Centre's schemes will help India achieve SDG before time: Swaraj

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj expressed confidence that India will fulfill the Sustained Development Goals (SDG) well ahead of the stipulated deadlines, backed by the slew of measures announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has initiated unprecedented economic and social transformation that will help India achieve its sustainable development goals much before time," she said while delivering her statement at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Speaking on the importance given to women empowerment in India, Swaraj said all schemes implemented by the government are centered around welfare of women as they are based on the idea that 'the uplift of any nation is best achieved through the all-round empowerment of women.'

"Ayushman Bharat has been launched in India by Prime Minister Modi on September 23. Under this scheme, 50 crore people will be given Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for medical treatment. The world's biggest financial inclusion scheme - Jan Dhan Yojana- has been started in India. Under this scheme, bank accounts of 32,61,00,000 people have been opened. These people hadn't even seen the doors of a bank. Working women are provided with salaries as well as a paid maternity leave of 26 weeks, while some countries are still struggling with the same," she explained.

Swaraj continued: "All of these schemes are centered around our Prime Minister's vision that if poverty needs to be eradicated, empowerment of women is essential."

The External Affairs Minister also congratulated María Fernanda Espinosa Garces on assuming the position of President of the 73rd Session of the UNGA, a chair which was first occupied by India's Vijayalakshmi Pandit in 1953.