The Aspirational District Programme (ADP) is a flagship programme of the Government of India, launched in January 2018. The programme aims to quickly and effectively transform 112 most underdeveloped districts across the country. The districts were selected based on a composite index of 49 indicators, covering key areas of development such as health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and skill development, and basic infrastructure.
The ADP is a collaborative effort between the Central Government, State Governments, and District Collectors. The Central Government provides technical and financial support to the States, while the States and District Collectors are responsible for implementing the programme on the ground.
The ADP is based on a number of key principles, including:
- Convergence of Central and State schemes: The programme aims to converge the implementation of Central and State schemes in the Aspirational Districts. This helps to ensure that resources are used efficiently and that there is no duplication of effort.
- Collaboration between Central and State Government officials and District Collectors: The programme is based on the principle of collaboration between Central and State Government officials and District Collectors. This helps to ensure that everyone is working towards the common goal of transforming the Aspirational Districts.
- Competition among districts: The programme encourages competition among the Aspirational Districts. This helps to motivate districts to perform better and achieve their targets faster.
The ADP has made significant progress since its launch. For example, the number of children enrolled in school has increased by 10% in the Aspirational Districts. The number of women with bank accounts has increased by 20% in the Aspirational Districts. And the number of villages with access to all-weather roads has increased by 30% in the Aspirational Districts.
The ADP is still in progress, but it has already made significant strides in transforming the Aspirational Districts. The programme is helping to improve the lives of millions of people in these districts and to build a brighter future for India.