Lok Sabha Question No. 263 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-03
Subject: Aspirational Districts Programme
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: Dileshwar Kamait, Abdul Khaleque, Geeta Kora, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Nihal Chand Chauhan, Jaskaur Meena, Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 263 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.02.2021

## ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS PROGRAMME

## †263.   SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

SHRI NIHAL CHAND:

SHRIMATI JASKAUR MEENA:

SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR:

SHRI ABDUL KHALEQUE:

SHRIMATI GEETA KORA:

SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) The salient features,  criteria,  indicators  and  survey  for  selection  of  the  Aspirational Districts Programme;
- (b) The State-wise districts selected as aspirational districts across the country including in Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Bihar;
- (c) The details  of  the  amount  of  funds/projects  sanctioned/allocated  and  utilized  in  the districts in other States including Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Bihar covered under the said programme in the country;
- (d) The details of the target set by the Union Government along with the achievements made till date and the focus areas identified under the said programme;
- (e) Whether  the  Government  proposes  to  include/cover  more  districts  including  Dausa under the said programme, State-wise along with districts proposed in Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand and if so, the time by which it is likely to be covered included; and
- (f) Whether the Government gave priority to the districts affected by left wing extremism or focus areas identified while selecting aspirational districts?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTER OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) There are 112 Aspirational Districts, across 26 States and 1 Union Territory. These were selected through a transparent process on the basis of published data. List of data

sets  and  the  weight  attached  to  them  for  selection  of  these  districts  is  attached  in Annexure - I.

As regard salient feature of the programme, it aims at rapid transformation of these backward districts  across  sectors  which  are  critical  for  improving  quality  of  life  or economic  productivity  of  citizens.  These  sectors  are  Health  and  Nutrition,  School Education, Agriculture and Water Resources, Financial Inclusion and Skill Development  and  Basic  Infrastructure.  49  key  performance  indicators  have  been selected across these sectors and a district's performance is monitored on the basis of progress  made  on  these  indicators.  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 the basis of progress made and this instill them with a sense of competition which results  in  rapid  improvement.  In  order  that  the  data  quality  under  this  programme improves,  there  is  a  provision  of  third-party  validation  of  important  indicators. 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.  The  role  of  these  Prabhari  Officers  is  to  guide  the  district administration on basis of their long experience.

- (b) The State-wise list of all 112 Aspirational Districts is attached as Annexure - II.
- (c) As the main strategy of the programme is based on convergence of existing schemes which have their own funding arrangement, large infusion of additional fund is not envisaged.  However,  in  order  to  foster  competitive  spirit,  and  for  addressing  the critical gaps, additional allocation on challenge route 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  Rs.  10  crores  and  Rs.  5  crores respectively.  The  first  ranker  from  each  of  the  five  sectors  is  awarded  Rs.  3  crores each.  As  of  January  2021,  a  total  of  approximately  Rs.  305.94  crores  have  been disbursed to Aspirational Districts since the inception of this Programme. List of the districts which have been sanctioned additional allocation on the basis of performance from Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Bihar are placed at Annexure - III.
- (d) The strategy of the Programme is to generate a sense of competition so that district show  better  progress  every  month.  While  the  aim  of  the  programme  is  to  ensure progress in indicators so that these districts  come at  the  level  of  State  averages,  no year wise specific target has been set by Union Government for these indicators.
- (e) Currently,  the  government  does  not  have  any  proposal  for  expanding  the  list  of Aspirational Districts.
- (f) Yes,  during  the  initial  shortlisting  of  Aspirational  Districts,  the  Ministry  of  Home Affairs had recommended that 35 districts affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) be added to the Programme and this recommendation was accepted. List of these 35 Aspirational Districts  which are  among the 112 districts  and have been selected on basis of them being adversely affected by Left Wing Extremism is placed at Annexure - IV.

*****

## 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)                                                              | Health& Nutrition (30%) | 7.5%     |
| Stunting of children below 5 years (NHFS-4)                                                  | Health& Nutrition (30%) | 7.5%     |
| Wasting in children below 5 years (NHFS-4)                                                   | Health& Nutrition (30%) | 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)                                                 | Education (15%)         | 7.5%     |
| Un-electrified households (Ministry of Power)                                                | Infra (15%)             | 7.5%     |
| Households without individual toilets (Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation)            | Infra (15%)             | 7.5%     |
| Un-connected PMGSY village (Ministry of Rural Development)                                   | Infra (15%)             | 7.5%     |
| Rural Household without access to water (Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation)          | Infra (15%)             | 7.5%     |
| Total                                                                                        |                         | 100%     |

