ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICT PROGRAMME

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The Prime Minister of India has expressed satisfaction over the progress made in the area of health, nutrition, education and exports under the Aspirational Districts program.

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 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.