Welcome to ICEF

SG1. Indicators of Sustainable Development for India (SDI)

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Implementing Organization: The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi.

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Start and End Date: October 2003–September 2005.

Towards Sustainable Development

With the objective of calibrating performance towards achieving the desired social, economic and environmental goals of the Government at various levels, a system of defining and assessing indicators for Sustainable Development (SD) is being undertaken in this project. This is being implemented through an extensive review of literature and adapting the Commission on Sustainable Development and the International Union for Conservation of Nature framework that carefully address the different dimensions of sustainability for the country. The study is unique in the sense that while considerable work has been undertaken for different issues, there does not exist a holistic set of the various dimensions of SD for the country.

Indicators for air quality, water quality and availability, land resources, forests, biodiversity, coastal and marine issues, and waste management have been considered under the environme-

ntal dimension. To keep the set to a manageable level, the indicators have been classified as core and supplementary. Some forward-looking indicators have also been considered in the study, which cannot be considered at present either due to lack of data or methodological constraints. A similar exercise has been undertaken for socio-economic issues and other aspects.

ICEF Co-chair, Joint Secretary, MoEF presiding over the final project workshop.

Progress In The Current Year

The complete set has evolved through a process of brainstorming sessions with sector experts. The indicators being considered are pilot-tested for Maharashtra using the information available from authentic sources. For issues such as equity and participation in the forestry sector, where obtaining secondary information was a problem, some field surveys have also been undertaken. The final set was presented to a mixed group of experts and drafts are being modified after considering their suggestions. Thereafter, it would be submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests.