Lok Sabha Question No. 928 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-08
Subject: Aspirational Block Programme
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: Jaskaur Meena, V. Kalanidhi, Kripanath Mallah

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 928

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.02.2023

## ASPIRATIONAL BLOCK PROGRAMME

## †928.   SHRIMATI JASKAUR MEENA: DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY: SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

Will the Minister of PLANNING  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has planned to launch the Aspirational Blocks Programme in the country, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the details of funds estimated for it;
- (b) the details of the number of States likely to be covered under this programme initially;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  identified  locations  likely  to be covered  under  this programme in the country and if so, the details of the locations identified in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Assam;
- (d) the  details  of  the  number  of  fields  likely  to  be  covered  under  this  programme  in  the country; and
- (e) the details of the target set under this programme and the time by which it is likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND 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 Blocks Programme was launched on 7th January 2023. The Programme derives  inspiration  from  block-level  programmes  which  were  already  in  place  in  several States  and  is  based  on  the  template  of  the  Aspirational  Districts  Programme  that  was launched on 5th January 2018.

The  aim  of  the  Aspirational  Districts  Programme  is  to  rapidly  transform  relatively underdeveloped districts across sectors which are critical for improving quality of life or economic productivity of citizens. The Aspirational Blocks Programmes seeks to utilise a similar template at the block level, with the idea that even within districts there are certain pockets  of  underdevelopment  which  require  more  focus.  The  main  strategy  of  the Aspirational Blocks Programme is based on convergence of existing schemes which have

their own funding arrangement, therefore large infusion of additional fund is not envisaged at this stage.

- (b) The Aspirational Blocks Programme is a nationwide programme. It covers 27 States and 4 Union Territories. A list of the States/ UTs part of the programme is provided at Annexure I.
- (c) Yes, the blocks to be covered under the Programme have been identified in  consultation with the States. The details of the blocks identified in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Assam are provided in Annexure II .
- (d) The Programme focuses on the following sectors which are critical for improving quality of life  or  economic  productivity  of  citizens  viz.  Social  Development,  Health  and  Nutrition, Education,  Agriculture,  Basic  Infrastructure,  Financial  Inclusion  and  Skill  Development. Further, given that each State has its own contextual needs, all States have the freedom to choose sectors over and above the ones already identified.
- (e) The Aspirational Blocks Programme does not specify any targets. Instead, the Programme has a list of indicators under the specific focus areas mentioned in (d) above, on the basis of which the blocks are to be monitored.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO PART (b) of  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 928 FOR 08.02.2023 REGARDING  ASPIRATIONAL BLOCK  PROGRAMME  BY  SHRIMATI  JASKAUR  MEENA:  DR.  KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY: SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH: [

List of States/ UTs under the Aspirational Blocks Programme

| S.No.   | Name of the State/ UT   |
|---------|-------------------------|
| States  |                         |
| 1.      | Andhra Pradesh          |
| 2.      | Arunachal Pradesh       |
| 3.      | Assam                   |
| 4.      | Bihar                   |
| 5.      | Chhattisgarh            |
| 6.      | Gujarat                 |
| 7.      | Haryana                 |
| 8.      | Himachal Pradesh        |
| 9.      | Jharkhand               |
| 10.     | Karnataka               |
| 11.     | Kerala                  |
| 12.     | Madhya Pradesh          |
| 13.     | Maharashtra             |
| 14.     | Manipur                 |
| 15.     | Meghalaya               |
| 16.     | Mizoram                 |
| 17.     | Nagaland                |
| 18.     | Odisha                  |
| 19.     | Punjab                  |
| 20.     | Rajasthan               |
| 21.     | Sikkim                  |
| 22.     | Tamil Nadu              |

| 23.               | Telangana                            |
|-------------------|--------------------------------------|
| 24.               | Tripura                              |
| 25.               | Uttar Pradesh                        |
| 26.               | Uttarakhand                          |
| 27.               | West Bengal                          |
| Union Territories | Union Territories                    |
| 28.               | Andaman & Nicobar Islands            |
| 29.               | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu |
| 30.               | Jammu and Kashmir                    |
| 31.               | Ladakh                               |

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PART (c) of LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 928 FOR 08.02.2023 REGARDING  ASPIRATIONAL BLOCK  PROGRAMME  BY  SHRIMATI  JASKAUR  MEENA:  DR.  KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY: SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

