Moa Jamir
Nagaland's performance on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) presents a complex picture. While the state has shown steady improvement in some crucial areas, it continues to lag behind the national average and faces concerning declines in others. Nagaland's journey on the path to sustainable development, as reflected in the fourth edition of the SDG India Index 2023-24, reveals a narrative of both progress and setbacks. The State has excelled in certain areas, particularly gender equality, but its overall performance on key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been less impressive compared to other states and Union Territories (UTs) in India.
The latest SDG India Index, released by the NITI Aayog on July 12, placed Nagaland's composite score for 2023-24 at 65, ranking it 26th among 28 states, only ahead of Jharkhand and Bihar. When considering the UTs, Nagaland’s position was joint third lowest, alongside Ladakh. Although classified as a ‘Performer,’ the state’s consistent low ranking underscores the need for a more robust and comprehensive approach to achieving the SDGs.
One of the most notable achievements for Nagaland is its exceptional performance in gender equality (SDG 5). From a score of 42 in 2018, the state has nearly doubled its score to 74 in 2023-24, topping the national index. This improvement reflects successful initiatives and policies aimed at improving the sex ratio at birth, enhancing female-to-male average wage ratios, increasing female labour force participation, and reducing instances of spousal violence. Nagaland's focus on women's empowerment and gender parity is commendable and sets a benchmark for other states.
Despite the laudable progress in gender equality, Nagaland’s overall performance on the SDG front has been underwhelming. The State's score has shown a marginal increase from 51 in the baseline report of 2018 to 63 in 2023-24. The national average increased from 57 to 71 during the same period. The slow pace of progress indicates systemic issues and a lack of targeted interventions in other critical areas.
Nagaland's performance on ‘Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production’ and ‘Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions’ has seen a concerning decline. The scores for these goals, which measure aspects such as fossil fuel consumption, hazardous waste management, and crime rates, have consistently fallen over the past few years. This downward trend suggests that environmental sustainability and institutional integrity are areas requiring urgent attention.
Furthermore, the state's performance in goals such as ‘Zero Hunger’ (SDG 2) and ‘Quality Education’ (SDG 4) also reflects significant challenges. The decrease in scores for these goals highlights issues like food security, nutritional outcomes, and educational quality, which are fundamental to the state’s human development.
Looking ahead, there are areas where Nagaland shows potential for improvement. The recent civic polls in June 2024, the first in 20 years, mark a significant step towards better local governance and could positively impact ‘Goal 10: Reduced Inequality.’ Additionally, the launch of the state’s own SDG Dashboard in October 2023 indicates a commitment to better monitoring and achieving developmental goals.
To translate potential into tangible progress, Nagaland needs a multi-faceted strategy that includes strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing the efficiency and accountability of local institutions to better implement and monitor SDG-related initiatives, focusing on environmental sustainability, addressing the decline in responsible consumption and production practices by promoting green technologies and sustainable waste management systems, and improving educational and health outcomes by investing in quality education and healthcare infrastructure to ensure holistic human development. Leveraging gender equality gains can also drive broader social and economic reforms.
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