Odisha is now ranked 5th in the India Today State survey this year, a giant leap from rank 16 last year due to infrastructural development and improvement in macro economy.
The survey has shown that long incumbent leaders can also make a difference.
Odisha and Assam, headed by BJD’s Naveen Patnaik and Congress’ Tarun Gogoi, respectively, for the last 15 years, have made impressive leaps in their ranking. Assam this time has climbed to seventh from 19th.
The number 1 spot is taken by Sikkim, which is ruled by Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling for the last two decades, from rank seven.
This annual survey rates and ranks each State Government’s performance over the last year across a range of sectors such as infrastructure, health, agriculture, investment, education and macro economy.
The upward ranking of Odisha, however, received flak from the State’s opposition parties. Dubbing the report as “paid news”, leader of Opposition and Congress stalwart Narasingha Mishra said one can judge the State’s progress from the grave setback in agriculture resulting in increasing farmer suicides, water scarcity, etc.
BJP spokesperson Prithwiraj Harichandan also described the survey report as one based on faulty findings.