Tamil Nadu has emerged as a frontrunner in India's pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to its latest State Indicator Framework (SIF). The data, released by the state's planning and development department on Monday, shows Tamil Nadu consistently outperforming the national average across a majority of critical development parameters.
Health and Education: Setting National Benchmarks
The report highlights exceptional strides in public health. Tamil Nadu's under-5 mortality rate stands at a low 13 per 1,000 live births, which is notably better than recent national surveys indicate. The state has achieved near-universal coverage for institutional deliveries at 99.98%. Furthermore, life expectancy is higher at 73.2 years, and the financial burden on families is lighter, with out-of-pocket health spending constituting only 9.1% of household consumption.
In the education sector, Tamil Nadu continues to excel. It boasts the highest gross enrolment ratio in higher education among all states at 47%, surpassing the national average. The state has also achieved gender parity in higher education with a score of 1.01, outperforming the country's overall level. The report confirms that every school in Tamil Nadu now has access to electricity and drinking water.
Poverty, Employment, and Infrastructure: Comprehensive Gains
The state's performance in social protection and employment is equally impressive. Under the rural jobs scheme, Tamil Nadu provided employment to 100% of households that demanded work, exceeding national coverage rates. Its multidimensional poverty headcount ratio is a mere 2.2%, significantly below the national figure.
Infrastructure development tells a story of widespread access. Over 81.87% of rural households have piped water supply, a figure above the all-India average. All districts in the state have been verified as open defecation-free. In the energy sector, Tamil Nadu has achieved full household electrification and generates more than half of its power from renewable sources, a share higher than the national average.
Data-Driven Governance for Future Challenges
The positive outcomes are also reflected in the employment sector, where the unemployment rate for the 15-59 age group has fallen to 4.8%, lower than the national rate. However, the SIF framework also outlines a roadmap for further improvement. It calls for more granular data at the district and block levels, faster updates of administrative indicators, and a stronger link between SDG outcomes and budget allocations.
The framework emphasizes the need to periodically revise indicators to account for emerging challenges like climate and urban risks. It also advocates for enhanced capacity building for government departments and local bodies to better utilize data for informed policy-making and decision-making processes.
