In the first plenary session on ‘Life, Value and Development Transformation’ on the first day of the two-day Think-20 programme at the G-20, Professor Dennis J Snover said in the keynote address that India, while leading the G-20, has the power to infuse new energy into the world based on established high values. Presiding over the session, Dr Rajeev Kumar, President of First India Foundation and former Vice-Chairman of Niti Aayog, Government of India, said that keeping in mind the values, we have to move towards progress by walking on the path of development.

Keynote speaker Professor Dennis said that people of the society should get the benefit of the available resources. In the race for development, we should always remember that we are also social creatures. Our social values will help us in all this. Dominant countries use their power to influence the global market, which promotes inequality. The need of the hour is that we make policies human-centric because equality is essential. G-20 is mainly an organisation based on economic activities. Along with the economic environment, we also have to pay attention to the social environment. We have to move forward with values by adopting far-reaching thinking, which includes the welfare of society, nation and the world, rather than keeping our thinking person-centered. Our life values should be a part of our life journey and not the destination. Value-based understanding makes us better and happier.

The Chairman of the session, Dr Rajeev Kumar, said that the participation of the society is very important for the establishment of ‘global good governance with environment-friendly lifestyle, moral values and piety’. He said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is constantly promoting the concept of the country’s culture ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ at the global level. Conducting the session, he said in the end that the values of life have to be established at every level. Work will have to be done keeping in view your wishes and aspirations in the overall interest. Every individual has to determine his role in the larger interest. We have to keep our thinking of global level. Many of the challenges faced by us at present can be faced only by developing a value based society.

Centre for Professional Ethics UCLan, United Kingdom and Director of the School of Law, UCLon, Cyprus Director Prof. Doris Shcroeder started her address with Namaste. She appreciated the efforts being made by the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for environment protection. She appreciated the value based way of life in Indian culture. She said that the G-20 faces many challenges.

Chairman, Task Force 6 of Think-20 India and Visiting Fellow, RIS, New Delhi, G A Tadas said that the G-20 includes various nations, both developed and developing. We have to increase the resources to achieve our goals by the year 2030. The race for development has been affected by corona pandemic. We have to make progress keeping in mind the values on the path of development.

Dr Mario Pezzini, former director of the OECD Development Centre, Paris, said that there are many problems in different countries of the world. In such a situation, there is a need for social transformation. We should not look at development only from the perspective of GDP, but have to work according to Gross Environment Productivity (GEP). Professor Riatu Qibthiyyah, Director of the Institute of Economic and Social Research, University of Indonesia, said that we are all looking towards Prime Minister Modi and India. India has got a better opportunity to share the innovations being done in the country with the world.

Lead Chair Professor Li Xiaoyan, Agricultural University of China stressed the need to address the growing disparity between rural and urban areas. She emphasised the need for everyone to get equal opportunities for life.

Dr Iqbal Singh Sewiya, Director, Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) Singapore, said that industrial revolutions have changed the world. Research should be done with a view to develop systems using technology with life values. We cannot separate technology from life values.

Views of other guests: In the ideological programme of the Think 20 meeting of G-20, Suman Berry, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, Government of India said that thinkers from all over the world will present their views on the importance of environment-friendly lifestyle and moral values. NITI Aayog has co-operated in organising this ideological session in Madhya Pradesh to convey the message of Ekatma (unity), public participation, compassion, harmony, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family) and environment-friendly lifestyle. Prime Minister Modi is popularising the idea of One Earth, One Family and One Future.