Involve developing countries in MDG, Speaker tells UN chief

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon who is on an India trip Friday met Meira Kumar during which the Lok Sabha speaker asked him to involve developing countries in the consultation process with regard to the millennium development goals (MDG).

"The developed countries should try to fulfill commitments towards developing countries, as stipulated under Goal 8 under the MDGs, so as to achieve the goals by 2015," Meira Kumar told Ban.

While referring to India's commendable success in consolidating its stature as the largest working democracy of the world, she said: "Democratic ethos and representative institutions have been strengthened over the years in India, despite several odds."

"It is a matter of great satisfaction that the people of India have time and again reaffirmed their unwavering faith in preserving the democratic system."

Meira Kumar also made a mention of India's "remarkable achievements" in the fields of public health, women empowerment, literacy, and other areas of social development.

"India is making sincere efforts for the realization of the MDGs set in 2000," she said.

Meira Kumar informed the UN secretary general that the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha would be celebrating the 60 th anniversary of their first sittings on May 13, 2012.

"Though the period of 60 years is not a long time in the life of a nation, it is certainly a crucial formative period for a young democracy," she said.

She referred to several legislative and policy measures made in India to achieve sustainable and inclusive development for its people and highlighted the focus of policy making authorities to ensure that the benefits of progress percolated down to the last man.

She also called upon the developing world to engage in a partnership with India in this endeavour.

Meira Kumar also mentioned India's "pioneering role in the UN for checking the menace of terrorism" and stressed that every effort should be made to wipe out this scourge which continues to challenge peace and stability all over the world.

Ban lauded India's important role in the UN as well as at the other international fora and praised the stellar role of the Indian forces, especially women officers, in the UN peacekeeping operations.