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The NITI Aayog’s Report on Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) covering 120 districts of eight north-eastern states has revealed very slow progress in Assam in achieving important SDGs. The district-wise data of SDG Index and Dashboard of eight north-eastern states show that districts in Assam are lagging behind many districts of other north-eastern states in important SDG goals. This is despite the fact Assam pioneered in formulating its SDG vision in July 2016, immediately after the adoption of 2030 goal for sustainable development by Members States of United Nations in 2015.
The NITI Aayog published the “North Eastern Region District SDG Index and Dashboard Baseline Report” in August 2021.
Only one district of Assam ranked third in the list of top-five performing districts in respect of first five SDG goals that include no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education and gender equality.
In list of “good performer” in ‘no poverty’ category, the first SDG goal-- two districts of Sikkim-- East Sikkim and South Sikkim ranked first and third. Two districts of Mizoram--Serchhip and Champhai were placed in the second and fifth rank. Kamrup (Metropolitan) district of Assam ranked fourth.
In ‘zero hunger’, the second SDG goal, top five good performer districts include Phek (Nagaland) , Bishnupur (Manipur), Peren (Nagaland), Champhai (Mizoram), Imphal West (Manipur) and Kohima (Nagaland), according to the Report.
In ‘good health and well-being’, the third SDG goal is top five good performer districts include Champhai (Mizoram), East Sikkim (Sikkim), North Sikkim (Sikkim),Upper Siang (Arunachal Pradesh) , East Siang (Arunachal Pradesh) and Saiha (Mizoram).
Top five performing districts in ‘quality education’ category- the fourth SDG goal include Aizawl (Mizoram), Kolasib (Mizoram), East Sikkim (Sikkim), Champhai (Mizoram), Serchhip (Mizoram), West Sikkim (Sikkim).
Photo- nezine.com
Significantly, five districts of Arunachal Pradesh including Anjaw, Pakke Kessang, Shi Yomi, Tirap, East Kameng and Longding have been ranked in the list of top five performing district in ‘gender equality’, the fifth SDG goal. Similarly, despite poor performances in top five SDGs for North East India, six districts including Kamrup(Metropolitan), Morigaon, Hailakandi, Jorhat, Nagaon, Nalbari of Assam have been ranked from first to sixth in respect of ninth SDG goal--‘industry, innovation and infrastructure’.
In SDG 11 that sets the goal for sustainable cities and communities, five districts of Tripura topped the list. The districts are North Tripura, Dhalai, Sepahijala, Unakoti and Gomati. It is interesting to note that 12 districts from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Sikkim share the first rank in SDG 15 that is “life on land.”
In ‘clean water and sanitation’, the sixth SDG goal Kolasib of Mizoram, Lower Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh, Kohima of Nagaland, Mamit of Mizoram, and North Sikkim district of Sikkim topped the first five districts.
In affordable and clean energy category--the seventh SDG goal Aizawl of Mizoram, Imphal West of Manipur, East Sikkim of Sikkim, Kolasib of Mizoram and, Kamrup Metropolitan topped the first five performer districts.
In decent work and economic growth— the eighth SDG goal, Papum Pare and West Siang of Arunachal Pradesh ranked first two districts. In this category, East Sikkim of Sikkim ranked third, West Kameng of Arunachal Pradesh ranked fourth, while West Tripura of Tripura ranked fifth.
Four districts of Meghalaya including South West Khasi Hills, East Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills, and West Khasi Hills district ranked in top five districts in the category of SDG Goal 10, that is ‘reduced inequalities.’ In this category Bishnupur district of Manipur ranked second.
Two districts of Assam -Udalguri and Karbi Anglong ranked in the first two positions while three districts of Tripura including Unakoti ,Gomati and South Tripura occupied the rest positions of SDG goal no 12-- ‘responsible consumption and production.
In climate action goal, which is SDG 13, four districts of Meghalaya including West Jaintia Hills, South Garo Hills, East Garo Hills and West Garo Hills; two districts from Assam including Darrang and Sivasagar and Mokokchung of Nagaland topped the first five districts initiating action to resist climate change factors.
The SDG 16 stands for “peace, justice and strong institutions’ and Lepa Rada district of Arunachal Pradesh topped the ranks while Serchhip, Mamit, Champai and Aizwal districts of Mizoram were placed in second, third and fifth rank. Churachandpur district of Manipur was placed in the fourth rank of in this category.
In 2015 all United Nations Member States collectively adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which provides “a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.”
This global partnership includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of these life below water (SDG 14) and partnership to achieve the goal (SDG 17) are not applicable in North East India.
“The NER District SDG Index is the first of its kind in the country as the metrics and methodology are customised for the region and progress measured at the district level. The index and the dashboard have features of state-wise, district-wise and SDG-wise comparability. The indicators used in the calculation of the index have been derived through a rigorous consultative process with the States”, writes Sanyukta Samaddar, Adviser (SDG), National Institution for Transforming India in the report.
NITI Aayog has been releasing three editions of SDG index in India since 2018 to measure development status in social, economic and environmental sectors in all the states and union territories. The SDG index 2020-21 has revealed that among the 28 states, three North Eastern States have ranked below 20, and another three ranked between 15 to 20. Sikkim, at 8th is the top ranked amongst NE States and is the best performing state, according to the report.
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