‘Aspirational Districts’ Programme is An Opportunity’-Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal

GUWAHATI: “The Aspirational Districts programme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an opportunity for us to rapidly develop the districts lagging behind in key development indicators. The seven districts of Assam shortlisted under this programme must be brought at par with the most developed districts of the nation to fulfil the Prime Minister’s vision of sabka sath sabka vikash.” Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today remarked while reviewing the Aspirational Districts programme carried out by Transformation and Development Department at his conference room at Janata Bhawan.

Notably, The Aspirational Districts programme, conceived by NITI Aayog, was launched by the central government in 117 districts of the country which aims to develop 49 key performance indicators where health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and skill development, and basic infrastructure are its core areas of focus. To enable optimum utilization of their potential, this program focuses closely on improving people’s ability to participate fully in the burgeoning economy and achieve development in the targeted indicators within a stipulated timeframe. Darrang, Dhubri, Barpeta, Goalpara, Baksa, Udalguri and Hailakandi are the seven districts selected for the programme in the state.

Saying that the experience of implementing the Aspirational Districts programme would equip the state government with the expertise to carry out such developmental programmes in rest of the districts as well, Sonowal stated that Prime Minister Modi’s targeted intervention method in only seven districts of the state would make it possible to achieve the development targets within a fixed time frame. The chief minister also directed Agriculture Department to improve the performance in Fasal Bima Yojna and bring in procurement expert to manage procurement of paddy and rice from the farmers at the right price.