Assam has significantly improved its position in the national index for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2023-24, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said this on July 15. Assam has emerged as a front runner in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in NITI Aayog’s latest reports on SDG India Index 2023-24. The Chief Minister said that this achievement is a remarkable milestone for the State.
In terms of SDGs, the State has turned from an aspiring State to a performer and to a front runner cum fast-moving State in the last five years.
Earlier, Assam was a burden on India but now it is not. We have done well in poverty alleviation, clean water supply, green energy, economic growth, industry, innovation, infrastructure and sustainable cities
– Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma
The SDG India Index, which evaluates progress made across 17 goals on a scale of 1 to 100, rated Assam as one of the top performing States with a score of 65 points. The State’s overall score improved by 8 points since the 2020-21 edition, marking a significant step in sustainable development. Of the 17 goals, reduction in poverty, good health, quality education, gender equality, clean water, clean energy, economic growth, climate action, and a peaceful society are among major goals.
In 2016, Assam became the first State in the country to adopt SDGs (on UN standard) as an agenda of the State Government. When the SDG India index was declared in 2018, Assam’s overall point was 49.
“After I took charge on May 10, 2021, we have been able to take the State to the ‘front runner’ category. On the other hand, the SDG index report also mentioned that Assam is among the 10 fastest moving States. Our State scored 65, an increase by 16 from 2018,” said the Chief Minister.
Revealing his Government’s efforts to create a good eco-system for overall development, the Chief Minister said that the State’s next target is to surpass the national score of NITI Aayog’s SDGs in the next two years.
The growth in rankings of SDGs depends on several factors, and reduction in poverty was a prime factor. Assam has lowered the poverty level from 36 to 19. The Orunodoi scheme played a major role in poverty reduction development, the Chief Minister said.
“We have become a front-runner among performing States. We have given importance to gender equality. In terms of education for girls, we have taken up several initiatives. We have also taken steps to curb child marriages. To develop clean energy, we have given thrust to solar energy. Jal Jeevan Mission is playing an important role in providing clean water to the people,” said Dr. Sarma.
“Earlier, Assam was a burden on India but now it is not. We have done well in poverty alleviation, clean water supply, green energy, economic growth, industry, innovation, infrastructure and sustainable cities,” said Dr. Sarma.
The Chief Minister, however, said the higher education sector performed poorly with an individual score of 16.5.
