‘SDGs? What’s that got to do with me? It’s so complex….so many statements and complex terms.’

That is probably how most people would react. But just take a pause and give yourself time to reflect on them a bit more. And you will find they are not so removed from your life! What are the SDGs after all? They are 17 goals and aspirations (broken up further into 169 targets) that we have set for ourselves, in the quest for a better world for tomorrow!

There can be no arguing that all of us want that! But how do we get there? The goals have been finalised in the august rooms of the UN. So shall we leave it to the bureaucrats, the politicians, the diplomats, the technocrats to achieve them?

No way! These are far too important! And especially for the youth. Because they aim to make the world a better place by 2030, when most of you would be in the prime of your life. So if there is any segment of the world which should be concerned with the SDGs, it is the youth. Because it is your world they are aiming to shape!

Now your question would be: ‘Ok, I agree. But what can I do?’

I will take the example of one random target under one random goal, and let’s try to see what you, as youth, can do.

Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

6.3 By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimising release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.

Let us look at some ways a young person could operationalise this target in her/his various capacities/roles.

a. As an individual: Maybe you could ensure that you use more eco-friendly washing powders and cleaning materials; that you don’t use chemical pesticides and fertilizers in your garden; that you use recycled water where you can at home.

b. As a member of the community: You would have many roles in this capacity.

• To educate and create awareness in your neighbourhood, in your housing society in your college by using word of mouth, street plays, flash mobs, twitter, facebook etc.

• To take responsibility for some action - maybe be part of putting up a STP in your housing colony and take responsibility for its proper functioning.

• And third, as the hub for knowledge, skills, technology. You could keep abreast of developments in the field and bring that information to the decision makers in your communities-whether your neighbourhood, your institution, your city.

c. As a professional: Critical impacts can come from the decisions you take as a professional. And all of you would in fact soon be in the world of work. For instance, if you are an engineer or a manager and are planning a project, pollution has to be upper-most in your mind. If you integrate triple bottom line thinking (profit, planet and people) into your job, you would plan the project such that it does not pollute, rather than focus only on productivity and profits. So ask yourself ‘Are we being proactive in ensuring that we don’t pollute the water?’

You could take other targets out of the 169 and try to do a similar exercise. And very quickly you will realise that it is no different from a lesson in good citizenship! The SDGs are really about conscious living - about being considerate of other people, the community, the environment and the planet. No rocket science there!

And most important, to once again quote Gandhi: Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it. ■

Meena Raghunathan
Director, Community Services, GMR Varalakshmi Foundation
Meena.Raghunathan@gmrgroup.in