J’khand second-worst performer in NITI Aayog’s SDG index

RANCHI : Jharkhand ranked second-worst among 28 states in the third edition of the SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) India Index 2020-21, while worst in the Zero Hunger parameter, according to the index report released by NITI Aayog on Thursday.

The SDG index evaluates the progress of states and union territories on social, economic and environmental criteria every year, officials said.

Jharkhand’s overall scores across SDGs have improved marginally by three points to 56 out of 100 in 2020-21 from 53 in 2019-20, according to the report. Jharkhand was adjudged on 15 parameters and it saw improvement on 10 indicators.

On the Zero Hunger parameter, Jharkhand slipped three score points compared to the index of 2019-20.

Belgian-born noted economist Jean Dreze said, “I have not gone through the report so far. So I do not want to jump to any conclusion. But, one thing I can say that the state government needs to pay attention to it, as the state’s malnutrition rate is very high. It should also work on improving the distribution system of subsidized food.”

Asarfi Nand Prasad, a senior member of Right to Food Campaign, Jharkhand, said, “The figure doesn’t seem to be surprising, as the topic of hunger has been missing from the government’s priority list.”

He said, “The government had identified 15 lakh households, who are not enrolled under NFSA. The state government is providing them green cards so that they could be get subsidised rations. Till March, only nine lakh families out of 15 lakh received the green cards.”

Prasad further said Anganwadi centres are also not functioning properly and take home ration scheme is not operational at the centres due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite repeated efforts, state finance minister Rameshwar Oraon could not be contacted for his comment on the report.

However, the state did marginally well on the No Poverty parameter.

Jharkhand saw a major decline in the parameter of Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

General secretary of Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI), Rahul Maroo said Covid-19 triggered pandemic largely impacted the sector in past one year. “Apart from this, the slow decision-making attitude of the state government has also impacted the growth. The Coal mining industry is major revenue generating sector but the auction of many mines is still pending,” he said.

However, good thing is that Jharkhand has improved largely on the Good Health and Well Being parameter.