War of words erupts between Odisha BJP, ruling BJD over SDG India Index report

The report by Niti Aayog also underscored how Odisha was lagging behind in meeting the SDG goals of zero poverty, no hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality etc.

Odisha’s poor performance in the Niti Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals India Index 2020-21 has sparked a political slugfest in the state between the ruling BJD and the BJP, with the latter targeting the government for failing to boost the state’s ranking across key parameters. The index, developed in collaboration with the UN, measures the progress at the national and sub-national level in India's journey towards meeting global goals and targets. It has been successful as an advocacy tool to propagate the messages of sustainability, resilience, and partnerships. BJP national spokesperson and Lok Sabha MP Aparajita Sarangi tore into the state government over why Odisha had figured in the bottom five states in the SDG report, adding that the BJD had failed the state when it came to critical governance indicators.