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culture can have a substantial impact on combating climate change, bolster economic growth, and contribute to peace and stability in societies around the world. Climate change is putting greater pressure on the resources and increasing risks associated with natural disasters. Target 2.4 poises to ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices for improved land and soil quality.
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
SDG 3 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. Target 3.9 aims to reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. Putting in place trunk
infrastructure lines for collection of wastewater in certain cities and STPs
in largely every city with higher degree of criticality in the Ganga basin has not only improved water pollution abate- ment but has also progressively and increasingly reduced the likely impact of water-borne diseases in the geography.
SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 4 envisages inclusive and quality education for all. The target related
to skill development (4.4) have been addressed under the Namami Gange programme through a cadre of ‘Ganga Mitra’ that focuses on leveraging their eco-skills and capacity building in reju- venation efforts of Ganga and its biodi- versity. It has been ensured that skilled labourers and artisans get access to
gainful employment upon completion of their vocational training. Collaboration with the Rural Development Depart- ments has been established to provide work under Mahatma Gandhi Nation-
al Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) for rejuvenation of ponds and construction of toilets in the basin area. A team of dedicated Ganga Task Force has been put in place by raising a 529-member Territorial Army Unit, for four years, to support in patrolling of ghats and river, public outreach, affores- tation, water quality testing, etc. among other pursuits. Finally, the Human Resource Development department has been on-boarded to raise environment literacy among common masses in
1438 Gram Panchayats in the five states of Ganga main-stem, which ensures
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