From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jun 29: Chief minister BS Yediyurappa held a discussion with representatives of NITI Aayog about successfully achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 and expressed his happiness at Karnataka’s performance in improving its ranking.

During the meeting held on Tuesday, officials from NITI Aayog complimented the state government over its remarkable improvement and in the state's position in the SDG index.

Discussions were held in detail with them to bring Karnataka to the No 1 position in the SDG index.

NITI Aayog officials advised the state government to focus further on areas such as nutrition of pregnant women and children, gender equality, housing, education etc.

The chief minister said he had announced in the budget that all development programmes will focus on achieving SDG and the state government would function accordingly.

He said the state is working towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 targets.

The goal committees have identified different innovative projects with a total of 20 of the best practices implemented by the state.

This project can be replicated, which is for the comprehensive improvement of the quality of the citizens brought from various government departments and development agencies to implement policies and programmes of the state, he said.

In the SDG India 2020-21 report, Karnataka is ranked third with Andhra Pradesh and Goa with an Index score of 72.

Of the 16 goals in SDG India 2021 report, Karnataka has one Goal (goal 7) in achiever and in a front runner in nine goals and five goals are in performer categories.

Agriculture, Horticulture, Water Resources, Health and Family Welfare, Education, Food and Civil Supplies, Energy, Industry and Commerce, ITBT, Science and Technology, Urban Development (Municipal Administration), E-Governance, Housing Department (Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation Limited), Directorate of Economics and Statistics are implementing their new initiative.

The chief minister said this will improve the SDG indicators of the state and change the life of the citizens as well as ensure a better sustainable future.

He released a handbook regarding 20 best practices implemented by the state on the occasion of the economics and statistics anniversary programme organised by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Planning Department.

The handbook is brought out by the Planning, Programme Monitoring and Statistics Department in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through the partnership of SDGs Coordination Centre.

The book gives technical solutions, processes and methods of implementation, techniques for more emphasis to strengthen each of the best practices.

Minister of Planning and Statistics, Narayana Gowda, B J Puttaswamy, deputy chairman, Planning Commission, Samyuktha Samadar, advisor, NITI Aayog, Dr Shalini Rajaneesh, additional chief secretary, Planning Department and others were present on the occasion.