• NET Web Desk

Northeastern States have attained remarkable positions in the recently released Good Governance Index (GGI) 2020-21 is a biannual exercise, which depicts the progress made across different sectors and indicators of States and Union Territories (UTs).

According to the Good Governance Index (CGI) 2020-21 among the Northeast Indian States, Mizoram stood at the top thereby registering an overall increase of 10.4% over GGI 2019. Tripura and Sikkim stood at the second and third position respectively.

Meanwhile, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya & Arunachal Pradesh stood at 4th, fifth, sixth, 7th & 8th positions respectively.

Launched by the Department of Administration Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Government of India, the Framework was published on the occasion of ‘Good Governance Day’ i.e., December 25, 2021. The index was released by Union Minister of Home Affairs & Cooperation Amit Shah.

The GGI Index 2020-21 Framework covered 10 sectors and 58 indicators. The 10 sectors include – Agriculture & Allied Sector, Commerce & Industry, Human Resource Development, Public Health, Public Infrastructure and Utilities, Economic Governance, Social Welfare & Development, Judiciary & Public Safety, Environment, and Citizen Centric Governance.

Besides, the GGI 2020-21 categorizes of 4 parts – Group A, Group B, North-East and Hill States, and Union Territories (UTs).

As per the Agriculture & Allied Sector, Mizoram scored a total of 0.613, Sikkim – 0.487, Tripura & Assam scored 0.412 & 0.406 respectively, Manipur – 0.391, Meghalaya – 0.296, Nagaland & Arunachal Pradesh scored – 0.250 & 0.241 respectively.

In case of Commerce & Industry, among Northeastern States, Assam stood at the top scoring – 0.645, Mizoram at the second scoring – 0.411, Sikkim stood at the third – 0.410, Tripura & Nagaland scored – 0.376 & 0.321, Arunachal Pradesh – 0.267, Meghalaya – 0.261 and Manipur stood at – 0.116.

Among the Northeastern States in case of Human Resource Development, Tripura scored the highest – 0.539, Meghalaya & Assam scored – 0.446 & 0.441 respectively. However, Mizoram, Sikkim & Nagaland scored – 0.435, 0.429 & 0.372 respectively, Arunachal Pradesh & Manipur scored – 0.306 & 0.294 respectively.

In case of Public Health, Mizoram ranked at the top with 0.693, Sikkim, Manipur, Meghalaya scored 0.609, 0.559 & 0.540 respectively. Nagaland – 0.532, Tripura – 0.401, Arunachal Pradesh & Assam scored – 0.327 & 0.215.

As per the Public Infrastructure and Utilities among Northeastern states, Sikkim stood at 0.800, Mizoram – 0.729, Manipur & Arunachal Pradesh stood at – 0.688 & 0.665 respectively, Tripura – 0.641, Nagaland – 0.640, Assam & Meghalaya scored – 0.572 & 0.435 respectively.

In case of Economic Governance, Tripura stood at the top – 0.514, Mizoram – 0.459, Assam – 0.426, Sikkim, Meghalaya & Manipur stood at – 0.420, 0.263 & 0.176. While, Nagaland & Arunachal Pradesh stood at – 0.166 & 0.117 respectively.

If Social Welfare and Development is taken into account, Sikkim undertook the top position scoring – 0.634, Mizoram, Tripura & Meghalaya scored – 0.555, 0.537, 0.518 respectively. Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Nagaland scored – 0.407, 0.390, 0.334 & 0.333 respectively.

According to Judiciary and Public Security, Nagaland stood at the top with 0.566, Mizoram, Sikkim & Tripura scored – 0.427, 0.416, 0.408 respectively. Meghalaya – 0.396, Manipur – 0.380, Arunachal Pradesh & Assam scored – 0.324 & 0.187 respectively.

Taking the section of environment into context, Manipur stood at top scoring – 0.362, Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya scored – 0.360, 0.260 & 0.238 respectively. Sikkim – 0.200, Arunachal Pradesh – 0.132, Nagaland – 0.120, Mizoram – 0.110.

As per the Citizen Centric Governance category among Northeastern states, Assam scored – 0.556, Mizoram – 0.440, Tripura & Nagaland scored – 0.318 & 0.314 respectively. While, Manipur scored – 0.115, Meghalaya – 0.083, Arunachal Pradesh – 0.070 and Sikkim scored – 0.001.

Furthermore, Gujarat, Maharashtra & Goa topped the composite rank score, as mentioned by the Framework.

The Good Governance Index (CGI) 2020-21 is a comprehensive and implementable framework to assess the state of Governance across states and Union Territories (UTs).

Based on GGI Framework, a comparative picture is provided among the states while developing competitive spirit for improvement.