Praising India’s role, several nations said its strong support for development of nations in the global South was a reflection of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals

The international community along with the United Nations (UN) agencies on September 14 praised India’s participation and its role in the India-UN Development Partnership Fund on its third anniversary.

The nations lauded India’s role saying that the country’s strong support for development of nations in the global South is a reflection of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals, as per some media reports.

Speaking at the virtual commemoration of the 3rd anniversary of India-UNDP Fund, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador TS Tirumurti said India has always put cooperation over conflict, co-existence over the competition, sharing over receiving, plurality over hegemony and inclusivity and democracy over exclusion and control.

“India shuns any effort to impose conditionalities or to create indebtedness or to constrain developmental space for developing countries,” he said. He added by saying that sustainability has always been the focus of India’s developmental efforts.

India’s Permanent Mission to United Nations later took to twitter and wrote, “PR to UN @ambtstirumurti speaking at 3rd anniversary of @IndiaUNFund, says India gives priority to sustainability & demand-driven projects & shuns efforts to impose conditionalities or to create indebtedness or to constrain developmental space for developing countries,”


Pointing out nations which are taking undue advantage of COVID-19, he said that India’s answer to them is to continue to support vulnerable nations.

“PR to UN @ambtstirumurti at says when some countries are taking advantage of Covid to enhance terrorism or adopt aggressive policies, India’s answer is to rush medical supplies, strengthen national health capacity or mitigate socio-eco impacts on vulnerable countries,” India’s Permanent Mission to UN said in a tweet.

Executive Secretary Judith Karl of UNCDF also welcomed India’s leadership vision. “Executive Secretary Judith Karl of @UNCDF says proud to partner with @IndiaUNFund. Look forward to work with India and @UNOSSC, welcome India’s leadership and vision and look forward to continuing the collaboration,” India’s Permanent Mission to the UN tweeted.

The international community especially the developing nations including Nepal. Sri Lanka, Fiji and Palau also hailed India’s support in their development programmes.

According to a PTI report, Nepal told the virtual conference that it is a beneficiary of India’s generous assistance while appreciating India’s efforts on South-South cooperation, according to information from the Indian Mission.

Similarly, the Sri Lankan envoy to UN compared India's initiative to the values of Mahatma Gandhi while congratulating the Indian government leadership and dedication in the Fund which provides much-needed support for national development priorities of developing countries, the report said.

"The initiative of India reflects the values of Gandhi,” the Sri Lankan envoy said.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Palau to the United Nations Ngedikes Olai Uludong also appreciated the gesture of solidarity from India and the Fund saying that India is an important partner of Palau especially in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations Satyendra Prasad congratulated India saying that “Some of the most catalytic-innovative SDG investments are supported through this #South-South Partnership.” He took to twitter to reiterate the same.

Similarly, Special Advisor to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Africa, Cristina Duarte also congratulated India.

Many others also congratulated India on completing three glorious years of India-UNDP Fund.

The Fund was established in 2017 and has so far supported 59 projects in 48 countries by contributing $47.8 million from its multi-year pledge of $150 million.