A state-level workshop on NER District SDG Index 2.0, SDG India Index, 2021-22, and Multidimensional Poverty Index was held at Capital Convention Centre, Kohima on 12th April 2022.
Advisor, Industries & Commerce, Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Imnatiba in his keynote address 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.
The Advisor said that Nagaland is making consistent progress in SDG Index, which focuses on state-level performance. He added that the compulsive score for Nagaland improved from 57 in 2019 to 61 in 2021 and the State is ranked 19th among 35 States and Union Territories of the Country. He stated that going by the North Eastern Region District SDG Index, some of the districts of Nagaland are doing fairly well in certain goals such as zero hunger, clean water and sanitation, quality education, and gender equality. However, he said that more works need 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, provides 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 also said, with the technical support of the UNDP and active collaboration from various departments of the State, the SDG Coordination Centre of the Planning Department, Government of Nagaland, is already making rapid strides towards achieving the goals.
Acknowledging that to achieve sustainable development, Nagaland needs to address its difficult geographical terrain, the Advisor said some of the key priority policy focus areas also aligned to SDGs are universal access to health care & education, robust transport & communication infrastructure, effective & sustainable management system, innovative & industrial growth, balanced regional development, and enhanced agricultural production & marketing facilities.
He also highlighted the two new initiatives recently announced by the Chief Minister in the Budget Speech: the Chief Minister's Micro Finance Initiative and the Chief Minister's Health Insurance Scheme. The Advisor stressed that the Government of Nagaland is committed to working together with all the stakeholders to promote inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable development for a better and brighter future under the caption, "Development for all" and "Leaving no one behind ".
Imnatiba hoped that the workshop, with proactive participation from all the departments, will develop a deeper understanding of the State's SDG performance and the importance of quality data for monitoring progress. He added it will act as a step to streamline the effort toward implementing the SDGs.
Regional Head-North East India, UNDP John Borgoyary, in his address stated that UNDP is closely partnering with the Government of Nagaland and it will soon initiate a CSR initiative which will be part of the SDG Coordination Center under the Planning Department. The aim will be to tap resources from the private sector and other development partners. He added it will particularly be targeting those areas under SDGs.
Borgoyary informed that UNDP is partnering with the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Nagaland on universalization 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 said the programme is being implemented in all the states of India. He also said that the programme has strengthened the health care system, especially in terms of addressing issues relating to immunization. He also said 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 the Government of Nagaland in monitoring and managing COVID vaccinations.
Mimansa Mishra, Associate (SDG ), 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 gave a presentation on the progress of SDG localization. A presentation on the goal and indicator-wise presentation was given by NITI Aayog and discussed with the departments 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- 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 & 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.
(Wepre Kronu, APRO)
