Dharma ‘धर्म’ Framework for Decision-Making and Governance to Implement SDGs: Bhārat’s Imprint

The existing anthropogenic frameworks of governance based on the foundation of monetary valuation of Nature as resource are not sustainable. In light of this, the ‘Dharma Framework for Decision-making and Governance (DFDG)’ explores the living spirit of intricate, intertwined, and embedded relation of humans with Nature that constructs plural-assimilative identity (P-AI). The P-AI guides human agent to become prolific coordinator between community, state, and market agencies, rather than a competitor. The Trimurti of Dharma, namely, Samanya Dharma (सामान्य धर्म), Visesha Dharma (विशेष धर्म), and Svadharma (स्वधर्म), when followed in this order by the human agent with P-AI at its core, steers decision-making process to prioritise Nature’s wellbeing first, followed by organising principles of agencies, that is organic precursor to individual welfare. This theorisation has direct implications for policy design by having effective engagement with community, process-oriented implementation by state and less friction with market actors, for achieving earth’s wellbeing in general and the SDGs target in specific.