NEW DELHI: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India, on Friday, has lauded the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) as ‘a very successful model of local area development ‘that ‘should serve as a best practice for several other countries where regional disparities in development status persist for many reasons.
The report said due to concerted efforts made under the ADP, previously neglected districts, including those in remote locations and those affected by Left Wing Extremism, ‘have experienced more growth and development in the last three years than ever before’. Notwithstanding some speedbumps in its journey, the APD ‘has been immensely successful in propelling development among the backward districts’.
The report was handed over today by UNDP India Resident Representative Shoko Noda to NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Dr Rajiv Kumar and CEO Amitabh Kant. It captures the progress of the Aspirational Districts Programme and makes recommendations for further improvements.
The report is based on quantitative analysis of publicly available data as well as interviews with various stakeholders, including district magistrates, central prabhari officers, district fellows and other development partners.
UNDP’s analysis across the 5 key sectors of the ADP—health and nutrition; education; agriculture and water resources; basic infrastructure; and skill development and financial inclusion—found that the programme has acted as a catalyst for expediting development in these districts.
According to the report, while health and nutrition, education, and to a certain extent, agriculture, and water resources, have registered massive improvements, the other indicators despite making significant strides offer scope for further strengthening.