The city tower location in Dimapur town. (Morung Photo)
.jpg)
Dimapur, May 14 (MExN): Dimapur district in Nagaland recorded a significant improvement in the North Eastern Region (NER) District SDG Index, jumping to Rank 10 out of 121 districts in 2023-24 from Rank 76 out of 103 districts in 2021-22, a review meeting held here on Thursday was told.
The composite score of the district rose to 76.29 in 2023-24 from 63.67 in 2021-22, reflecting marked progress across multiple development indicators, a DIPR report stated.
The review meeting on SDG India Index 4.0 and NER District SDG Index 2.0 was held at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur and was chaired by Imtijungla Lemtur, EAC, Dimapur.
Performance across key goals
Presenting the district profile, Lemtur briefed departments on the importance of accurate data submission and coordinated efforts for improving the district's SDG performance indicators.
Goal-wise performance showed that Dimapur scored strongly in SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) with a score of 97, followed by SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) at 91, SDG 13 (Climate Action) at 88, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) at 87, and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) at 86.
The report also highlighted improvements in several indicators, including 100 percent electrified villages, 100% mobile network coverage in villages, 100% households using improved water sources, and 100 percent GPS/villages verified Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.
Sectoral Highlights
In the education sector, the district recorded improvement in schools with computers, trained teachers at secondary level, and reduced secondary school dropout rates.
In health-related indicators, institutional delivery and skilled birth attendance remained high, while further attention was needed in areas such as infant mortality rate and healthcare infrastructure.
The district profile further noted progress in sanitation, infrastructure, banking access, PMAY housing completion, and internet connectivity. However, areas requiring continued focus included reduced inequalities, healthcare services, forest cover and municipal solid waste treatment.
SDG India Index
Delivering the opening remarks, Dr Diana Patton, NCS, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur, stated that the SDG India Index 2023-24 covered 17 goals, 70 targets and 115 indicators, with India actively pursuing the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030.
She noted that Kerala and Uttarakhand were among the top-performing states in the national SDG rankings.
Referring to the Sustainable Development Report 2025, Dr Patton stated that the global SDG Index measured performance across economic, social, environmental, and governance dimensions, and that India had made progress in renewable energy, sanitation, and access to basic services, while challenges remained in climate action, gender equality, and quality education.
NER District Index
Dr Patton explained that the NER District SDG Index was jointly developed by NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to monitor the progress of districts across the eight northeastern states towards achieving the 2030 SDGs.
The Index assessed SDG progress using 84 indicators mapped to 50 SDG targets and followed the SDG India Index methodology with equal weightage across all goals. Districts were classified into four categories, Aspirants, Performers, Front Runners, and Achievers, based on their composite scores.
Dr Patton urged all Heads of Departments to provide accurate and updated data and work collectively to improve the district’s overall SDG targets and rankings.
The meeting was attended by Heads of Departments and officials from various departments under Dimapur district.
.png)