## List of 112 Aspirational Districts

|   S. No. | State                | District      |
|----------|----------------------|---------------|
|        1 | Andhra Pradesh       | Vizianagaram  |
|        2 | Andhra Pradesh       | Visakhapatnam |
|        3 | Andhra Pradesh       | Y.S.R. Kadapa |
|        4 | Arunachal Pradesh    | Namsai        |
|        5 | Assam                | Goalpara      |
|        6 | Assam                | Barpeta       |
|        7 | Assam                | Hailakandi    |
|        8 | Assam                | Baksa         |
|        9 | Assam                | Darrang       |
|       10 | Assam                | Udalguri      |
|       11 | Assam                | Dhubri        |
|       12 | Bihar                | Sitamarhi     |
|       13 | Bihar                | Araria        |
|       14 | Bihar                | Purnia        |
|       15 | Bihar                | Katihar       |
|       16 | Bihar                | Muzaffarpur   |
|       17 | Bihar                | Begusarai     |
|       18 | Bihar                | Khagaria      |
|       19 | Bihar                | Banka         |
|       20 | Bihar                | Sheikhpura    |
|       21 | Bihar                | Aurangabad    |
|       22 | Bihar                | Gaya          |
|       23 | Bihar                | Nawada        |
|       24 | Bihar                | Jamui         |
|       25 | Chhattisgarh         | Korba         |
|       26 | Chhattisgarh         | Rajnandgaon   |
|       27 | Chhattisgarh         | Mahasamund    |
|       28 | Chhattisgarh         | Kanker        |
|       29 | Chhattisgarh         | Narayanpur    |
|       30 | Chhattisgarh         | Dantewada     |
|       31 | Chhattisgarh         | Bijapur       |
|       32 | Chhattisgarh         | Bastar        |
|       33 | Chhattisgarh         | Kondagaon     |
|       34 | Chhattisgarh         | Sukma         |
|       35 | Gujarat              | Dahod         |
|       36 | Gujarat              | Narmada       |
|       37 | Haryana              | Mewat         |
|       38 | Himachal Pradesh     | Chamba        |
|       39 | UT of Jammu &Kashmir | Kupwara       |
|       40 | UT of Jammu &Kashmir | Baramulla     |
|       41 | Jharkhand            | Garhwa        |
|       42 | Jharkhand            | Chatra        |

|   43 | Jharkhand      | Giridih             |
|------|----------------|---------------------|
|   44 | Jharkhand      | Godda               |
|   45 | Jharkhand      | Sahibganj           |
|   46 | Jharkhand      | Pakur               |
|   47 | Jharkhand      | Bokaro              |
|   48 | Jharkhand      | Lohardaga           |
|   49 | Jharkhand      | Purbi Singhbhum     |
|   50 | Jharkhand      | Palamu              |
|   51 | Jharkhand      | Latehar             |
|   52 | Jharkhand      | Hazaribagh          |
|   53 | Jharkhand      | Ramgarh             |
|   54 | Jharkhand      | Dumka               |
|   55 | Jharkhand      | Ranchi              |
|   56 | Jharkhand      | Khunti              |
|   57 | Jharkhand      | Gumla               |
|   58 | Jharkhand      | Simdega             |
|   59 | Jharkhand      | Pashchimi Singhbhum |
|   60 | Karnataka      | Raichur             |
|   61 | Karnataka      | Yadgir              |
|   62 | Kerala         | Wayanad             |
|   63 | Madhya Pradesh | Chhatarpur          |
|   64 | Madhya Pradesh | Damoh               |
|   65 | Madhya Pradesh | Barwani             |
|   66 | Madhya Pradesh | Rajgarh             |
|   67 | Madhya Pradesh | Vidisha             |
|   68 | Madhya Pradesh | Guna                |
|   69 | Madhya Pradesh | Singrauli           |
|   70 | Madhya Pradesh | Khandwa             |
|   71 | Maharashtra    | Nandurbar           |
|   72 | Maharashtra    | Washim              |
|   73 | Maharashtra    | Gadchiroli          |
|   74 | Maharashtra    | Osmanabad           |
|   75 | Manipur        | Chandel             |
|   76 | Meghalaya      | Ribhoi              |
|   77 | Mizoram        | Mamit               |
|   78 | Nagaland       | Kiphire             |
|   79 | Odisha         | Dhenkanal           |
|   80 | Odisha         | Gajapati            |
|   81 | Odisha         | Kandhamal           |
|   82 | Odisha         | Balangir            |
|   83 | Odisha         | Kalahandi           |
|   84 | Odisha         | Rayagada            |
|   85 | Odisha         | Koraput             |
|   86 | Odisha         | Malkangiri          |
|   87 | Odisha         | Nabarangpur         |
|   88 | Odisha         | Nuapada             |
|   89 | Punjab         | Moga                |

