• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a week-long programme for aspirational blocks in the country called ‘Sankalp Saptaah’ at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 30.

• ‘Sankalp Saptaah’ is linked to the effective implementation of Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP). 

• It will be observed in all of the 500 Aspirational Blocks. Each day in ‘Sankalp Saptaah’, starting from October 3 to October 9, 2023, is dedicated to a specific development theme on which all Aspirational Blocks will work.

Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP)

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) on January 7, 2023, during the 2nd National Conference of Chief Secretaries.

• The programme focuses on improving governance to enhance the quality of life of citizens and service delivery in the remotest and less developed blocks of India. This is done through converging existing schemes, defining outcomes, and monitoring them constantly to bridge gaps.

• An Inter-Ministerial Committee in consultation with States has identified 500 blocks from across 27 states and four Union Territories of India for the ABP. Of these, 160 blocks are from the 112 Aspirational Districts. 

• An amount of Rs 100 crore is allocated for expenditure under the Aspirational Blocks Programme for the year 2023-24.

The Aspirational Blocks strategy hinges upon three broad contours:

i) Convergence (of central & state schemes)

ii) Collaboration (between NITI Aayog, central ministries, state departments, district & block administration)

iii) Competition among blocks driven by a spirit of mass movement.

• Each block will focus on monitoring key socio-economic indicators categorised under major themes: Health and Nutrition, Education, Agriculture and Allied Services, Basic Infrastructure and Social Development.

• This programme identifies Block Officials as Leaders of Change, equipped with the right skills and competencies, to steer and drive transformation in their blocks. These grassroot administrators will work under the encouragement, guidance and support of their respective state and district administrations to achieve their defined strategies and output.

Additional read:

Aspirational Districts Programme emerges as a template for good governance

The government of India launched the ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ (Aspirational Districts Programme) initiative in January 2018 wherein the focus is to raise living standards of its citizens and ensure  inclusive growth of all in the burgeoning economy. It has emerged as a template for good governance, especially in remote and  difficult areas.

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