Latest news with #North-Eastern
Deccan Herald
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
States that spend wisely, rise steadily
Last month, India for the first time crossed a historic threshold by entering the top 100 nations in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index. It secured the 99th position among 167 countries, with a composite score of 67 out of 100. This upward shift from 121st in 2022 to 109th in 2024 is a broader transformation of state-led governance and public investment in sustainable at the national level, the leap is notable, much of India's SDG momentum is shaped by the steady efforts of its states. According to NITI Aayog's 2023-2024 SDG India Index, the number of 'Front Runner' states/UTs increased from 22 to 32, with notable progress in poverty eradication and climate action; but Goal 5 (gender equality) lags below 50 which states are driving this success, and what are they doing differently?SDG frontrunnersAt the top is Kerala (79 points), followed by Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Himachal Pradesh. These states consistently lead in health, education, and welfare contrast, Bihar (57) and Jharkhand (62) are the lowest-ranked states in 2023-2024. Other laggards include several North-Eastern states like Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Arunachal front-runner states are achieving significant SDG gains through calibrated fiscal strategies tailored to local realities. Frontrunner states invest in people, services, and governance, prioritising strong institutions, human development, and effective social policies. For instance, Kerala excels with 93.9% literacy, 74.9 years of life expectancy, and being open-defecation-free. It tops India's Human Development Index with the lowest multidimensional poverty index (0.002).Tamil Nadu and Goa excel in literacy and health, while Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh achieve above-average nutrition and sanitation standards through active local states like Bihar and Jharkhand face challenges with low literacy, health metrics, and large poor populations, highlighting the importance of institutional quality and capable policy interventions, along with expansions in health insurance and schools, have lifted state SDG scores, especially in states that effectively supplemented them with state funding. For example, in the last decade, India built over 11 crore rural toilets (Swachh Bharat), provided LPG connections to 10 crore households (Ujjwala) and delivered housing to about 4 crore poor families (PMAY).The SDG puzzleSDG financing relies on a multi-stakeholder framework, with domestic public finance as the dominant pillar, complemented by private investment, official development assistance, and innovative instruments, along with flagship schemes (e.g., PMAY, SBM, MGNREGS) to support SDG targets. While precise disaggregated data is limited, estimates suggest that public expenditure aligned with SDGs constitutes around 6-7% of India's GDP, with states contributing nearly 60-65% of this SDG-related spending, especially in sectors like health, education, and rural between public spending and SDG scoresParadoxically, a higher share of public spending doesn't guarantee a higher SDG score. Many poorly-performing states spend more as a percentage of GSDP, yet lag due to ineffective fiscal strategy. According to NITI's 2025 Fiscal Health Index, the healthier states like Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh allocate about 27% of their development budgets to capital outlays, building infrastructure.. States with weaker SDG outcomes, like Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal (and even Kerala), face high deficits and debt, which limit development spending. They allocate only about 10% of their budget to capital expenditure, prioritising salaries and subsidies, resulting in rising Debt-to-GSDP ratios and reduced funds for essential services like schools and net effect is a strong negative correlation between spending share and SDG rank. Aspirational states like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh see diluted impact from high spending due to governance gaps, while richer states like Kerala achieve more with targeted aheadIndia's SDG progress is uneven, with leading states excelling through good governance and targeted spending, while laggard states see limited impact despite high spending due to institutional and fiscal India aims higher growth and development trajectory, bridging the divide and reducing the interstate disparities in SDG scores are important. States lagging in SDGs must learn from the front-runners, invest in social overhead capital, empower women, and engage communities in the upward trend, India continues to lag on nine SDGs, notably in areas like climate action, marine ecosystem protection, and reducing inequality. Structural challenges such as poor centre-state co-ordination, inconsistent budgetary provisions, and limited scalability persist. Moreover, the lack of disaggregated data across states and districts hampers fine-tuned road ahead demands targeted financing and it calls for political vision, institutional co-ordination, and a relentless commitment to inclusive development.(Aswathy Rachel Varughese is Assistant Professor, Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation, Thiruvananthapuram. Navyatheertha S G is a student, Integrated MA Economics, University of Hyderabad.) Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the authors' own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.
