Picture Source = https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/sustainable-development-goals/   The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the shared blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges faced which include poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice. The SDGs aim to transform our world. The 17 Goals were adopted by all United Nations Member States in September 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and sets out a 15-year plan to achieve the Goals and their related targets. The 17 Goals are interconnected, apply to all countries, and need to be carried out by all stakeholders – governments, private sector, civil society, the United Nations and others, in a collaborative partnership. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals in brief are as under:​   SDG-1: No Poverty:  To ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to use economic resources, as well as to access basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services.   SDG-2: Zero Hunger: To ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help ...

Picture source = https://www.plantaeparadise.com/Echinopsis-hybrid-p543258858   (बतकही/ प्रसंग)   फूलों की दुकान का मुआयना करती रूतु की सरसरी नजरें कंटीली नागफनी की खूबसूरती पर जा कर अटक गईं और अब नागफनी का वो नन्हा पौधा उसके शयनकक्ष की सजीवता को बढ़ा रहा था। वस्तुतः रूतु गई तो थी फूल के पौधे लेने पर उसने कंटीली नागफनी में ज्यादा अपनापन पाया। रूतु को नागफनी अपनी फ़ितरत से मिलती-जुलती सी लगी तो उसे संग ले आई। लंबे अरसे से सिरहाने पड़ा खाली तिपाया उसे कचोट रहा था। वैसे भी कहने वाले से ज्यादा उसे सुनने वाले की जरूरत थी - एक मौन श्रोता !   नागफनी (कैक्टस) को सामान्यतः घर के अंदर क्या, घर के आस-पास भी देखना पसंद नहीं किया जाता है, पर  "रूतु" उसे अपने घर के अंदर ही नहीं बल्कि अपने शयनकक्ष में रखने के लिए खरीद लाई थी। "नागफनी" - खाद/पानी व देखभाल के बिना भी जीवित रहने की कूवत रखती है। अपनी जिजीविषा को खुद में समेटे, संरक्षित किए - काफी हद तक आत्मनिर्भर ! कांटों के खूबसूरत लिबास में इठलाती हुई,  और ... कांटे भी तेज़, धारदार, नुकीले और तीखे।   वास्तव में ये कांटे नागफनी की पत्तियां हैं, जो कि कांटों में तब्दील हो गई हैं - ...

"Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" comprising of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was adopted by 193 countries of the UN General Assembly at the Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015. SDGs include important elements like ‘no poverty”, ‘zero hunger’, ‘quality education’, ‘clean energy’ etc. India along with other countries signed the declaration on the 2030 Agenda and the NITI Ayog, the apex body of GOI in co-ordination with State Governments is making all out efforts to achieve the targets under the SDGs. Given the diverse socio-economic scenario of India, holistic achievement of SDGs will require collective efforts and active participation of all business sectors in the country.  The step taken by SEBI for mandatory non-financial disclosure by listed company (ies) in BRSR format w.e.f. FY 2022-23 is a significant step for sustainable business practices. The BRSR format has been designed as per National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC-2019) which has nine principles (P1 to P9) aligning business module to incorporate all the 17 SDGs.  It is envisaged that such business modules aligned with SDGs will go a long way in transforming the economic development processes in India. The mandatory disclosure will enable companies to review ...