There must be a proper appraisal of performance in almost all the parameters of development in various fields by various agencies. Besides, when such a performance is evaluated in a competitive structure or in comparison with other players , ratings and scores are achieved and it is also fairly known which areas showed dismal performance so as to improve the same in the near future. One of such exercises having even international connotations and relevance is evaluating performance of states and Union Territories in respect of Sustainable Development Goal Index. There are in all 17 such goals under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and monitored by NITI Aayog out of which 15 goals are applicable to Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. While mostly those areas where there are flaws , poor performance , wastages and low monitoring must get properly highlighted with intent to go in for corrective measures , at the same time , areas where performance is satisfactory and even above the average must equally be highlighted . NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index for the period 2020-21 released by the National Institution for Transforming India on June 3 has placed both the UTs in a comfortable performing position and that is a matter to cheer up as out of 15 goals, better performance has been observed in 12 goals. This exercise is not only being done with consideration at national levels only but the index is developed in collaboration with the United Nations in India to assess the progress at the national and subnational levels simply because to know where was the country’s journey in respect of touching and achieving goals and targets with global aspirations. That accords unique importance to the performing index and when performance was in respect of 8 goals ranked as “Front Runner” , in 3 goals as “Performer” and in one as “Achiever” for both the UTs, it was all the more heartening.However, where more was needed to do were three goals where the ranking of both the UTs has been as “Aspirant” or in simpler words unsatisfactory. It is a matter of great satisfaction that in this area – that of poverty which under the Index has six indicators , Jammu and Kashmir has secured 69 points as against 79 by Ladakh . The main indicator that of the percentage of population living below poverty line and overall poverty eradication, both the UTs have been categorized as “Front Runner”. Hunger – insatiable or unfed – is a curse on humanity and that being Goal No. 2 with seven indicators with relevance to National Food Security Act , children under weight etc, both the UTs having secured 71 points and rated as “Front Runner” is the manifestation of sound planning and implementing foolproof distribution network of food grains and improvement in healthcare facilities in the twin UTs. It is further cleared by the rank having been achieved by the two UTs in Good Health and Well-Being by securing 70 points each and being rated as ‘Front Runner’. However, the only goal that of affordable and clean energy, both the UTs have secured 100 points which means cent percent households having been electrified, no mean achievement . Referring to the Goal for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions , both the UTs are as “Front Runners” . Though on comparative analysis , Jammu and Kashmir has throughout been among the front (states ) in the field of education but in quality education (Goal No.4) both the UTs have secured barely 49 points each thus categorized as “Aspirant” or not satisfactory thus clamouring for doing more to come out of the non performance or ‘Aspirant’ category in the next index. In matters of other critical areas , here termed as Goals – like Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure etc both the UTs need to review their strategy and action plans to come up to the levels of satisfactory performance of the NITI Aayog in the coming years.
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