Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Piyush Goyal has said that the quality consciousness in the people and awareness of the consumers of the country for quality, created through to the efforts of this government, will help give a new direction to the country.

He was speaking on the eve of World Standards Day at the event, ‘Shared Vision for a Better World: Standards for Sustainable Development Goals, organized by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today. Shri Goyal said that the mindset on quality brought about due to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reflected in the world class infrastructure that is being created in the country, and Bharat Mandalam is a living example of this. He pointed out that the country earned a huge respect globally when it hosted the G20 Summit in this world class facility.

Speaking on the initiatives of BIS, Shri Goyal said that there are over seven thousand BIS Standards Clubs today and about 2 lakh students have benefited from this initiative. He said that BIS has a target of establishing 10 thousand such clubs by next year. The new videos and books on quality issues that are being created, some of which were unveiled today, and the connect with the people till the level of Panchayats that is being attempted on these issues, will give rich results in days to come, he said.

Shri Goyal pointed out that Department of Consumer Affairs touches the lives of each and every citizen of the country. The ecosystem of Standards has expanded in recent years to include almost all sectors including agriculture, roads, health care etc, all states and private sector, he said, adding that we will all work on the vision of zero effect, zero defect of Prime Minister to reach our goals.

The event was also graced with the presence of Shri Ashwani Kumar Chaubey, the Hon’ble Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, Smt. Nidhi Khare, Special Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs and Shri Pramod Kumar Tiwari, Director General, Bureau of Indian Standards.

World Standards Day is observed every year on October 14th and highlights the collaboration between the leading International Standards Organizations. The chosen theme for World Standards Day in 2023 is "Shared Vision for a Better World: Incorporating Sustainable Development Goal (SDG3) for Good Health and Well-Being." SDG 3 aims to improve global health by reducing maternal and child mortality, combating major diseases, and ensuring access to essential healthcare services. It emphasizes universal health coverage and the importance of quality care without financial hardship. Through preventive measures, vaccinations, and better healthcare infrastructure, SDG 3 strives to create a healthier world that benefits individuals, communities, and nations. It also aims to provide access to safe, effective, and affordable medicines and vaccines for all. Achieving the goals of SDG 3 requires collaboration, innovative solutions, and addressing global health disparities.

This theme highlights the importance of fostering a united vision to create a more sustainable and inclusive world that prioritizes the well-being and good health of all individuals. The event also serves as a platform to recognize the collective endeavours of countless experts worldwide who contribute to the field of standardization, while also providing an opportunity to reflect on the path ahead.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) commemorated the World Standards Day by organising a wide range of consumer centric activities across the country through its robust network of regional and branch offices spread across India. The key activities conducted as part of the celebrations of the World Standards Day 2023 included - Quality Connect programs also known as Youth-to-Youth Connect, Manak Mahotsav, household connect, where they visited households to promote awareness about the BIS care app and BIS standards.

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