The MA-SDP programme at the Department of Policy Studies at TERI University organized a one day event titled "Implementing SDGs in India: Challenges and Way Forward". The event brought together renowned academicians, bureaucrats, representatives from industry and development organizations, faculty, and students to deliberate upon the possibilities for sustained action towards implementing Sustainable Development Goals in India. The event was started with a welcome address by the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Leena Srivastava, who drew an analogy between the University and a four wheeler. She compared the wheels to University's administration, its engine to faculty members, its board of directors to the steering wheel, its sponsors and funding agencies to the car's accelerator and its academic programmes to the passengers. In his opening speech Dr. Jaco Cilliers (Country Director, UNDP India) emphasized that almost 35% of the goals are relevant to the Indian context and the world is looking at India with a lot of expectation in realizing the SDG goals. He summarized the 17 SDGs into 5 Ps, i.e. People, Prosperity, Planet, Partnership, and Peace, which are interconnected and interdependent on each other for the holistic achievement of SDGs. Highlighting some of the initiatives in this regard, he mentioned the rights based approach, thrust on key priorities and a focus on last mile service delivery as significant. Two panel discussions included specialists from different sectors including Mr. Nitin Desai (Former Under Secretary-General, United Nations), Prof. Surinder S Jodhka (CSSS, JNU), Mr. Ibrahim H Rehman (Senior Director, TERI), Ms. Neelima Khetan (Group CSR Head, Vedanta Resources Plc), Dr. Nisha Agrawal (CEO, OXFAM) and Prof. Preet Rustagi (IHD). The panelists highlighted the necessity for integration of perspectives, need to recognize the local perspectives, recognition of interlinkages among sectors, demand-side focus in financing, addressal of historically institutionalized inequalities, problems of data hindering evidence for action, need for rights based discourse, creation of opportunities for underprivileged and marginalized, need for partnership among public, private and civil society organizations and many more issues that are at the core of SDG implementation. The second half of the day saw encouraging participation from youth in poster and debate competitions. The event concluded with cultural event and an alumni get together, which charted some way forward for SDP alumni group with a common vision.

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Agenda