Uttar Pradesh deliberate on accelerating SDG targets focused on health, nutrition and education

Uttar Pradeshgovernment on Wednesday (September 16, 2026) reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through Education, Health and Nutrition. The government organized brainstorming sessions in Lucknow with various departments and stakeholders, including experts, development partners, practitioners and senior officials, to deliberate on strategies for accelerating progress for the SDG goals and asked officials to escalate their efforts.“The Government of Uttar Pradesh, through the Planning Department, organized two high-level workshops in Lucknow today under the theme Empowering Futures: Accelerating SDGs through Education and Health & Nutrition. The workshops brought together senior government officials, development partners, experts, academics and practitioners to deliberate on strategies for accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs]. In the event, we examined critical challenges and opportunities in these sectors through the framework of key Sustainable Development Goal indicators. The broader aim is to translate evidence into actionable policy and programmatic strategies aimed at improving access, quality, equity, and service delivery. By promoting cross-sector dialogue and integrated planning, the initiative seeks to support informed decision-making and advance sustainable and inclusive development outcomes in Uttar Pradesh,” said Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary, Planning. The first session discussed challenges and solutions related to the SDGs associated with health and nutrition. Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Amit Kumar Ghosh said that effective use of data, technology and innovation is necessary for better outcomes. Additional Chief Secretary, Child Development and Nutrition, Leena Johri, emphasised strengthening Anganwadi services and effective implementation of schemes for better health and nutrition of children and mothers. Former Member of NITI Aayog, V.K. Paul, said that investment in health, nutrition and education is important for human development.During the panel discussion, Shweta Khandelwal, Ravi Parhi, Vinod Kumar Agrawal, Anupama Shandilya and Ashutosh Kumar Singh shared their views on the challenges of preventable deaths, low weight among children and underdeveloped physical growth. Himanshu Burad, Piyush Antony, Kanika Agrawal and Alok Saxena shared their views on strengthening health infrastructure and data systems through AI.Speaking on the occassion, Amit Kumar Ghosh, Additional Chief Secretary Medical, Health and Family Welfare Department said, “Health and nutrition are foundational to human well-being and sustainable development. Over the past decade, India has made significant progress in improving maternal, neonatal and child health outcomes, as well as nutritional status. Uttar Pradesh, given its large population and diverse socio-economic landscape, has also registered notable improvements across several key indicators,”. In the second session, Additional Chief Secretary, Basic and Secondary Education, Partha Sarathi Sen Sharma, said that quality education is the foundation of the SDGs and that better educational opportunities and necessary skills strengthen human development. Principal Secretary, Vocational Education and Skill Development, Hari Om, said that skill development along with education connects young people with employment and better opportunities. Quality education and employment-oriented training are necessary for the SDGs.Shankar Narayanan, Vinod Karate, Sunil Kumar, Prem Ranjan Singh and Vishnu Kant Pandey discussed enrolment, retaining children in schools, digital skills and better learning outcomes. Balwant Singh Mehta, Krishna Kumar Singh, Ananya Samajdar and Pranav Bansode shared their views on changes in skills, employment and careers in line with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Deliberations were also held on accelerating the SDGs related to vocational education and skill development.The workshop highlighted the progress made by Uttar Pradesh in localizing and monitoring the SDGs. According to the Uttar Pradesh SDG Index 2024-25, the State has achieved a composite SDG score of 69.95, with district scores ranging from 61.48 to 75.85.Raj Shekhar, Secretary, Planning Department, said the State has developed a comprehensive institutional and monitoring architecture for SDG localization. “The Planning Department is the nodal department for SDGs, with nodal departments identified for the relevant goals. The State has also developed a Common Indicator Framework comprising 245 indicators and an SDG Dashboard/Portal for monitoring progress,” added Mr. Raj Shekhar.