Lok Sabha Question No. 512 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-20
Subject: Aspirational Districts Scheme in Assam
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: Kripanath Mallah, Jaskaur Meena

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 512 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.07.2022

## ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS SCHEME IN ASSAM

## 512.   SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH: SHRIMATI JASKAUR MEENA:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) the salient features of Aspirational District Scheme along with the details of funds sanctioned, allocated and utilised under this scheme in Assam and Rajasthan during the last three years and the current year;
- (b) the  details  of  the  number  of  districts  identified/covered  under  this  scheme  in  Assam  and Rajasthan so far;
- (c) whether the Government have given priority to some specific regions in these districts and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of the target fixed and achieved till date in these districts;
- (e) whether the regions of Dausa district are also in cognizance of the Government which  are required to be included under the scheme;
- (f) if so, the details thereof and the time by which these regions are likely to be included; and
- (g) whether the Government has covered the national nutrition mission under this scheme and if so, the details thereof along with its response?

## ANSWER

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)                                                              | 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)                                                | Education (15%)         | 7.5%     |
| Households without individual toilets (Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation)            | Infra                   | 7.5%     |
| Un-connected PMGSYvillage (Ministry of Rural Development)                                    | (30%)                   | 7.5%     |
| Rural Household without access to water (Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation)          | Education (15%)         | 7.5%     |
| Total                                                                                        | Education (15%)         | 100%     |

## 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        |

## 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           |                        12.9  |
|       5 | Assam        | Barpeta         |                        20    |
|       6 | Assam        | Hailakandi      |                        20.99 |
|       7 | Assam        | Baksa           |                        10.71 |
|       8 | Assam        | Darrang         |                        11    |
|       9 | Assam        | Udalguri        |                        19.97 |
|      10 | Assam        | Dhubri          |                         5.99 |

## Annexure III

4