Punjab, January 3: Punjab has slipped by two points on the Niti Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) India Index and is placed at the 12th rank in 2019 out of 36 states and Union Territories.

Commenting on it, Punjab Health Minister Balbir Sidhu says, "I don't think there is anyone in Punjab who sleeps without eating food, anyone who does is probably doing it to reduce weight. We in Punjab have a such a healthy and rich diet, there is no question of anyone sleeping hungry." Punjab Has Most Kids With Iron Deficiency As Per CNNS Report; Here's What Children Should Eat to Avoid Anaemia.

Echoing similar views, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Punjab Minister said, "We never had starvation. Everyone should work, a person who works can never die of starvation in Punjab. These are the wrong figures. We give atta and dal free, a person can't even make roti?"

Check ANI tweet:

Haryana, on the other hand, ranked 18th in the Niti Aayog’s sustainable development goals (SDG) report for 2019-20. Haryana has not witnessed improvement in the percentage of the population that is below the national poverty line, comprising of 11.16 per cent this year like in 2018. However, the state has shown an improvement in areas such as education.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 03, 2020 10:58 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).