Niti Aayog lauds 12 Northeast districts for containing COVID-19

A CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant on Monday said that 112 Aspirational Districts across India are doing well as far as containing COVID-19 is concerned.

"The Aspirational Districts Programme piloted by THE NITI Aayog has been a phenomenal success in uplifting the lives of millions in 112 most backward (aspirational) districts of the country," said Kant.

This statement assumes significance as there are 14 Aspirational Districts in the eight north-eastern States.

The Aspirational Districts in the Northeast are Barpeta , Baksa, Darang, Dubri, Goalpara, Hailkandi & Udalguri (Assam); Namsai (Arunachal Pradesh), Chandel (Manipur); Ri Bhoi (Meghalaya); Mamit (Mizoram); Kiphire (Nagaland); West Sikkim (Sikkim) and Dhalai (Tripura).

The Aspirational Districts have been earmarked to bring in improved conditions in Health, Education, Financial Inclusion, Skill development, Agriculture and Water Resources as well as Basic infrastructure.

Kant further said that as of now there are about 610 cases in 112 Aspirational Districts which is considered fairly low at less than 2 per cent of the national level of infections.

"Of these six districts have reported first case after 21st April. Major hotspots are Baramula (62), Nuh (57), Ranchi (55), YSR (55), Kupwara (47) and Jaisalmer(34)," said Kant.

Kant chairs the Empowered Committee 6 on COVID-19 to work with Civil Society Organisations, NGOs and development partners, Industry partners, and International Organisations to create synergies with the Government of India.

The Centre had recently formed 11 Empowered Committees to look into the overall aspects of COVID-19 pandemic.

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