Did All Districts in Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura Achieve Front Runner Status?

New Delhi, July 7 (NationPress) Every district in Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura has successfully attained the ‘Front Runner’ status, with none classified as either ‘Aspirant’ or ‘Achiever’, according to a report from NITI Aayog released on Monday. Additionally, three districts in Nagaland have entered the top ten performers.

The second edition of the North Eastern Region (NER) District Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index Report (2023-24) reveals that the composite scores across 121 districts range from 58.71 in Longding, Arunachal Pradesh, to 81.43 in Hnahthial, Mizoram.

All districts in Assam have shown improvement in key indicators, including Zero Hunger, Quality Education, Clean Water and Sanitation, and Decent Work and Economic Growth, as highlighted in the report developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDoNER) and technical support from UNDP.

Suman Bery, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, stressed the importance of achieving intermediate milestones like the SDGs by 2030 as India aims for a vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi referring to the region as Ashta Lakshmi of the eight states, underscoring the significance of their growth and advancement.

The report indicates that Sikkim exhibits the narrowest range of scores (5.5 points) between its highest and lowest districts, demonstrating consistent performance.

Tripura is notable for having several high-scoring districts with minimal intra-state variation (6.5 points). In contrast, Mizoram and Nagaland have high-scoring districts but show more variation (ranges of 13.72 and 15.07, respectively).

The Index (2023-24) marks a significant advancement in regional monitoring.

This index reflects a commitment to tackling developmental challenges across social, economic, and environmental dimensions, ensuring that no one is left behind in the NER.

Utilizing NITI Aayog's SDG India Index methodology, it serves as a crucial tool for tracking development-related progress at the district level, aiding in informed decision-making.

Chanchal Kumar, Secretary of DoNER, highlighted the index's role in identifying gaps, providing actionable insights for interventions, and optimizing resource allocation. Dr Angela Lusigi, Resident Representative of UNDP, emphasized the priority of transforming every data point into impactful actions that enhance human development outcomes.

Districts are categorized into four classifications: i) Achiever: Score equals 100 (targets met); ii) Front Runner: Score between 65 and 99 (excluding 100); iii) Performer: Score between 50 and 65 (excluding 65); and iv) Aspirant: Score less than 50.