Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio addressing the workshop on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) capacity building in Kohima on November 13. (DIPR Photo)
UNDP team in Nagaland to work towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals
Our Correspondent
Kohima | November 13
Climate change adaptation and resources management are key priority areas to address with regard to attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Nagaland.
This was stated by John Borgoyary, Regional Head of the North East Region (NER), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), who along with a UNDP team are in Nagaland for a two day workshop to building capacities towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nagaland.
The workshop is being conducted at Hotel Vivor, organized by the state’s Planning and Coordination Department in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Borgoyary said the state can take up specific areas like livelihood, water bodies, forest and tourism, while adding that reliable data is required to help policy makers to take decisions. Towards this he called for a state government strategy to put in place mechanisms for capturing and monitoring data.
Further focus is required towards aligning the budget, consolidated with a strong framework to achieve the SDGs, he added
He meanwhile stated that the slow progress witnessed in NE states is being affected by the lack of a peaceful atmosphere in the region. “Without peace and prosperity, without peace and justice there cannot be progress,” he said.
Borgoyary stated that the SDGs promote infrastructure development, balancing three key areas on social, economic perspective and environmental health; while promoting government policies to target those people who are neglected and excluded.
Climate change, economic prosperity, innovation, peace and social justice have been included in the SDGs agenda. Borgoyary said that SDGs are an integrated, inclusive agenda, with the eradication of poverty as a key objective.
“Without addressing this issue no sustainable development can be achieved,” he said.
Recognising that human well-being is the most important component, he said achieving the SDGs requires the partnership of governments, private sector, and civil society.
Borgoyary continued that without partnership, the government alone cannot take the SDGs forward.
To achieve SDGs, no department can function in isolation, he said, calling for proper coordination. There has to be integration of various disciplines, he stated and urged the departments to work in a collaborative way.
CM calls for collective effort
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who also spoke, meanwhile expressed optimism that with the collective efforts of the various communities, the state government, central government and the international community, “we can address the issues to attain the goals much before the target date of 2030.”
Seeking participation of people at all levels to achieve SDGs, he said “we also need technology, mobilization of resources, and community participation approach for the effective implementation of SDGs.”
The CM further informed that the government is working with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) with a focus in organic farming. He added that integrating allied activities with farming like piggery, fishery and poultry also has the potential of augmenting farm incomes.
This, according to the CM, will reduce dependency on government jobs and the resultant rural to urban migration. Rio viewed that jobs need to be created in smaller towns to reduce overcrowding in towns like Kohima & Dimapur, which are transforming into haphazard concrete towns with unmanageable traffic, shortage of water and basic amenities.
