Dimapur, April 12 (EMN): With the improvement in Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) index from 57 in 2019 to 61 in 2021, the advisor of Industries and Commerce, Labour and Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Imnatiba, disclosed that Nagaland ranked 19th among 35 states and union territories in the country.
Imnatiba stated this while delivering the keynote address during a state-level workshop on NER District SDG Index 2.0, SDG India Index 2021-22, and Multidimensional Poverty Index held at Capital Convention Centre in Kohima on April 12. Imnatiba stated that India will progress only if progress is made by the North Eastern Region. He said the North East Region District SDG Index, 2021 serves as a very important policy for the state government by providing a very granular understanding of the SDGs in their implementation at the district level, a DIPR report stated.
While referring to the North Eastern Region District SDG Index, Imnatiba stated that some of the districts in Nagaland are doing fairly well in certain goals such as zero hunger, clean water and sanitation, quality education, and gender equality. He, however, noted that more work needs to be done for bottom-ranked districts and on some indicators at the state level.
Imnatiba mentioned that the Nagaland SDG Vision 2030, which was launched by Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, in August the previous year, provided specific targets with measurable indicators and strategies to meet the aspirations of the people and to translate the Nagaland SDG Vision 2030 into reality. He added that with the technical support of the UNDP and active collaboration from various departments of the state, the SDG Coordination Centre of the Planning department has already made rapid strides towards achieving the goals.
Some of the key focus areas to achieve sustainable development according to him included universal access to healthcare and education, robust transport and communication infrastructure, effective and sustainable management system, innovative and industrial growth, balanced regional development, and enhanced agricultural production and marketing facilities.
He also highlighted the two new initiatives recently announced by the Chief Minister in the budget speech namely the ‘Chief Minister's Micro Finance Initiative’ and the ‘Chief Minister's Health Insurance Scheme.’ The advisor stressed that the state government is committed to working together with all the stakeholders to promote inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable development for a better and brighter future under the banner "Development for all" and "Leaving no one behind."
Imnatiba hoped that the workshop, with proactive participation from all the departments, would develop a deeper understanding of the state's SDG performance and the importance of quality data for monitoring progress. He further added it would act as a step to streamline the effort toward implementing the SDGs.
UNDP regional head-North East India, John Borgoyary, stated that UNDP is closely partnering with the government of Nagaland and would soon initiate a CSR initiative, which would be part of the SDG coordination center under the Planning department. The aim was to tap resources from the private sector and other development partners. He added it would particularly be targeting those areas under SDGs.
Borgoyary informed that UNDP is partnering with the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Nagaland, on universalisation of immunization. Highlighting the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN), which is a software application developed in partnership with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, he stated that the programme is being implemented in all the states of India. He also stated that the programme has strengthened the healthcare system, especially in terms of addressing issues relating to immunisation.
He further stated that as part of the eVIN, it has developed a Covid application in partnership with the government of India and has been helping the government of India and Nagaland in monitoring and managing Covid vaccinations.
Mimansa Mishra, Associate (SDG) of NITI Aayog, gave a presentation on SDG India Index 2020-21; NER District SDG Index 2020-21, and context setting on version 2.0 and National Multidimensional Poverty Index.
The state Planning department also made a presentation on the progress of SDG localization, while a presentation on the goal and indicator-wise presentation was made by NITI Aayog followed with a discussion on SDG India Index 4.0
Technical session on NER District SDG Index 2.0 SDG 1-8 and SDG 9-16: Presentation on draft NER SDG Indicator Framework 2.0 on SDGs; concepts, methodology, definitions, and computations, discussion with state departments on district-wise data reporting and challenges were also conducted.
Way forward and sum up was proposed by policy specialist of SDGs UNDP, Jaimon Uthup.
The SDGs were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. The SDGs are a collection of 17 global goals and associated 169 targets designed to be a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. The SDGs aim to 'leave no one behind' and to 'reach the furthest behind first'.
The SDG Coordination Centre (SDGCC) of the Planning and Coordination department, government of Nagaland, was established with a mandate to act as a centre for knowledge dissemination, SDG monitoring, policy strengthening, and an accelerator of SDG implementation across the state.