New Delhi: Kerala retained the top rank in 2019 while Bihar was adjudged as the worst performer in Niti Aayog’s Index for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) which evaluates progress of States and Union Territories on social, economic and environmental parameters, as per a report released Monday.
According to ‘SDG India Index 2019’, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim have shown maximum improvement, but states like Gujarat have not shown any progress vis-a-vis the 2018 rankings.
“Kerala retained its rank as the top state with a score of 70. Chandigarh too maintained its top spot among the UTs with a score of 70. Himachal Pradesh took the second spot while Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana shared the third spot,” the report said.
Bihar, Jharkhand and Arunachal Pradesh are the worst performing states in this year’s Index for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The United Nations’ SDG target of 2030 can never be met without India… We are fully committed to achieving UN’s SDG target,” Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said at the launch of the report.
Speaking at the event, Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar said southern states have done well in health.
“West Bengal (rank 14) has also done well in Niti Aayog’s SDG Index 2019, but given the education level (in the state), West Bengal should be in top three performing states,” Kumar added.
The Niti Aayog vice chairman also said Modi government will not leave any stone unturned to make sure India achieves SDG Agenda 2030.
According to the report, India’s composite score improved from 57 in 2018 to 60 in 2019 with major success in water and sanitation, industry and innovation. However, nutrition and gender continue to be problem areas, requiring more focussed approach from the government.
With regard to poverty reduction, states which have done well include Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Sikkim. On ‘zero hunger’ parameters, Goa, Mizoram, Kerala, Nagaland and Manipur were the front runners, according to the report.
The SDG India Index, launched last year by Niti Aayog with the help of United Nations, took into account 16 out of 17 goals specified by the United Nations as SDGs. The Index this year ranked states based on 54 targets spread over 100 indicators out of 306 outlined by the UN.
PTI