Statement by India during the 25th Session of the International Governmental Working Group on the Right to Development (13-17 May 2024) delivered by Mr. K.S. Mohammed Hussain, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India, Geneva, 15 May 2024

Item 4.2: The interrelationship between the right to development and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Mr. Chair Rapporteur, 

1. Indian delegation thanks the experts for their very useful presentations. 

2. The Right to Development is not merely about economic development: social and cultural dimensions are also an integral part of this right. As provided in the Declaration on the Right to Development, development is a comprehensive economic, social, cultural and political process, which aims at the constant improvement of the well-being of the entire population and of all individuals. 

Mr. Chair Rapporteur, 

3. Indian Constitution indeed makes a strong commitment to promoting the well being and development of all its citizens. How it has been worked and how the economic, social, cultural and political rights enshrined in the Constitution have been translated into action is a great success story.

4. Indian Constitutional scheme for the realisation of the socio-economic development of its citizens comprises of both the justiciable Fundamental Rights as well as the non-justiciable Directive Principles. The judicial contribution to the synthesis and integration of the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles has been crucial to the realisation of the Directive Principles not only as a means to effectuate Fundamental Rights but also as sources of law for a welfare state.

5. Government of India has been successfully implementing several schemes for the socio economic development aimed at “no one is left behind” from addressing basic needs, poverty elimination, public and personal health, education and job skills, financial inclusion and empowerment, to development of infrastructure and logistics, and  capital and technology. 

Mr. Chair Rapporteur, 

Sustainable, equity-based, and inclusive development generates greater social justice and reduces exploitation and inequalities.  RTD and economic, social and cultural rights have a mutually reinforcing role: implementing one right will support the realisation of other rights. 

Thank you.