## List of Blocks Selected in the States of Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Assam

|   S.No. | State   | District           | Block            |
|---------|---------|--------------------|------------------|
|       1 | Assam   | Baksa              | Tamulpur         |
|       2 | Assam   | Barpeta            | Mandia           |
|       3 | Assam   | Darrang            | Pub-Mangaldai    |
|       4 | Assam   | Dhubri             | Birshing-Jarua   |
|       5 | Assam   | Goalpara           | Lakhipur         |
|       6 | Assam   | Hailakandi         | South Hailakandi |
|       7 | Assam   | Udalguri           | Bhergaon         |
|       8 | Assam   | Cachar             | Lakhipur         |
|       9 | Assam   | Dhemaji            | Murgkongselek    |
|      10 | Assam   | Dima Hasao         | Diyang Valley    |
|      11 | Assam   | Dima Hasao         | Diyungbra        |
|      12 | Assam   | Dima Hasao         | Jatinga Valley   |
|      13 | Assam   | Dima Hasao         | New Sangbar      |
|      14 | Assam   | Karbi Anglong      | Nilip            |
|      15 | Assam   | Karbi Anglong      | Rongmongwe       |
|      16 | Assam   | Karbi Anglong      | Samelangso       |
|      17 | Assam   | Ss Mankachar       | Fekamari         |
|      18 | Assam   | West Karbi Anglong | Amri             |

|     | 19. 20. 1.   | West Karbi Anglong   | Chinthong        |
|-----|--------------|----------------------|------------------|
|     |              | West Karbi Anglong   | Socheng          |
|     |              | Baran                | Kishanganj       |
| 2.  |              | Dholpur              | Baseri           |
| 3.  |              | Jaisalmer            | Fathegarh        |
| 4.  |              | Karauli              | Masalpur         |
| 5.  |              | Sirohi               | Aburoad          |
| 6.  |              | Alwar                | Nimrana          |
| 7.  |              | Banswara             | Sajjangarh       |
| 8.  |              | Barmer               | Ramsar           |
| 9.  |              | Bharatpur            | Weir             |
| 10. |              | Bhilwara             | Kotri            |
| 11. |              | Bikaner              | Kolayat          |
| 12. |              | Bundi                | K.Patan          |
| 13. |              | Chittorgarh          | Nimbhahera       |
| 14. |              | Churu                | Rajgarh          |
| 15. |              | Dausa                | Ramgarh Pachwara |
| 16. |              | Dungarpur            | Jonthari         |
| 17. |              | Hanumangarh          | Sangaria         |
| 18. |              | Jalore               | Ahore            |
| 19. |              | Jhalawar             | Khanpur          |
| 20. |              | Jodhpur              | Shergarh         |
| 21. |              | Nagaur               | Jayel            |

|   22. |            | Pali            | Rani               |
|-------|------------|-----------------|--------------------|
|    23 |            | Pratapgarh      | Peeplekhoont       |
|    24 |            | Rajsamand       | Bheem              |
|    25 |            | S. Madhopur     | Gangapur           |
|    26 |            | Tonk            | Peeplu             |
|    27 |            | Udaipur         | Kherwara           |
|     1 | Tamil Nadu | Ariyalur        | Andimadam          |
|     2 | Tamil Nadu | Kallakurichi    | Kalvarayan Hills   |
|     3 | Tamil Nadu | Karur           | Thogaimala         |
|     4 | Tamil Nadu | Perambalur      | Alathur            |
|     5 | Tamil Nadu | Pudhukottai     | Thiruvarankulam    |
|     6 | Tamil Nadu | Ramanathapuram  | Thiruvadanai       |
|     7 | Tamil Nadu | Ranipet         | Timri              |
|     8 | Tamil Nadu | Sivagangai      | Thirupathur        |
|     9 | Tamil Nadu | The Nilgiris    | Kothagiri          |
|    10 | Tamil Nadu | Thenkasi        | Melaneelithanallur |
|    11 | Tamil Nadu | Thiruvannamalai | Javvadhu Hills     |
|    12 | Tamil Nadu | Tiruchirapalli  | Thuraiyur          |
|    13 | Tamil Nadu | Tirunelveli     | Nanguneri          |
|    14 | Tamil Nadu | Vellore         | K.V.Kuppam         |
|    15 | Tamil Nadu | Villupuram      | Thiruvennainallur  |
|    16 | Tamil Nadu | Virudhunagar    | Thiruchuli         |