Revolutionising our districts

Good governance is the bedrock of inclusive and equitable development. It is not progress if it does not percolate down to the grassroots or extend a helping hand to lift the last person up

- AMITABH KANT

It is about empowering people with the tools that will enable them to grow individually and as a community. This requires a capacious and humane public administration.

Since its launch five years ago, the aspirational district's programme (ADP) has transformed the lives of the people in 112 of the most under-developed districts of the country. According to an independent appraisal report released by the UNDP in 2021, districts that were previously neglected, located in remote regions and affected by leftwing extremism ‘experienced more growth and development in the last three years than ever before’. The report credited the programme as ‘immensely successful in propelling development among the [under-development] districts’.

The report also acknowledged the remarkable commitment shown by the topmost political leadership of the country. In fact, earlier last year, in an interaction with district magistrates across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that the aspirational districts were eliminating the barriers to progress of the country and becoming an accelerator instead of an obstacle. He said the next step would be for them to go from aspirational to inspirational and start breaching global benchmarks of development.