|   90 | Punjab        | Firozpur             |
|------|---------------|----------------------|
|   91 | Rajasthan     | Dholpur              |
|   92 | Rajasthan     | Karauli              |
|   93 | Rajasthan     | Jaisalmer            |
|   94 | Rajasthan     | Sirohi               |
|   95 | Rajasthan     | Baran                |
|   96 | Sikkim        | West Sikkim          |
|   97 | Tamil Nadu    | Virudhunagar         |
|   98 | Tamil Nadu    | Ramanathapuram       |
|   99 | Telangana     | Asifabad             |
|  100 | Telangana     | Bhoopalapally        |
|  101 | Telangana     | Bhadradri-Kothagudem |
|  102 | Tripura       | Dhalai               |
|  103 | Uttar Pradesh | Chitrakoot           |
|  104 | Uttar Pradesh | Fatehpur             |
|  105 | Uttar Pradesh | Bahraich             |
|  106 | Uttar Pradesh | Shrawasti            |
|  107 | Uttar Pradesh | Balrampur            |
|  108 | Uttar Pradesh | Siddharthnagar       |
|  109 | Uttar Pradesh | Chandauli            |
|  110 | Uttar Pradesh | Sonbhadra            |
|  111 | Uttarakhand   | Udham Singh Nagar    |
|  112 | Uttarakhand   | Haridwar             |

## List of Aspirational Districts which have been sanctioned additional allocation on the basis of performance from Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Bihar

| District        | State     | Amount (in Rs.)   |
|-----------------|-----------|-------------------|
| Jaisalmer       | Rajasthan | 2,99,31,000       |
| Dhaulpur        | Rajasthan | 5,00,00,000       |
| Dhaulpur        | Rajasthan | 5,00,00,000       |
| Karauli         | Rajasthan | 3,00,00,000       |
|                 | Total     | 15,99,31,000      |
| Purbi Singhbhum | Jharkhand | 2,99,97,000       |
| Khunti          | Jharkhand | 3,00,00,000       |
| Sahibganj       | Jharkhand | 9,92,73,400       |
| Pakur           | Jharkhand | 4,92,05,500       |
| Dumka           | Jharkhand | 4,50,00,000       |
| Ranchi          | Jharkhand | 5,00,00,000       |
| Lohardaga       | Jharkhand | 3,00,00,000       |
| Palamu          | Jharkhand | 10,00,00,000      |
| Dumka           | Jharkhand | 4,50,00,000       |
| Garhwa          | Jharkhand | 4,80,00,000       |
| Latehar         | Jharkhand | 4,89,70,400       |
| Khunti          | Jharkhand | 3,00,00,000       |
| Simdega         | Jharkhand | 3,00,00,000       |
| Latehar         | Jharkhand | 4,89,70,400       |
|                 | Total     | 68,44,16,700      |
| Begusarai       | Bihar     | 5,00,00,000       |
| Gaya            | Bihar     | 2,92,50,000       |
| Jamui           | Bihar     | 3,00,00,000       |
| Nawada          | Bihar     | 1,14,00,000       |
| Araria          | Bihar     | 97,15,660         |
| Purnia          | Bihar     | 2,63,03,753       |
| Katihar         | Bihar     | 3,00,00,000       |
|                 | Total     | 18,66,69,413      |

## 35 Aspirational District affected by Left Wing Extremism

|   S. NO. | STATE          | DISTRICT             |
|----------|----------------|----------------------|
|        1 | Andhra Pradesh | Vishkhapatnam        |
|        2 | Bihar          | Muzaffarpur          |
|        3 | Bihar          | Banka                |
|        4 | Bihar          | Aurangabad           |
|        5 | Bihar          | Nawada               |
|        6 | Bihar          | Gaya                 |
|        7 | Bihar          | Jamui                |
|        8 | Chhattisgarh   | Bijapur              |
|        9 | Chhattisgarh   | Rajnandgaon          |
|       10 | Chhattisgarh   | Kanker               |
|       11 | Chhattisgarh   | Narayanpur           |
|       12 | Chhattisgarh   | Dantewada            |
|       13 | Chhattisgarh   | Bastar               |
|       14 | Chhattisgarh   | Kondagaon            |
|       15 | Chhattisgarh   | Sukma                |
|       16 | Jharkhand      | Garhwa               |
|       17 | Jharkhand      | Chatra               |
|       18 | Jharkhand      | Giridih              |
|       19 | Jharkhand      | Bokaro               |
|       20 | Jharkhand      | Latehar              |
|       21 | Jharkhand      | Hazaribagh           |
|       22 | Jharkhand      | Ramgarh              |
|       23 | Jharkhand      | Dumka                |
|       24 | Jharkhand      | Khunti               |
|       25 | Jharkhand      | Gumla                |
|       26 | Jharkhand      | Simdega              |
|       27 | Jharkhand      | Pashchimi Singhbhum  |
|       28 | Jharkhand      | Lohardaga            |
|       29 | Jharkhand      | Palamu               |
|       30 | Jharkhand      | Purbi Singhbhum      |
|       31 | Jharkhand      | Ranchi               |
|       32 | Maharashtra    | Gadchiroli           |
|       33 | Odisha         | Malkangiri           |
|       34 | Odisha         | Koraput              |
|       35 | Telangana      | Bhadradri-Kothagudem |