Model Question and Answers for APSC | Mention core strategies for the transformation of aspirational districts in India and explain the nature of convergence, collaboration and competition for its success.

Ans: Launched in January 2018, the ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ initiative aims to remove regional imbalance in development through a mass movement to quickly and effectively transform so called laggard districts.

The nature of convergence, collaboration and competition:

• Convergence (of Central & State Schemes): An Empowered Committee under the Convenorship of the CEO, NITI Aayog will help in the convergence of various government schemes and streamlining of efforts
• Collaboration (of Central, State level ‘Prabhari’ Officers & District Collectors):
• This programme is a policy priority of Government of India. NITI Aayog anchors the programme with support from Central Ministries and the State Governments.
• While NITI Aayog is steering the initiative in 30 districts, various central ministries oversee 50 districts besides the Ministry of Home Affairs, which focuses on 35 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts

• Officers at the level of Joint Secretary / Additional Secretary have been nominated to become the ‘Central Prabhari Officers’ of each district. States have appointed state-nodal and Prabhari officers.
• Competition among districts driven by a spirit of mass Movement

Core strategies for the transformation of aspirational districts in India:

• States as main drivers.
• Work on the strength of each district.
• Make development as a mass movement in these districts.
• Identify low hanging fruits and the strength of each district, to act as a catalyst for development.
• Measure progress and rank districts to spur a sense of competition.
• Districts shall aspire to become State’s best to Nation’s best.

Going forward, districts will be ranked based on their progress on a real-time basis on five dimensions.

• Health and Nutrition (30%)
• Education (30%)
• Agriculture & Water resources (20%)
• Basic Infrastructure (10%)
• Financial inclusion & Skill Development (10%)

Niti Aayog will subsequently calculate the ‘distance to frontier’ –

i.e. the distance of each district from the state’s and nation’s best.