According to the report released by the NITI Aayog last week, Nagaland has become the worst performing state in the Northeast, with poor performance in terms of poverty, health and affordable energy.
In the first edition of the NITI Aayog Sustainable Development Goals Index (SDG), which focuses on the Northeast Region (NER), 12 regions of Nagaland State were included in the category of the index.
Based on performance, all regions in the seven northeastern states are classified into one of the following four categories: aspiring (049), performer (5064), leader (6599), and achiever (100). According to the Sustainable Development Goals Index, Nagaland has underperformed on six goals: poverty eradication, good health and well-being, clean and affordable energy, sustainable cities and communities, industry and innovation, and infrastructure.
Content of NITI Aayog’s report
The NITI Aayog report shows that Nagaland’s performance in quality education, reducing inequality, climate action and peace, justice and strong institutions is uneven.
The state has done a good job on the Sustainable Development Goals of No Hunger, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, decent work and economic growth. Nagaland has performed well on the SDGs for life on earth. Only one region is in the Performers category and the rest are in the front runner category.
A media report quoted experts from the region as saying that Nagaland is the site of India’s oldest rebellion problem, leading to a lack of development.
Statements by Sukma
“Though all states have a history of insurgency, insurgents have the most sizable control over the government in Nagaland,” said Suhas Chakma, who hails from Tripura and is the director of Rights and Risks Analysis Group, a New Delhi-based think tank.
“Tribal armed groups in Manipur have been in some form of peace talks the past 10 years. All other states in the northeast have not been facing any insurgency problems — which plays a key role because you cannot govern without their cooperation,”
“Nagaland has an Opposition-less government, unheard of across India, and this shows how conflict-struck the state is,” said Sukma.