India Today
07-07-2025
- Science
- India Today
Local farmer engagement key to water management, says Nagaland University study
A new study by Nagaland University has revealed that the long-term success of Aquifer Recharge and Recovery (ASR) projects depends significantly on the involvement of local farming communities. The research has stressed that groundwater management cannot be a purely technical solution but must also be driven by social and institutional study, recently published in the journal Societal Impacts, examined the socio-environmental effects of ASR through a pilot project in South found that when local farmers were actively engaged and maintained shared ownership of recharge pits, water availability improved, crop diversity increased, and communities gained socio-economic PARTICIPATION CRITICAL FOR LONG-TERM RESULTS Led by Prof Prabhakar Sharma of Nagaland University, the study found that success was not uniform. In Meyar, farmers took active responsibility for maintaining recharge pits and saw clear benefits. In contrast, in Nekpur, where farmers lacked trust in the technology and did not maintain the pits, ASR structures fell into Sharma stated, 'Unlike many prior studies that mainly focus on the technical feasibility and hydrogeological aspects of ASR, this research distinctly foregrounds the social, institutional and policy dimensions critical for sustainable implementation.'SOUTH BIHAR PILOT DEMONSTRATED SOCIO-ECONOMIC GAINSThe pilot study, supported by a grant from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, found that ASR significantly improved groundwater recharge, made irrigation more reliable, and enabled additional cropping cycles, thereby improving farmer average cost of setting up an ASR pit was approximately USD 400, making it a relatively affordable solution. However, due to financial constraints, most farmers preferred external support or public funding to initiate the CALL FOR ADAPTIVE POLICY AND INCLUSIVE PLANNINGCo-author Dr Aviram Sharma of the University of Vigo, Spain, emphasised the need for tailor-made strategies: 'Future interventions must incorporate localised adaptation strategies, financial mechanisms for farmer participation, and long-term monitoring of groundwater trends for measuring the impacts of the ASR pits on groundwater aquifers.' Prof Prabhakar Sharma, Nagaland University, meets with farmers of Meyar Village, Nalanda, Bihar The study recommends beginning with medium and large farmers who are more invested in agriculture and could serve as early adopters, encouraging others to follow. Sustained results will also depend on peer-led governance, policy incentives, and support from government and ASR FOR RURAL WATER SECURITYASR holds immense potential for Nagaland and other water-scarce North-Eastern states, where erratic rainfall and groundwater shortages are a growing study underlines that ASR must be embedded within broader, inclusive water policies that address socio-economic disparities and promote community-driven collaborative research included experts from India, Japan, and Spain, including researchers from the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Kyoto University. It brings a multidisciplinary lens to sustainable water solutions in rural, climate-impacted regions of climate variability rising, the study reinforces that community-led water conservation may be one of the most viable paths forward for building resilience in Indian agriculture.- Ends
Hans India
29-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Centre is committed to support growth of NE's mineral and coal sectors: Kishan
Guwahati/Hyderabad: Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy on Saturday reaffirmed the government's commitment to the development of the North Eastern states during the 2nd North-East Mining Minister's Conclave. Speaking on the second day of the conclave, he emphasized that the Government of India (GoI) would support the mineral- and coal-rich North Eastern states and highlighted plans to strengthen mining infrastructure, expedite project approvals, and promote sustainable mining practices in the region. He stated that the development of the North East was central to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, with the eight states—Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim—recognized as Ashta Lakshmi. He remarked, 'While I could merely offer some kind words, it is evident that various ministries, departments, and officials are engaged in the mining sector. Yet, the sector continues to lag behind,' he noted. He inquired about the status of mining sites, current plans, levels of public cooperation, and what the states desire, suggesting that these elements should be incorporated into a vision plan for each state's mining sector to move forward. He emphasized that better coordination between the Centre and states was essential for creating jobs, attracting investments, and fostering inclusive economic growth through the development of the mineral and coal sectors. He mentioned that Central Ministers had visited the North-Eastern states approximately 700 times, underscoring the commitment of the Centre, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to advancing the all-around development of these states. He also pointed out the numerous infrastructure projects underway in the North East. The MP indicated that he would be willing to speak with the Chief Ministers of the relevant states regarding the mining and mineral exploration sectors if necessary. During the conclave, representatives from all eight North Eastern states presented their strategies for advancing the mining and coal sectors. Ministers from Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim, along with the Advisor to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, outlined state-specific goals, achievements, and plans. They discussed progress in block auctions, critical mineral exploration, coal mine revival, minor mineral development, and the adoption of sustainable mining models. The discussions reflected a mutual commitment to balancing environmental safeguards with economic growth. States also called for increased central assistance to overcome regional challenges and realize their full resource potential. On the sidelines of the conclave, Kishan Reddy inaugurated a new regional office of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) in Guwahati. This inauguration was attended by Assam's Minister for Mines, Kaushik Rai, as well as VL Kantha Rao, Secretary of the Ministry of Mines, and Sanjay Lohiya, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Mines, alongside Piyush Sharma, Controller General of IBM, and other senior officials from the Central and State Governments. The new IBM office is expected to play a crucial role in strengthening regulatory oversight, technical support, and facilitation services for the mining sector in the North East. Earlier, he called on State Chief Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma and also visited the Kamakhya Temple.
