Nagaland is taking concerted measures to improve its performance in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the State Government focusing on stronger inter-departmental coordination, improved data reporting and a more context-sensitive assessment of development indicators.
Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner Y Kikheto Sema made the remarks during a coordination meeting with Jaimon Uthup, Policy Specialist, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the State Transformation and Governance (STG) Cell and Planning Department officials at his office chamber at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat, Kohima on Friday.
Sema identified inadequate awareness among government departments regarding the importance of timely SDG data submission as one of the major factors behind Nagaland’s relatively low performance in the 2024 SDG assessment.
Several departments had either failed to submit accurate data or had not uploaded the required information on the designated dashboards and portals, he said adding, as a result, certain indicators were recorded as “zero” or “unreported” affecting the State’s overall performance.
According to a DIPR update, he also pointed to practical challenges in data collection, particularly at the grassroots level, where Anganwadi workers in some areas previously lacked smartphones and other necessary devices for uploading information to government portals. Training and capacity building initiatives are now being undertaken to address these challenges, he added.
Sema also highlighted the need to recognise Nagaland’s unique geographical, socio-economic and cultural context while assessing SDG indicators. He said some indicators are not fully relevant to the State, particularly those relating to agricultural productivity measured in kilograms per hectare.
He explained that agriculture in Nagaland is largely based on traditional and shifting cultivation practices, with limited use of chemical fertilisers, which naturally results in lower measured yields compared to areas practising intensive commercial agriculture. Such indicators, he said, should therefore be viewed in the context of the State’s distinct agricultural practices.
On gender equality, Sema noted that certain indicators had also failed to capture the actual participation and contribution of women in Nagaland. While earlier data may have indicated limited representation of women in local bodies, the present situation has improved considerably. He pointed out that women are actively represented in various village level institutions and committees, including Village Development Boards, Education Committees and Water and Sanitation Committees.
He further highlighted the significant role played by women in financial inclusion, particularly in rural areas, stating that women constitute a substantial share of account holders and beneficiaries of banking and financial services.
At the same time, Sema acknowledged that Nagaland continues to face genuine development gaps, particularly in health infrastructure, education, road connectivity, financial and banking services and regional disparities in development.
Referring to the NITI Aayog publication of July 2025 on district level performance, he said three districts of Nagaland namely Mokokchung, Kohima and Dimapur have featured among the top 10 performing districts in the Northeast. Mokokchung was ranked 4th, followed by Kohima at 6th and Dimapur at 10th. However, he noted that some districts of the State continue to remain at the lower end of the ranking, highlighting the significant disparity in development outcomes between the front-running and lagging districts.
Sema said the Government is optimistic that Nagaland’s position will improve in the next SDG assessment as departments have now become more aware of the importance of timely and accurate data submission. He said efforts are underway to update the required information and strengthen coordination among departments.
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Sema urged the UNDP representatives to convey the need for a more context-sensitive approach to SDG indicators, stating that a “one-size-fits-all” approach may not adequately reflect the realities of States such as Nagaland. He stressed that indicators that are not relevant or achievable within the State’s specific socio-economic and geographical context should be appropriately reviewed.
He said the State would undertake corrective measures based on the SDG assessment and, once the draft assessment is prepared, identify priority areas, districts and sectors requiring focused intervention to achieve the State’s development objectives.
Sema also proposed a meeting involving the Statistical, Planning and Finance departments to review the State’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) figures, noting the need to establish a consistent and reliable baseline for measuring economic growth and development.
Policy Specialist, UNDP, New Delhi, Jaimon Uthup, assured that the concerns and practical difficulties highlighted by the State would be conveyed to the UNDP Country Head and discussed at the appropriate level.
Appreciating the State’s continued engagement with the SDG framework, he acknowledged the practical difficulties and contextual factors explained by the State during the meeting. He said UNDP would continue to extend technical assistance and support to the Government of Nagaland in strengthening SDG implementation and monitoring.
Uthup also expressed optimism that Nagaland’s performance in the SDG Index would improve in the coming assessment, particularly in view of the renewed efforts by departments to update and upload data that had not been adequately reported in previous assessments.
The UNDP team also shared its observations and suggestions on strengthening the State’s SDG monitoring mechanism and improving the quality and availability of data across departments.
Lead Consultant, UNDP for the formulation of Viksit Nagaland, Sunder Subramanyam, presented the draft document on the vision and roadmap for Viksit Nagaland, outlining the key areas and proposed framework for the State’s development.
Subramanyam also acknowledged the need to incorporate the latest and most reliable statistical data to ensure that the document reflects an accurate assessment of the State’s development status and future requirements.
The UNDP team expressed the view that Nagaland is moving in the right direction and that the ongoing consultations with government departments and stakeholders would help strengthen the Viksit Nagaland 2047 roadmap and ensure that it is grounded in the State’s actual development needs.
The meeting was held in the context of the ongoing formulation and strengthening of the Viksit Nagaland 2047 vision framework and to identify the reasons behind Nagaland’s low ranking in the SDG assessment and to take corrective measures.
