Only 26.7 Percent below Poverty Line by 2015

However, she admitted that improved sanitation facilities remained a challenge for India.

The minister emphasized that India firmly believed that the focus on its post-2015 development agenda must remain focused on poverty eradication, as agreed to by all parties at the 'Rio+20' summit as the greatest of all global challenges.

"The most significant strength of the MDGs was their simplicity. Consequently, the post-2015 Agenda must be simple and practical and implementable. It is important not to overburden the agenda with a 'laundry list' of the world's problems," she said.

She said the post-2015 framework should apply both to developed and developing countries so as to create a more equitable set of responsibilities and obligations.

Purandeswari noted that it was also important to focus on a conducive global economic environment by rebuilding the global financial infrastructure.

The minister said it was important to distinguish between South-South Cooperation and North-South Flows.

"The two cannot be placed at the same pedestal nor can the same yardsticks be applied to evaluate the two. The rising contribution of the South must not be a premise for the North to withdraw from its obligations and commitments," Purandeswari said.

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