Lok Sabha Question No. 123 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-29
Subject: Aspirational Districts
Ministry: DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION
Asked by: Kripanath Mallah

## Government of India

## Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 123

To be answered on

Monday, November 29, 2021/Agrahayana 8, 1943 (Saka)

## QUESTION Aspirational Districts

## 123.  SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

Will the Minister of DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the aspirational districts selected so far within the  state of Assam;
- (b) the details of the funds sanctioned, allocated and utilized under this  scheme in Assam during the last three years and the current year so far;
- (c) the  details  of  the  target  set  and  achievements  made  so  far  along  with  its response in this regard;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  planned  to  select  some  more  districts  under  the said scheme in Assam; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## The Minister of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region [Shri G. Kishan Reddy]

- (a) Sir, 07 Districts have been selected as Aspirational Districts in the state of Assam namely Baksa, Barpeta, Darrang, Dhubri ,Goalpara, Hailakandi and Udalguri.
- (b) The main aim of the Scheme is based on the convergence of Central & State Schemes which have their own funding arrangements, Collaboration of Central, State level  'Prabhari'  Officers  &  District  Collectors,  and  Competition  among  districts.  Every month  these  Districts  are  assessed  and  ranked  based  on  their  performance  in  five sectors,  i.e.  Health  &  Nutrition,  Education,  Agriculture  &  Water  resources,  Basic Infrastructure, Financial inclusion & Skill Development. The best performing districts are given  additional  allocations  as  incentives.  The  details  of  the  funds  allocated  and released under this scheme in Assam since inception is as below:

(Rs.in crores)

|   S. No. | District   |   Funds Allocated/ eligible |   Funds released |
|----------|------------|-----------------------------|------------------|
|        1 | Baksa      |                       11    |             3.99 |
|        2 | Barpeta    |                       21    |            14    |
|        3 | Goalpara   |                        2.49 |             1    |
|        4 | Udalguri   |                       21    |             6    |
|        5 | Dhubri     |                        7    |             3.99 |
|        6 | Darrang    |                       12    |            11    |
|        7 | Hailakandi |                       22    |            10.65 |

An  empowered  Committee  of  Secretaries  approves  plans  of  action  submitted  by  the Districts.    Currently,  30  projects  in  Aspirational  Districts  of  Assam  after  the  approval under this arrangement, are under implementation.

- (c) No specific  targets  are  allotted  to  these  districts.  However,  the  performance  of Aspirational  Districts  is  assessed  on  the  basis  of  achievements  in  five  sectors  every month on competitive basis among the Aspirational Districts.. The performance in terms of ranks of the Aspirational Districts of Assam since inception of the Scheme is given as Annexure.
- (d) & (e)  The Government have no plan to select new districts under the scheme in Assam.

## Annexure

## Ranks of Aspirational Districts of Assam based on performance.

| District Name   | Best Performance   | Best Performance   | Best Performance   | Best Performance              | Best Performance                          | Best Performance     |
|-----------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|----------------------|
| Sector          | Overall            | Health & Nutrition | Education          | Agriculture & Water Resources | Financial Inclusion and Skill Development | Basic Infrastructure |
| Darrang         | 2 nd in Jul 2020   | 9 th in Feb 2021   | 3 rd in Sep- 2019  | 5 th in Jun- 2021             | 1 st in Jul 2020                          | 15 th in Jan- 2019   |
| Udalguri        | 1 st in Feb 2021   | 1 st in Feb 2021   | 3 rd in Jul- 2020  | 1 st in Sep- 2018             | 2 nd in Dec- 2020                         | 15 th in Jan- 2021   |
| Goalpara        | 11 th in Mar 2019  | 8 th in March 2019 | 7 th in Jul- 2020  | 6 th in Jun- 2021             | 1 st in Oct- 2018                         | 2 nd in Jan- 2019    |
| Baksa           | 3 rd in Dec 2020   | 2 nd in Dec 2020   | 1 st in Dec- 2019  | 3 rd in Jun- 2019             | 6 th in Aug- 2020                         | 3 rd in May- 2019    |
| Dhubri          | 4 th in June 2021  | 4 th in Feb 2020   | 1 st in Oct- 2019  | 1 st in Jun- 2021             | 6 th in Dec- 2020                         | 2 nd in Sep- 2020    |
| Barpeta         | 1 st in Aug 2020   | 3 rd in Jan 2020   | 2 nd in Jun- 2021  | 2 nd in Mar- 2021             | 1 st in Aug- 2020                         | 5 th in Jan- 2019    |
| Hailakandi      | 1 st in Feb 2020   | 1 st in Feb 2020   | 1 st in Dec- 2018  | 1 st in Dec- 2020             | 2 nd in Jan- 2021                         | 3 rd in Feb- 2020    |