Mizoram has emerged as a frontrunner in India’s sustainable development journey, with all 11 of its districts earning ‘Front Runner’ status in the NITI Aayog North Eastern Region SDG Index 2023–24….reports Asian Lite News
Mizoram has emerged as a standout performer in the NITI Aayog’s North Eastern Region SDG Index 2023–24, with all 11 of its districts earning ‘Front Runner’ status. Among them, Hnahthial district led the entire Northeast with a score of 81.4, followed closely by Champhai at 79.8. The classification of ‘Front Runner’ applies to districts scoring between 65 and 99, and this milestone reflects Mizoram’s impressive progress in sectors such as health, education, gender equality, clean water access, and the creation of sustainable communities.
Mizoram is among just three Northeastern states—alongside Sikkim and Tripura—where every district has achieved Front Runner status. This achievement underlines not only the state’s consistent policy implementation but also its ability to deliver development across diverse and often remote areas. The SDG Index, which monitors progress on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals at the district level, offers a unique view into local governance performance in a region that is often underserved in broader national metrics.
While NITI Aayog noted an overall improvement across the Northeastern region, it also highlighted minor declines in areas such as clean energy adoption, reducing inequality, and promoting responsible consumption. Still, Mizoram’s performance puts it at the forefront of sustainable development efforts, reinforcing its position as a model for other states in the region.
Coinciding with this achievement, a high-level consultative meeting was held in New Delhi between the 16th Finance Commission and Chief Ministers and senior officials from seven Northeastern states. Mizoram’s Chief Minister Lalduhoma, who was among the key participants, presented the state’s specific financial demands and challenges. A joint memorandum was submitted to the Finance Commission, outlining the region’s common concerns and urging for more flexible and equitable financial support mechanisms.
In his address, Chief Minister Lalduhoma emphasised the need for a higher share in tax devolution, pointing out that the current population-based formula puts smaller states like Mizoram at a disadvantage. He argued that while population is an important metric, it does not reflect the geographical challenges and infrastructural demands that come with governing a sparsely populated, hilly state.
Lalduhoma also urged the Commission to include region-specific vulnerabilities in its Disaster Risk Index. Citing frequent natural disasters such as landslides, cloudbursts, heavy rainfall, and forest fires, he stressed that these recurring hazards warrant focused financial assistance. Another major issue raised was the disproportionately high cost of transportation in Mizoram’s rugged terrain. The Chief Minister called for special financial support to offset logistical challenges that are not adequately factored into current funding formulas.
In addition, the Mizoram government advocated for enhanced funding to strengthen autonomous District Councils and rural local bodies, particularly in remote tribal regions. These institutions are essential for inclusive development and service delivery, but often lack adequate resources.
Amid these discussions on sustainable growth and financial equity, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, announced a comprehensive initiative to boost the maritime and inland waterways sector in the Northeast. Speaking at a press conference in Guwahati, Sonowal revealed that the Union Government has earmarked ₹5,000 crore for various projects aimed at transforming the region into a hub for inland shipping, trade, and tourism.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has already undertaken projects worth ₹1,000 crore in the Northeast over the past two years, with ₹300 crore completed and the remaining ₹700 crore expected to be delivered by 2025. These include the construction of permanent cargo terminals at strategic locations such as Pandu, Jogighopa, Dhubri, Bogibeel, Karimganj and Badarpur. Tourism is also receiving a major boost, with jetties being built at key sites and cruise operations planned under central government schemes.
Sonowal highlighted the government’s plan to train 50,000 youth from the Northeast in maritime skills over the next decade. The Maritime Skill Development Centre in Guwahati and a new ₹200 crore Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh are central to this plan and are expected to generate around 500 jobs annually. He also mentioned that the Ministry will introduce 100 modern barges operated by a leading global logistics firm by 2025 to enhance cargo movement, especially along National Waterways 2 and 16.
A major highlight of the press conference was the update on the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP), a strategic initiative linking Kolkata Port to Mizoram via Myanmar. According to Sonowal, the project will be fully operational by 2027. Once completed, it will bypass the Siliguri Corridor and provide direct sea access to India’s Northeast, linking the region to Southeast Asian markets. This route will not only reduce transit time and cost but also open up new trade opportunities for countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar.
He explained that goods from Kolkata would be shipped to Myanmar’s Sittwe Port and from there transported to Paletwa via inland waterways, then onwards by road to Zorinpui in Mizoram. He also noted that another trade route via Teknaf Port in Bangladesh to Sabroom in Tripura will become viable. This will dramatically improve export-import logistics for states like Mizoram and Tripura, whose businesses will gain access to newer markets for products such as garments, construction materials, timber, seafood, and rice.
Sonowal announced further investment of ₹610 crore to deploy 10 state-of-the-art dredgers for year-round navigability in the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers. In addition, 85 community jetties will be developed to connect rural regions, and lighthouses with integrated weather forecasting systems are being planned in Pandu, Bogibeel, Tezpur, and Biswanath Ghat.
From sustainable development scores to ambitious maritime infrastructure, the Northeast is being repositioned as a strategic frontier in India’s growth narrative. Mizoram, in particular, stands out not only for its performance on development indicators but also for its active participation in national-level planning and its readiness to seize emerging opportunities. These developments reflect a growing consensus that the region, long considered peripheral, is now central to India’s inclusive and sustainable future.
