Gangtok, Sikkim: In a remarkable display of consistent progress, Sikkim has emerged as a standout performer in the North Eastern Region District Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2023-24. All six of the Himalayan state’s districts—Gangtok, Mangan, Namchi, Gyalshing, Pakyong, and Soreng—have been accorded the coveted ‘Front Runner’ status, placing Sikkim in an exclusive league alongside Mizoram and Tripura as the only northeastern states to achieve this distinction in the latest assessments.
The comprehensive index, unveiled on July 7 by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), meticulously evaluates district-level advancements across 16 critical SDG themes. These themes encompass a wide spectrum, ranging from education and health to gender equality, environmental stewardship, and infrastructure development.
What truly sets Sikkim apart, say observers, is not merely its high scores, but the unparalleled consistency across its geographical expanse. The minimal disparity between its top-scoring district, Gangtok, which registered 76.64 points, and its lowest, Gyalshing, at 71.14 points, paints a clear picture of a well-balanced development paradigm—a rarity in the often-diverse landscape of the North Eastern Region. This narrow margin of just 5.5 points stands in stark contrast to states like Mizoram, where the gap between the highest and lowest performing districts stretches to nearly 14 points, highlighting Sikkim’s equitable growth trajectory.
Officials privy to the state’s development initiatives largely credit this stellar performance to the proactive leadership of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang. His administration, they note, has steadfastly prioritised the implementation of inclusive and sustainable policies, meticulously aligning them with both national and global SDG targets. Key initiatives spanning healthcare, education, rural development, and environmental sustainability have reportedly been rolled out uniformly across all districts, thereby fostering the state’s steady and collective advancement.
While Mizoram’s Hnahthial district did achieve the highest individual district score in the region at an impressive 81.43, Sikkim’s distinctive uniformity across all its districts is being hailed as a more robust and sustainable model for enduring long-term development. Tripura too showcased a commendable performance, with its Gomati and Dhalai districts scoring 78.79 and 72.29 respectively.
The launch event for the crucial index witnessed the presence of several high-ranking officials, including NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery, CEO BVR Subrahmanyam, MoDoNER Secretary Chanchal Kumar, and UNDP India Resident Representative Dr Angela Lusigi. During the event, Vice Chairman Bery underscored the critical importance of district-level achievements, asserting their pivotal role in propelling India towards its overarching development goals, especially in the context of the “Viksit Bharat @2047” vision—an ambitious blueprint for a developed India by the centenary of its independence.
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