ENABLING DRIVERS

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT & GREEN GROWTH

LEADING INDIA'S GREEN REVOLUTION

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Tamil Nadu is a leader in sustainable and inclusive development, aligning its growth strategies with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In NITI Aayog’s latest SDG India Index (2023-24), Tamil Nadu ranks 3rd overall among States and earned the top spot in critical goals like No Poverty (SDG 1) and Climate Action (SDG 13). The State’s composite SDG score of 78 is above India’s average, reflecting strong performance across health, education, gender equality, and infrastructure goals. This progress comes from decades of investments in human development – Tamil Nadu has near-universal healthcare access, and a well-established public distribution system and social welfare schemes that drastically reduced poverty.

CLIMATE ACTION AND ENVIRONMENT

As One Of India's Most Industrialized States, Tamil Nadu Is Proactively Pursuing Green Growth. It Is A Renewable Energy Frontrunner – Ranking 4th Nationally In Solar Power Generation Capacity And Endowed With ~35 GW Potential In Wind Energy. The State Hosts 46% Of India's Renewable Energy Equipment Manufacturing (E.G. Solar Module Production) And Has Emerged As An Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Hub. In 2023, Tamil Nadu Accounted For 10% Of All EVs Sold In India And A Remarkable 40% Of The Country's EV Production (By Volume), Bolstered By EV-Friendly Policies And Major Investments In EV And Battery Plants. The Government Has Unveiled An Ambitious Climate Change Mission, Pledging Net Zero Carbon Emissions By 2050 – A Full 20 Years Ahead Of India's National 2070 Target. To Back This, A Dedicated Tamil Nadu Green Climate Fund Of ₹1,000 Crore Has Been Created For Financing Climate Mitigation Projects. All 38 Districts Have Formed Climate Change Cells To Integrate Adaptation & Resilience Measures Into Local Planning.

SOCIAL INCLUSION AND SDGS

Tamil Nadu's Development Model Emphasises Inclusive Growth. The State Consistently Tops Socio-Economic Indicators – For Instance, It Has One Of The Highest Human Development Index (HDI) Scores In India And Nearly Universal School Enrolment At The Elementary Level. Its Healthcare Infrastructure (Over 2,300 Primary Health Centres And 372 Government Hospitals) Ensures Broad Access, Yielding Health Outcomes Like High Life Expectancy And Low Maternal Mortality. In Education, Schemes Like Free Textbooks, Meals, And Scholarships Have Led To High Literacy And A Gender Parity Index In Schools Close To 1.00. The State Is Also A Medical Tourism Hub, Attracting 40% Of India's Medical Tourists For High-Quality Care, Which Speaks To The Robustness Of Health Services. On Gender Equality (SDG 5), Tamil Nadu Has Nearly Closed The Gender Gap In Education And Is Promoting Women's Employment Through Incentives (E.G., Subsidising Companies That Hire More Women).

SUCCESS IN SDG GOALS

Tamil Nadu's Effective Poverty Alleviation Programs (Rural Employment Guarantee, Urban Poverty Alleviation Initiatives) Have Made It A Model State For No Poverty (SDG1). Its Score Improved Significantly In Recent Years, Indicating Very Low Levels Of Extreme Poverty. For Clean Energy And Climate (SDG7 & SDG13), The State's Renewable Installations (Wind Farms In Muppandal, Solar Parks In Kamuthi, Etc.) And Leadership In EV Adoption Underscore Its Commitment. In Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure (SDG9), Tamil Nadu's Extensive Industrial Corridors, Tech Parks, And R&D Output Solidify Its Front-Runner Status. The State Also Performs Well On Decent Work & Economic Growth (SDG8) By Creating Millions Of Jobs Through Industrial Expansion While Formalising Labour And Skilling Youth.

CLIMATE ACTION AND ENVIRONMENT

The government has set measurable targets for each SDG – such as eliminating hunger (zero hunger, SDG2) through expanded food security schemes, improving water access (clean water, SDG6) via projects like Tamil Nadu Water Reservoir augmentation, and sustainable cities (SDG11) through the Smart Cities Mission in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, etc. By institutionalising SDG monitoring in its planning commission, Tamil Nadu ensures that economic growth does not come at the cost of social equity or environmental sustainability. The State’s balanced approach is often cited as a best practice in sustainable development, marrying industrial growth with welfare.