Niti Aayog releases Urban Index: Agartala becomes ‘Performer’
Agartala has made significant progress in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and emerged as a ‘Performer’ in the SDGs Urban Index 2021.
The Niti Aayog released the Urban Index on Wednesday. Importantly, in terms of attaining the SDGs, Agartala has raced past mega cities like Kolkata.
The Index has revealed Agartala has scored 64.79 on a scale of a total of 100.
The index took into account 56 urban areas for measuring SDGs indicators in areas related to ending poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, etc.
A comprehensive list of 77 indicators, covering 46 global SDG targets across 14 SDGs is used in the Urban Index.
According to the Urban Index report, Agartala outscored all other NE towns including Guwahati except Aizawl, Shillong and Gangtok. Besides, metro cities like Kolkata, Mumbai and Kanpur etc have featured in the Index at lower places compared to Agartala.
Agartala has ranked at 32nd place in the Index.
It emerged as ‘Front runner’ in attaining five SDGs – Gender equality, Affordable and clean energy, reduced inequality, ensuring sustainable consumption and production as well as in peace, Justice and strong institutional goals.
The city is poised to be elevated to the ‘Front Runner’ category with a total score of 64 in attaining clean water and sanitation goals.
Agartala scored 96 out of 100 in ensuring sustainable consumption and production while 88 in gender equality and 87 in Peace, Justice and Strong institutional goals. The city scored 69 and 67 in achieving clean energy and reduced inequalities goals respectively.
In terms of achieving 'Decent Work and Economic growth', Agartala is poised to be elevated to the ‘performer’ category from the existing ‘Aspirant’ category with a score of 46.