Agartala, August 23: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), in collaboration with the Government of Tripura and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), organized a capacity-building workshop on “Strengthening Sub-National SDG Monitoring” in Agartala on Friday.
The workshop drew participation from States and Union Territories that are still in the initial phase of creating their Indicator Frameworks for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Tripura Stresses Whole-of-Government Approach
In his inaugural address, Tripura’s Planning (Statistics) Minister Bikash Debbarma emphasized that the state has adopted a whole-of-government strategy to achieve SDGs. He described the goals as instruments for improving socio-economic conditions, particularly for women, children, and marginalized groups.
MoSPI Highlights Localized Monitoring for 2030 Agenda
Delivering the keynote address, S.C. Malik, Additional Director General of MoSPI, underscored the significance of localized actions and regular monitoring to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. He highlighted MoSPI’s role in formulating the National Indicator Framework (NIF) and supporting States and UTs in developing State and District Indicator Frameworks (SIFs/DIFs).
Malik stressed the need for timely, high-quality, and detailed data, pointing out that monitoring is not an end but a means to improve development outcomes, ensure inclusivity, and reach vulnerable populations. He reaffirmed MoSPI’s commitment to working closely with States, ministries, and partners to strengthen India’s SDG monitoring ecosystem.
NITI Aayog and Tripura Reiterate Commitment
Rajiv Sen, Senior Advisor at NITI Aayog, called for strengthening institutions and ensuring effective implementation of schemes through SDG monitoring. Special Secretary (Planning–Statistics), Government of Tripura, Abhishek Chandra, assured that the state remains committed to advancing the 2030 Agenda by enhancing data systems and localized monitoring.
UNDP Policy Specialist Jaimon Uthup reiterated UNDP’s continued support to the Government of India and States/UTs in building technical capacity, robust data frameworks, and inclusive monitoring systems.
MoSPI Explains Monitoring Frameworks
MoSPI officials, including Joint Director Saumya Sakshi and Deputy Director Abhishek Gaurav, provided an overview of monitoring mechanisms under the NIF and sub-national frameworks. They reminded participants that States and UTs are responsible for tracking SDG progress at the local level.
They also noted that in 2019, MoSPI issued guidelines to help States/UTs build their monitoring frameworks, which were updated in March 2022 and published as the report “Guidance on Monitoring Framework on SDGs at the Sub-national Level.”
UNDP representatives discussed global best practices in SDG monitoring, with a special focus on localization. Meanwhile, Chiranjib Ghosh, Joint Director at Tripura’s Directorate of Economics and Statistics, shared the state’s experience in developing its State Indicator Framework (SIF).
Technical Sessions and Call to Action
Technical sessions included group exercises to assess the status of States, identify key indicators for each goal, and draft frameworks. The sessions also involved planning for implementation by assigning departmental responsibilities, prioritizing indicators, and preparing state-specific action plans. Gender and climate change were identified as essential cross-cutting themes for integration into State and UT frameworks.
The workshop concluded with a collective call for all participating States and UTs to strengthen their sub-national SDG monitoring systems. Participants pledged to align with the National Indicator Framework while addressing local priorities, reinforcing their commitment to evidence-based policymaking and achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
