Chapter 13: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
1. Bihar’s Overall Performance in SDG Index (2023–24)
- Bihar continues to rank low in the NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index.
- Out of 113 total indicators, Bihar performed better than national average in 9 out of 28 indicators related to children.
- Bihar’s strongest performance was in:
- SDG-6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) – Ranked 3rd with a score of 98.
- Notable progress in drinking water access, sanitation, and school toilet infrastructure.
2. SDG Progress in Key Sectors
- Education (SDG-4):
- Number of out-of-school children (2023–24): 33,285 in age group 6–13.
- Implementation of child cabinets (Bal Sansads) in schools to promote child participation.
- Health and Nutrition (SDG-3):
- Steady reduction in stunting, wasting, underweight as per NFHS-5.
- Continued high levels of infant and child mortality remain a concern.
- Gender Equality (SDG-5):
- Focused programmes like Kishori Manch to reduce dropout of adolescent girls.
- School infrastructure now includes 92% with girls’ toilets.
- Water & Sanitation (SDG-6):
- Households with access to safe drinking water: 99.2% (up from 98.4%).
- Sanitation coverage: improved from 26.5% to 49.4% between NFHS-4 and NFHS-5.
3. Child-Centric Initiatives Supporting SDGs
- Mission Vatsalya and Parvarish schemes for vulnerable children.
- Mukhya Mantri School Safety Programme (MSSP) for safety drills and disaster awareness.
- Track Child portal and Child Helpline 1098 aiding child protection services.
4. Inclusive Development and Participation
- SPARSH programme for visually impaired children under inclusive education.
- Provision of sports material in over 75,000 schools and development of rural playgrounds.
- Shift to NEP’s 5+3+3+4 system to align early childhood care with formal schooling.
Conclusion
Bihar has taken measurable steps to align its development efforts with SDG targets, especially in sectors like water, sanitation, education, and child welfare. However, challenges remain in areas like nutrition, mortality, and gender equity. The focus is now on translating progress into consistent state-wide impact through data-backed governance and sustained investments.
📚 Chapter-wise Links:
- Chapter 1: Overview of Bihar’s Economy
- Chapter 2: State Finances
- Chapter 3: Agriculture and Allied Activities
- Chapter 4: Industry and Mining+
- Chapter 5: Labour, Employment, and Skill Development