India's states reflect disparities on key SDG health and development indicators as wide as those seen between the least and most developed nations - a new study by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reports.
In 2015, world leaders agreed to a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve a universal higher quality of life by 2030. Quality, timely and consistent data are essential to realizing these global goals, especially in emerging economies such as India. Global success in achieving these goals greatly depends upon India's success on attaining the SDGs.
Published in JAMA Network Open on February 11, this study is the first systematic midline assessment of progress made by 707 districts in India towards achieving SDGs related to health and social well-being. Findings revealed that every district in India is off-target on at least six indicators.
Co-authored by S.V. Subramanian, professor of population health and geography at the Harvard Chan School, Rockli Kim, visiting scientist in the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, and Sunil Rajpal, research fellow in the Harvard Geographic Insights Lab the study found that currently 60% of the 33 SDG indicators are off-target, including those related to anemia in women. The study underscores an increasing prevalence in anemia among pregnant and non-pregnant women between 2016 and 2021. If this trend continues, India may fail to meet its SDG anemia targets.
The study additionally found that India’s aspirational districts, launched in 2016 with a two-fold aim of ‘quickly’ and ‘effectively’ transforming 112 of the most underdeveloped districts, were in fact no more likely to meet SDG targets than other districts. Recognizing that there are extant programs and frameworks in place that can be linked and leveraged to improving these indicators, the findings of this study undoubtedly hold important ramifications for India.
Highlighting this moment of great need and opportunity, the authors recommend strategic roadmap mapping to more effectively analyze and assess the existing Government of India programs. Current gaps could be addressed by leveraging more precise metrics, creating data systems that provide reliable datasets in a timely manner, and engaging in strategic program restructuring and creation.
India’s emergence and durability as a leading economic power depends largely upon addressing its underlying health system challenges in an immediate and equitable manner. Opportunities to reduce these inequities exist, but long term success depends on bold leadership, innovative thinking and a long-term commitment to accelerate progress for all.
An interactive online dashboard displaying whether a district is Achieved-I, Achieved-II, On-Target or Off-Target is included for each of the 33 SDG indicators: https://geographicinsights.iq.harvard.edu/District-SDG-Progress
Figs. 4 & 5. Percentage of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators that are “On-Target” and “Off-Target” in 2021 for each district of India.
