Gurugram bags 8th slot, Karnal 15th
Gurugram has bagged eighth position and Karnal stands at 15th slot in ensuring “ease of living” among cities with less than a million population, according to the datadriven Ease of Living Index-2020 that the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs launched after evaluating performance of 111 cities across country.
Among cities with population of over a million, Faridabad bagged the 40th slot with a score of 51.26.As per the 234-page report, of total 111 cities, only Faridabad, Gurugram and Karnal in Haryana were evaluated for the Index.Data shows that Gurugram, with eighth rank, scored 56 points in the index; and Karnal, at 15th position in country, scored 54.48 points.In the category of cities with less than a million population, Shimla topped the overall ranking. In this very category in the northern region (Chandigarh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) after Shimla is Gurugram, followed by Ajmer and Karnal.According to Karnal deputy commissioner (DC) Nishant Yadav, the study will help in assessing the progress made through different initiatives and making plans accordingly. He said that Karnal was ranked fourth in the Municipal Performance Index (MPI) among cities with less than a million population. “The ranking underlined that Karnal is on the path of better planning and management, while filling gaps in government services delivery and improving ease of living for its citizens,” he said.The Union ministry of housing and urban affairs had developed the index in 2018 to help facilitate the evaluation of well being of citizens.The report says that this index is a valuable tool for city governments to understand the gaps in implementing different central flagship schemes in urban areas.
The index examined citizens’ quality of life, economic ability, sustainability, education, health, housing and shelter, safety and security, economic development, etc.The index has a citizen perception survey component to gauge the citizens’ pulse concerning their ease of living.
The ministry studied quality of life in each city based on multiple parameters including institutional (governance), social (identity, education, health, security) and economic (economy, employment) among others.