Global South needs focus: PM Modi

The countries of the Global South are most adversely impacted by the food, fuel and fertiliser crisis caused by global conflicts and G20 must give primacy to their concerns and priorities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in an address on the first day of the 19^th G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Key-highlights of the Summit

• The 2024 Summit’s theme is ‘Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet’.
• PM Modi attended the 19th G20 Summit as a member of the Troika. India is part of the G20 Troika along with Brazil and South Africa.
• On the sidelines of the summit, PM Modi engaged in bilateral discussions with various national leaders, including those from the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Indonesia, Norway and Portugal.
• India’s G20 Presidency:Last year, India’s successful presidency elevated the G-20 to people’s G-20 and mainstreamed the priorities of the Global South into its agenda.
  • Induction of the 55-nation African Union as a permanent member of the G20 and managing to produce a leaders' declaration overcoming deep divisions over the Ukraine conflict were seen as major milestones of India's G20 presidency last year.

Major Points made by PM Modi

• PM Modi highlighted how nations in the Global South face severe challenges from food, fuel and fertiliser shortages resulting from ongoing conflicts. During the session 'Social Inclusion and the Fight Against Hunger and Poverty', he highlighted the importance of reforming international institutions, stating that the G20 would strive towards this goal.
• India’s initiatives to deal with hunger and poverty
  • India had pulled 250 million people out of poverty in the last 10 years and was distributing free foodgrains to 800 million people in the country. 
  • Around 550 million people are benefiting from the world’s biggest health insurance scheme.
  • Under the world’s largest crop insurance scheme, over 40 million farmers have received benefits worth 20 billion US dollars. Under the farmers scheme, assistance worth over 40 billion dollars has been given to 110 million farmers.
  • Institutional credit worth 300 billion US dollars is being given to farmers.
  • India is not only ensuring food security but also focusing on nutrition.
  • India believes in the approaches of 'Back to Basics' and 'March to Future.' That is why the country is emphasising on organic farming, popularising millets (known as Shree Anna in India) and encouraging climate-resilient crop varieties.

What is Global South?

• The concept of the Global South emerged to designate developing, emerging or lower-income countries, mostly in the southern hemisphere, and replace the term "Third World" after the 1945-90 Cold War.
• Global South includes a group of developing countries with diverse values, cultural traditions, development levels, and interests, mainly covering regions such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
• In recent years, these countries have made significant progress in economic growth, technological innovation, environmental protection, and international cooperation, gradually becoming an important part of the global trend toward multipolarity, representing the collective rise of developing countries.
• However, the Global South is facing issues like energy and food crises and the impact of the recession on the global economy. 

India’s approach to Global South

• India, over the years played a catalytic role in reshaping the vision of the Global South. 
• India provides a voice to the Global South Movement.
• Whether on the question of climate change, energy transition, taking a stand on normative issues or protecting the Global South's interest, India played a proactive role in international forums over the years. 
• At various climate Summits, India resisted the onslaught from the Global North and protected the interest of the Global South be it on the question of climate financing, limiting the emission norms, or highlighting the Global North’s responsibility as the historical polluter.