Recently, the government published the progress report on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The “Sustainable Development Goals - National Indicator Framework Progress Report, 2021 highlights the progress made so far by India in attaining SDGs.
The SDGs are a comprehensive list of global goals integrating
social, economic and environmental dimensions of development. These goals lay
the blueprint for achieving a better and sustainable future for all by
providing “an international framework to move by 2030 towards more equitable,
peaceful, resilient, and prosperous societies - while living within sustainable
planetary boundaries”. United Nation General Assembly adopted the document
titled "Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development"
consisting of 17 Sustainable Development Goals and associated 169 targets, in
September 2015. This agenda came in to force from January 2016.
India is committed to implement the SDGs based on the nationally
defined indicators responding to national priorities and needs. A National
Indicator Framework (NIF) has been developed in 2018 consisting of 306 national
indictors along with identified data sources. NIF facilitates the monitoring of
SDGs at the national level and provides appropriate direction to the policy
makers and the implementing agencies of various schemes and programs. Besides
NIF, guidelines have been provided to the States for developing comprehensive
and inclusive SDG Monitoring Framework through development of State Indicator Framework
(SIF).
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are—
1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and
Well Being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
6. Clean Water and
Sanitation
7. Affordable and
Clean Energy
8. Decent Work and
Economic growth
9. Industry,
Innovation and Infrastructure
10. Reduces
Inequalities
11. Sustainable Cities
and Communities
12. Responsible
Consumption and production
13. Climate Action
14. Life Below Water
15. Life on Land
16. Peace, Justice and
Strong Institutions
17. Partnerships for
the Goals
On juxtaposing these goals to the government schemes and
programs announced by the Central Government in past five years, it becomes
clear that the commitment to SDGs is a major driver of development policy
function in India.
All the signatures schemes like clean energy (LPG to poor
household, bio-energy and solar), Sanitation (toilets and piped water in every
house), financial inclusion (Jan Dhan Account, pension, UBI), agri productivity
and income (doubling of farmers;’ income, new farm laws), health mission,
Quality Education (New Education Policy and Institutions of Excellence), Gender
equality (Triple Talaq law, women directors etc.) Innovation & productivity
(startup India, make in India) Sustainable cities (smart cities, metro rail)
etc. could be traced back to SDGs commitment.
As per the latest Progress Report, India has made significant
progress in some areas, while challenges remain in some other areas. While the
citizen can themselves see and feel the areas where significant progress has
been made, it is pertinent to note the areas that are lacking. These are the
areas that may hold both opportunities and challenges. Some of these are as
follows, for example—
(i) In FY20, 50.66%
of population was getting safe and adequate drinking water through pipes.
(iii) 0.15% population
was homeless in 2011. Present data is not available.
(iii) At the end of
FY20, number of telephone subscribers were 88.74% of the population. It is down
from 93.27 in FY18.
(iv) 100% rural
population had access to toilet facility at the end of FY20.
(v) The proportion
of total government spending on essential services 9education, helath and
social protection) has come down from 29.87% (FY16) to 29.47% in FY19.
(vi) The proportion
of budget marked for gender budget is down from 5.58% in FY18 to 4.4% in FY22.
(vii) Proportion of
beneficiaries covered under National Food Security Act has come down from
99.01% in FY17 to 97.57% in FY21.
(viii) Gross value
added in agriculture per worker has increased from Rs61427 (FY16) to Rs74822 in
FY20.
(ix) Percentage share
of expenditure on R&D in agriculture has fallen from 0.44% in FY16 to
0.037% in FY19.
(x) Net enrollment
ration in primary and upper primary education has fallen from 94.11% and 72.02%
respectively in FY16 to 89.14% and 68.99% respectively in FY19.
(xi) Only 32.66%
schools has computer for teaching purposes in FY19.
(xii) Proportion of
crime against women to total crimes has risen from 6.99% in 2015 to 7.87% in
2019. 28.1 women per lac faced sexual crime in 2019 (22.2 per lac in 2015). The
number of women facing cruelty by husband has also increased from 18.78 per lac
to 19.54 per lac. There is no reduction in sexual crimes against girl child.
(xiii) Per capita
availability of water has reduced from 1508m3 in 2015 to 1486m3
in 2021.
(xiv) Percentage of
households using clean cooking fuel is reported to be 102.11 in FY20 (???). In
FY21 it was 99.97%.
(xv) Renewable energy
share in the total installed electricity generation has increased to 13.4% in
FY16 to 19.2% in FY19.
(xvi) Annual growth
rate of GDP has declined consistently since FY17. Annual growth rate in
manufacturing sector has also declined consistently.
(xvii) Percentage of credit flow to MSME as a percentage of
Total Adjusted Net Bank Credit has declined from 18.18% in FY16 to 16.39% in
FY20.
(xviii) In FY16 2 states had Good coastal water quality
index and 7 states were moderate. In FY21 no state has good coastal water
quality, all 9 states are moderate.
