MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS
(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)
(a) The Aspirational Districts Programme launched on 5th January 2018 by the Government of India and anchored by NITI Aayog, aims to bring transformative changes in the most under-developed districts of India called Aspirational Districts. There are 112 Aspirational Districts, across 26 States and 1 Union Territory. These were selected through a transparent process on basis of published data. List of data sets and the weight attached to them for selection of these districts is attached in Annexure - I.
The programme envisages to bring development by improving such performance indicators which are critical for improving quality of life or economic productivity of citizens. These indicators cover sectors such as Health and Nutrition, School Education, Agriculture and Water Resources, Financial Inclusion and Skill Development and Basic Infrastructure. The broad strategy of the Aspirational Districts Programme rests on the 3 Cs – Convergence (between Central and State Schemes), Collaboration (between Centre, State, District Administration, Development Partners and Citizens) and Competition (between Districts). Every month, districts are ranked on basis of progress made and this instils them with a sense of competition. Another strategy of the programme is nomination of Joint Secretary/Additional Secretary level officials from Government of India as Central Prabhari Officers for each of the district.
As the main strategy of the programme is based on convergence of existing schemes which have their own funding arrangement, infusion of additional fund is not envisaged. However, in order to foster a competitive spirit, small additional allocation on the basis of performance is also envisaged. Every month, districts are assessed on the basis of monthly progress and the best performing Districts in overall terms and in each of the five sectors are identified. The first and second rankers in overall terms are awarded ?10 crores and ?5 crores respectively. The first ranker from each of the five sectors is awarded ?3 crores each.
Under this arrangement, the Aspirational Districts of Assam and Rajasthan have so far been sanctioned a total of ?128.42 crores (approx.). Further details of funds sanctioned are provided in Annexure II.
(b) List of Aspirational Districts of Assam and Rajasthan is provided in Annexure III.
(c) No. The Aspirational Districts Programme follows the whole district approach and as the focus is to improve the district level indicators, it is envisaged that backward areas within a district would receive more attention.
(d) The Aspirational Districts Progamme does not specify any targets as it is to be decided by the State Governments/Districts concerned. The programme, on the other hand measures the relative performance of a district.
(e) and (f) At present there is no proposal / provision to include more Districts under the Aspirational Districts Programme.
(g) The Aspirational Districts Programme is over and above the existing schemes of the Central and the State Governments concerned and as such various Central and State schemes, including the National Nutrition Mission (NNM) are implemented in the districts as per the approved guidelines of these schemes. Under NNM specifically, in 112 aspirational districts that include 7 Aspirational Districts in Assam, more than 2 cr beneficiaries are registered on Poshan tracker. All 7 Aspirational Districts in Assam have procured smart phones and Growth Monitoring devices. The NNM aims to ensure nutritional sufficiency for women and children by strengthening nutritional content, delivery, transparency and outreach through an integrated approach. It is primarily delivered through the anganwadi eco system in the country.
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Annexure – I
List of data sets and weights used for selection of Aspirational Districts
DATABASES SECTOR WEIGHT
Landless households dependent on Manual labour
(Socio Economic Caste Census – Deprivation 7) Deprivation
(25%) 25%
Ante natal care
(National Health and Family Survey (NHFS) - 4)
Health & Nutrition
(30%) 7.5%
Institutional delivery (NHFS-4) 7.5%
Stunting of children below 5 years (NHFS-4) 7.5%
Wasting in children below 5 years (NHFS-4) 7.5%
Elementary dropout rate (Unified District Information System for Education (U-DISE) 2015-16) Education
(15%) 7.5%
Adverse pupil teacher ratio (U-DISE 2015-16) 7.5%
Un-electrified households (Ministry of Power)
Infra
(30%) 7.5%
Households without individual toilets
(Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation) 7.5%
Un-connected PMGSY village
(Ministry of Rural Development) 7.5%
Rural Household without access to water
(Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation) 7.5%
Total 100%
Annexure II
Details of Funds sanctioned to the Aspirational Districts of Rajasthan and Assam
S.No. State Name District Name Funds Sanctioned (In ?cr.)
1. Rajasthan Jaisalmer 5.88
2. Rajasthan Dholpur 14.99
3. Rajasthan Karauli 5.99
4. Rajasthan Baran 12.90
5. Assam Barpeta 20.00
6. Assam Hailakandi 20.99
7. Assam Baksa 10.71
8. Assam Darrang 11.00
9. Assam Udalguri 19.97
10. Assam Dhubri 5.99
Annexure III
List of Aspirational Districts of Rajasthan and Assam
State Name District Name
Rajasthan Jaisalmer
Rajasthan Dholpur
Rajasthan Karauli
Rajasthan Baran
Rajasthan Sirohi
Assam Barpeta
Assam Hailakandi
Assam Baksa
Assam Darrang
Assam Udalguri
Assam Dhubri
Assam Goalpara
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