India Gazette
28-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy reaffirms Centre's full support for Mineral and Coal sector growth in North East
Guwahati (Assam) [India], June 28 (ANI): Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy reaffirmed the Government's full support to the mineral- and coal-rich North Eastern states at the 2nd North-East Mining Ministers' Conclave in Guwahati. Addressing the gathering on Day 2 of the event, the Minister underlined the Centre's commitment to strengthening mining infrastructure, fast-track project approvals, and promoting sustainable mining practices in the region. He stated that the development of the North East is central to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, with the eight states--Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim--rightfully celebrated as Ashta Lakshmi. The Union Minister highlighted that enhanced Centre-State coordination is key to generating employment, attracting investment, and driving inclusive economic growth through mineral and coal sector development. During the conclave, representatives from all eight North-Eastern states presented their roadmaps for advancing the mining and coal sectors. Ministers from Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim, along with the Advisor to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, outlined state-specific strategies, achievements, and plans. They shared progress in block auctions, exploration of critical minerals, revival of coal mines, development of minor minerals, and adoption of sustainable mining models. The discussions reflected a shared commitment to balancing environmental safeguards with economic growth. States also called for greater central assistance to overcome regional challenges and realise their full resource potential. Addressing the conclave, Sanjay Lohiya, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Mines, emphasised the need to significantly scale up exploration efforts across the country. He urged the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL), and State Governments to work in close coordination and adopt modern, targeted, and time-bound exploration practices, especially for critical and strategic minerals. He added that the Government has provided unprecedented policy and budgetary support to boost exploration activities, and now is the time to translate that momentum into action on the ground. On the sidelines of the conclave, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy inaugurated the new regional office of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) in Guwahati. The inauguration was held in the presence of Assam Minister for Mines, Kaushik Rai; Additionally, V L Kantha Rao, Secretary (Ministry of Mines), Sanjay Lohiya, Additional Secretary (Ministry of Mines) with Piyush Sharma, Controller General, IBM, and senior officials from the Central and State Governments. The new IBM office is expected to play a crucial role in strengthening regulatory oversight, technical support, and facilitation services for the mining sector in the North East. The two-day conclave served as a vital platform for aligning regional mining strategies with the national agenda of sustainable development, energy security, and economic transformation under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI)
The Wire
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Wire
From Remote Borders to National Spotlight: North-East Youth Dazzle at Buddhist Cultural Festival
BENGALURU, India, June 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspired by the vision of global humanitarian and revered spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar - of a connected, compassionate, and culturally vibrant India - The Art of Living Social Projects has been working with youth from India's remote border regions. This vision found expression at the North-East Buddhist Cultural Festival in Kolkata. Held at the Alka Jalan Foundation Campus, the North-East Buddhist Cultural Festival brought to life the dreams, discipline, and deep-rooted culture of Buddhist youth from the Sino-border regions of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and other North-Eastern states. Under The Art of Living's 'Har Ghar Agniveer' initiative, these first-generation learners have spent two years immersed in a transformative journey - blending the power of yoga with the grace of classical Kathak dance. Along the way, they've built not just artistic skill, but also cognitive clarity, emotional resilience, and a lasting connection to India's rich cultural heritage. The festival itself was a culmination of this journey. Participants from various Art of Living training camps across the border regions took the stage to present their talent before an audience that included representatives from the Armed Forces, international dignitaries, and civil society leaders. The objective was clear: to mobilise greater recognition and support for this initiative so it can scale nationally and reach even more youth in India's borderlands. This cultural initiative is also a powerful contribution to Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat and 'Vibrant Border Villages' vision, which seeks to bridge India's cultural heart with its geographical peripheries. The event was made possible through the generous support of Anamika Kala Sangam, with IHA Foundation and Alka Jalan Foundation as key partners for the venue and logistics. With continued backing, this initiative holds the potential to grow into a nationwide movement - offering these talented students a platform beyond the margins, and a rightful place in India's cultural mainstream. About The Art of Living Social Projects The Art of Living Social Projects is committed to creating lasting societal impact through transformative initiatives. With a focus on holistic development, the organisation continues to uplift individuals and communities - earning recognition and accolades along the way. Follow: Like: Post: Message: Photo: Logo: (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.).
