7TH INDIA TODAY STATE OF STATES CONCLAVE
Sikkim honoured with four awards

Punjab, Delhi are best performing states


New Delhi, Sept 14: Punjab and Delhi were honoured as the overall best performing big and small states respectively at the 7th India Today State of States Conclave held in New Delhi today.

Among the small states, Delhi's performance in consumer markets and infrastructure was adjudged the best while Goa was honoured for health, investment and macro economy.

Sikkim was honoured with four awards. It has ranked first in Education in the small State category .For the India Today Bharat Nirman Awards among the small State category Sikkim was ranked highest in the rural roads, E-governance and rural electrification. The awards were presented by the chief guest, Union Minister Agriculture and Food, Sharad Pawar. Chief Minister Pawan Chamling was present on this occasion to receive the awards.

The 2009 edition of the Conclave saw Punjab walk away with best performance among big states in agriculture, consumer markets and infrastructure. Himachal ranked the highest among the big states in education, health and investment.

For the India Today Bharat Nirman Awards, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu were the best big states in Rural Roads and Irrigation respectively. Andhra Pradesh was adjudged the best big state in Rural Electrification.

The full list of rankings is as follows:

INDIA TODAY STATE OF THE STATES 2009
Overall Performance
• Best Big State: Punjab
• Best Small State: Delhi
• Fastest Mover: Himachal Pradesh
Agriculture
• Best Big State: Punjab
• Best Small State: Puducherry
• Fastest Mover (2003-09): Punjab
Consumer Markets
• Best Big State: Punjab
• Best Small State: Delhi
• Fastest Mover (2003-09): Maharashtra
Education
• Best Big State: Himachal Pradesh
• Best Small State: Sikkim
• Fastest Mover (2003-09): Uttarakhand
Law and Order
• Best Big State: Kerala
• Best Small State: Puducherry
• Fastest Mover (2003-09): Karnataka
Health
• Best Big State: Himachal Pradesh
• Best Small State: Goa
• Fastest Mover (2003-09): Uttarakhand
Infrastructure
• Best Big State: Punjab
• Best Small State: Delhi
• Fastest Mover (2003-09): Punjab
Investment
• Best Big State: Himachal Pradesh
• Best Small State: Goa
• Fastest Mover (2003-09): Himachal Pradesh
Macro Economy
• Best Big State: Himachal Pradesh
• Best Small State: Goa
• Fastest Mover (2003-09): Himachal Pradesh
INDIA TODAY BHARAT NIRMAN AWARDS
NREGA
• Best Big State: Rajasthan
• Best Small State: Mizoram
Rural Roads
• Best Big State: Uttar Pradesh
• Best Small State: Sikkim
Irrigation
• Best Big State: Tamil Nadu
• Best Small State: Arunachal Pradesh
Housing for Poor
• Best Big State: Uttarakhand
• Best Small State: Nagaland
Rural Electrification
• Best Big State: Andhra Pradesh
• Best Small State: Sikkim
Drinking Water
• Best Big State: Kerala
• Best Small State: Arunachal Pradesh
E-Governance
• Best Big State: Haryana
• Best Small State: Sikkim