requires a sense of urgency and a united front from various stakeholders – government, organizations, communities, and individuals- leveraging effective strategies, policies, and initiatives to accelerate the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
