ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICT PROGRAMME

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Context - The Union Government has reviewed the progress of work under the Aspirational District Programme (ADP).

 

Details

• The Aspirational District Programme is scientifically designed with evaluation based on certain essential criteria.
• The Programme was launched by the Prime Minister in January 2018.
• It aims to quickly and effectively transform under-developed districts across the country.
• The general strategy of the programme includes Convergence, Collaboration and Competition among districts through monthly delta ranking.

 

Aspirational District Programme (ADP)

• The Union Government launched the ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ programme in 2018.
• The overall objective of the programme;
  • Convergence of Central & State Schemes.
  • Collaboration of Central, State level ‘Prabhari’ Officers and District Collectors.
  • Competition among districts with a spirit of mass Movement.
• 115 districts were transparently identified from 28 states by a committee of Senior Officers to the Government of India, in consultation with State Officials using a composite index.
  • The Composite index included data from the Socio-Economic Caste Census, Key health and education sector performance and the basic infrastructure of the State.
• The NITI Aayog coordinates and manages the programme with support from Central Ministries and the State Governments.
  • NITI Aayog is supervising the initiative in 30 districts.
  • Various central ministries oversee 50 districts.
  • The Ministry of Home Affairs focuses on 35 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts.
• The Officers at the level of Joint Secretary or Additional Secretary are nominated to become the ‘Central Prabhari Officers’ of each district.
• States have appointed Prabhari officers.
• An Empowered Committee under the NITI Aayog will help in the convergence of various government schemes and efforts.
• NITI Aayog release the Delta ranking for Aspirational Districts to assess the performance across 5 developmental areas;
  • Health and Nutrition
  • Education
  • Agriculture and Water Resources
  • Financial Inclusion and Skill Development
  • Basic Infrastructure

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NITI Aayog

• The Planning commission was inspired by the USSR/Soviet Model, Prime Minister established a Planning Commission in 1950 to design the five-year Plans for India.
  • In 2015, it was replaced by a new organisation named National Institution for Transforming India (NITI)
• Promote Cooperative Federalism
  • The Governing Council of NITI Aayog has Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories and State Chief Ministers.
  • NITI Aayog Constituted a Committee of State Chief Ministers to examine important issues.
• Promote Competitive Federalism
  • NITI Aayog has Prepared online dashboards to rank the States on various indicators of development Such as;
    • Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index.
    • Health Index.
    • School Education Quality Index.
    • Digital Transformation Index.
  • Launched Aspirational District Programs for monitoring the Progress of backward districts.
• NITI Aayog has not been given the mandate or Powers to impose Policies on States.
  • NITI Aayog is a think tank or an advisory body.
• The Powers for allocation of funds have not been given to the NITI Aayog. The Powers are with the Finance Ministry.
• As a ‘think-tank’, Niti Aayog has helped the government In framing various Policies on;
  • Clean energy
  • Methanol based economy
  • Infrastructure, human development etc.
  • The model acts on agricultural land leasing, livestock Selling etc.
• NITI Aayog regularly organises Seminars, Workshops, and Conferences.
• NITI initiated Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) to help Startups. NITI is developing the National Program on Artificial Intelligence.
• NITI’s approach is modernised, forward-looking, and less bureaucratic; NITI Aayog is playing an important role as a think tank for Economic growth, Human development and Good governance in India.

 

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1823404