By: Sameer Lone
Srinagar: Much like the NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Districts Programme model, the Jammu and Kashmir government has rolled out Aspirational Blocks Development Programme to fast track the development in the backward areas and bring them at par with other blocks of the Union Territory.
According to official sources, the District Development Commissioners (DDCs) across the UT have finalized the implementation of Aspirational Block Development Programme (ABDP) in their respective Districts.
“The Aspirational Block Development Programme (ABDP) has been rolled out with an aim to ensure expeditious improvement in the socio-economic status of 44 most backward Blocks of the UT,” said Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, P K Pole.
A senior officer in Civil Secretariat said the Aspirational Block Development Programme is based on 10 performance indicators covering various aspects of Poverty, Health & Nutrition Education and Basic Infrastructure development.
To make the execution easy and less time consuming, the Deputy Commisioners are supposed to adopt best practices to get tangible results on ground in consultation with the line departments.
It may be noted that NITI Aayog, Union Governments think tank policy making body, has launched a similar programme called Aspirational Districts Programme in 112 districts of India. Two districts of J&K, Kupwara and Baramulla also figure in the list.
On the similar lines, there will be a special focus in these Aspirational Blocks to mobilize the people and improve their socio-economic conditions apart from the development activities.
“A Special Component Plan in convergence mode to bring improvement on key indicators of development in these most backward blocks,” said another official part of the programme at the secretary level.
He said the 10 quantifiable indicators are prerequisite for availing Rs 1.0 crore under Aspirational Block Development Programme to undertake developmental activities in each identified Block.
