By Albert Thyrniang
Recently, in Guwahati,a concerned citizen drew the attention of this writer to the recent report of NITI Aayog and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (M/DoNER) on North Eastern Region (NER) District Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Index and Dashboard for 2021–22. The agitated person narrated upsetting private comments of a NITI Aayog official regarding Meghalaya and other states. The remarks will be revealed below so that the introduction to this topic is not disrupted.
The Index report was released on August 26 this year. As reported this first of its kind exercise in the country measures the performance of the districts of the eight states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura on the SDGs and ranks them based on NITI Aayog’s official tools for monitoring progress on the SDGs at the national and State/ Union Territory levels and provide the benchmarks for districts to achieve.
Altogether 103 districts were ranked under four categories, namely, 1. Achiever (100 points); 2.Front-Runner (65–99 points); 3.Performer (50–64 points) and 4.Aspirant (0–49 points).64 districts were placed in the Front Runner category while 39 districts were in the Performer category. No district was placed under the Achiever and the Aspirant categories. In other words 64 districts scored between 65–99 points and 39 of them could master only between 50–64 scores.There is no ‘Achiever district’ which scored the perfect 100, neither is there a district that performed so badly so as to score less than 49. Perhaps, it is quite a surprise that all the districts in Sikkim and Tripura fall in the Front Runner category, or the second best group. More unexpected is that East Sikkim district with the score of 75.87 (out of 100)is ranked first in the region followed by Gomati and North Tripura (both Tripura) which amassed 75.73 points. West Tripura, Serchhip (Mizoram), South Sikkim, Unakoti (Tripura), Lunglei (Mizoram), Dhalai and Sepahijala (Tripura, ranked 8th), South Tripura and Kolasib (Mizoram) complete the top 10 performing districts. As we can see in the top 10, the list is dominated by Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim.
Now, among the 10 bottom districts, six are from Nagaland, four are from Arunachal Pradesh and one is from Meghalaya. Nagaland has the dubious record of having two districts at rock bottom.
I feel tempted to divulge the comments of the NITI Aayog official right here, but suspense is a thrill. We continue with the analysis. We limit ourselves only to Meghalaya, with some references to Nagaland, for lack of space and especially because this articles appears in a Meghalaya Daily.
Among the 11 districts in Meghalaya, not a single one is placed in the Front Runner, that is, the second best category. All fall under performer category, the third best cluster. The best Meghalaya district is East Khasi Hills which is placed at 57th with 66.27 points. North Garo Hills is the lowest district standing at 98th with the composite score of 56.87. The other districts (from the worst) stand as follows: South Garo Hills – 92nd (59.20 points); South West Khasi Hills – 87th (61.93 points);Ri Bhoi – 83rd (62.80 points); East Garo Hills – 82nd (63 points); East Jaintia Hills – 81st (63.33 points); South West Garo Hills stood 79th (63.40 points); West Khasi Hills was placed 77th (63.60 points); West Garo Hills was at 74th (63.80 points) and West Jaintia Hills at 69th (64.27 points). None in Meghalaya are in the top 50 districts. Just to put things in perspective Karbi Anglong at 73rd (63.87) has performed much better than all the districts in Meghalaya except East Khasi Hills (57th) and West Jaintia Hills (69th). Karbi Anglong is ranked one place higher than West Garo Hills. If you think the ranking is not realistic come and see Diphu, the capital of Karbi Anglong. Certainly it is much more developed than Tura, Jowai and Nongstoin.
One more useful figure before we come to the point. Overall, Sikkim with scores between 71.87 and 75.87 stands right at the top. Second is Tripura with its score ranging between 71.93 and 75.73.Mizoram with the scores between 63.40 and 74.87 occupies the third spot. Manipur is next with scores between 64.93 and 72.13. Assam which scored between 62.67 and 71.73 is at mid-table. The third worst state is Arunachal Pradesh with scores between 55.60 and 68.87. Meghalaya is second from the bottom scoring between 56.87 and 66.27 better only to Nagaland which sits right at the last place scoring only between 53.00 and 64.07.
Now the much awaited NITI Aayog official’s stinking criticism! The reproduction below may not be verbatim but the message is true to its original. Nagaland and Meghalaya are two ‘Christian’ states. But they have performed the least. ‘Nagaland for Christ’ is a popular slogan in the state. Nagaland has almost 100% Christian population among the tribal groups, on whom political power rests. Meghalaya is not far behind with almost 75 % Christian population. Why are the above two states performing below the rest? The official continues: In Assam and other states there is stealing but in Nagaland and Meghalaya massive looting is going on.
Reference was then made to the letter by Nagaland Governor, R.N. Ravi scathing remarks on Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in 2020 for the grim law and order situation but also for the “siphoning off a large chunk of government funds meant for development” resulting in down-sliding of the state in various parameters such as road connectivity, health and education infrastructures. About Meghalaya the official said, “Yours is a state of scams and corruption. Look at MeECL which has been in the news for several irregularities. Your state development is held to ransom by pressure groups,” referring, particularly to the stalled Byrnihat railway and the Nongstoin-Ranikor two-lane high way road projects.
The below par performers in the Sustainable Development Goals rating are districts in Garo Hills. “Why?” asked the gentleman. “In Meghalaya’s 50 years of history for about 33 years the state was under Chief Ministers from Garo Hills. Captain Williamson Sangma, the longest serving CM was from South Garo Hills. SC Marak hails from North Garo Hills, the least performing district. PA Sangma and Mukul Sangma were also Chief Ministers. Now Conrad Sangma is at the helm of affairs but where is the development.”
Since this writer once resided in North Garo Hills an observation about the 2012 established district is made. The lowest spot is probably accurate. One of the worst roads one has ridden on is from Bajengdoba/Mendal to Achotchonggre. The wooden bridges have all broken down beyond recognition. The Rongrang area too wears a look of underdevelopment with bad roads, the most visible of all. Till 2015 the road from Resubelpara to Williamnagar was almost not motorable.
The next three lowest placed districts, namely South Garo Hills, South West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi, and, in fact, the rest of the ranking is as per expectations. If one visits the Baggmara-the-Ranikor-Langrin and the Ri Bhoi areas, one will agree with NITI Aayog 100 per cent. It is a shame that the state, whose capital was one the seats of the united Assam state, and the hub of education, is now far behind Sikhim and Tripura, considered unheralded by all. The NITI Aayog employee was amazed that the study did not figure in the recently concluded Autumn Assembly session. The M/DoNER’s assessment should have been discussed at length so that the government can use the tool as a criteria for the state’s policy and ensure necessary interventions on a priority basis. This shows the casual attitude of the state government. One good things is that no one has rejected the rating unlike the recent Performance Grading Index (PGI) rating on school with some individuals seeing a conspiracy behind it.
The poor M/DoNER’s evaluation has come after the shocked PGI ranking by the Union Education Ministry condemning Meghalaya as one of the worst performers in school education. It is a second slap on the face of the state within a short span of time. In school education too the attitude of the government is lackadaisical. The desire to improve the crucial sector is not visible. Recently the Education Minister, Lakmen Rymbui was not even present in the House to answer questions on Education during the question hour. Be sure, in whatever rating that comes next we are sure to rank last or one of the last.
[email protected]