Why in News?

• The Prime Minister of India recently launched the Aspirational Block Programme (ABP), which is aimed at improving performance of blocks lagging on various development parameters.
• Launching the ABP, PM underscored the success achieved in various Aspirational Districts in the country under the Aspirational District Programme (ADP).

 What’s in today’s article?

• Why was the ADP or the ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ initiative launched?
• How has the ADP performed?
• News Summary

 Why was the ADP or the ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ initiative launched?

• Launched in 2018, the ADP aims to quickly and effectively transform (socio-economic status of) 112 most under-developed districts across the country, with a vision of a New India by 2022.
• The focus is to improve India’s ranking under the Human Development Index (HDI) and localising Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), leading to the progress of the nation.
• The districts have been identified by NITI Aayog based upon composite indicators from -
  • Health and Nutrition (30%),
  • Education (30%),
  • Agriculture & Water Resources (20%),
  • Financial Inclusion & Skill development (10%) and
  • Basic Infrastructure (10%), which have an impact on HDI.
• The broad contours (all driven by a mass movement) of the programme are -
  • Convergence (of Central & State Schemes),
  • Collaboration (of Central, State level Nodal Officers & District Collectors), and
  • Competition among districts through monthly delta ranking (available on the Champions of Change Dashboard), so that they can learn from others in the spirit of competitive and cooperative federalism.
• With States as the main drivers, this program focuses on the strength of each district, identifying low-hanging fruits for immediate improvement and measuring progress by ranking districts on a monthly basis.
• NITI Aayog works closely with the respective line Ministries and various development partners to fast-track progress at the district level, ensuring inclusive growth for all, ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’.

 How has the ADP performed?

• The UNDP India has lauded the ADP as ‘a very successful model of local area development’, and acted as a catalyst for expediting development in the previously neglected districts, including those affected by Left Wing Extremism.
• The programme has strengthened the technical and administrative capacities of the districts, however, there was a need to focus more on capacity building.
• Best Practice under the ADP - GoalMart: It is an e-commerce portal launched by Assam’s Goalpara district administration to promote rural, ethnic and agrarian products of the district in the national and global markets. 

News Summary:

• Background: In her Budget (2022-23) speech, the Finance Minister had announced the government’s intention to launch the ABP.
• About the ABP:
  • The ABP will take the aspirational district model up to block level and will enable holistic development in those areas that require added assistance.
  • The programme will cover 500 districts across 31 states and UTs initially and over half of these blocks are in 6 states - Uttar Pradesh (68 blocks), Bihar (61), Madhya Pradesh (42), Jharkhand (34), Odisha (29) and West Bengal (29).