Page 22 - NIS English 16-30,April 2023

Cover Story National Civil Services Day Special

AFTER THE SUCCESS OF THE ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICT PROGRAM,
NOW DEVELOPMENT OF THE ASPIRATIONAL BLOCK

When a government adopts a goal, when the machinery is the same, and the officers are the same but
government machinery becomes a living unit, imbued the results are different. When any district is seen as a
with team spirit, and when the team moves forward unit, when work is done keeping the future of the district
with progressive work culture, the results achieved are in mind, the officers realize the enormity of their tasks.
phenomenal as seen in aspirational districts. The result Officers also realize the importance of their role.
of the initiative of the Central Government to make the Aspirational Districts Program was launched on
bureaucracy efficient is visible on the ground in the last January 5, 2018. Based on this program, the Aspirational
9 years. Whether it is the speed of development in the Block Program has now been started to accelerate the
aspirational district or delivery of other schemes directly social development of 500 underdeveloped blocks
to the beneficiary without any hindrance, it is a living across the country. Blocks have been included in the
example of the change in attitude since 2014. Promising program in consultation with the States. The program
and bright young officers have been appointed in many will accelerate development through sectors such as
districts. Similarly, where there were vacancies, priority health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water
has also been given to fill them. Also, their tenure is being resources, financial inclusion and skill development,
kept stable. basic infrastructure, and monitoring of key socio-
Even after a long journey of 75 years of independence, economic indicators.
many districts in the country were left behind in The posting of officers in aspirational districts is
development. These districts were tagged as backward no longer seen as a punishment. Everyone is working
districts. On the one hand, hundreds of districts of the together in the districts, the result of which is coming in
country kept progressing, on the other hand, these the form of fast development in the aspirational districts
backward districts went further backward. But due to than the country's average. India's Aspirational District
the change in the thinking of the government, today Program (ADP) has been praised as a highly successful
aspirational districts are ending hindrances to achieve model of local area development in a United Nations
fast progress. Development Program (UNDP) report. The report also
That's why Prime Minister Modi himself says that one of said that this should be adopted as a best practice in
the major reasons for the success of aspirational districts many other countries which have lagged behind in the
is better coordination, due to which obstacles have been path of development.
removed. All the resources are the same, the government

have the experience of Panchayati. From the first doing everything in a systematic manner surprised
day until today, I have never had a bitter experience. I both the bureaucracy and critics. The Prime
have seen this power. Why? I have made up my mind Minister began working like Team India only a
that God has given the best of the best power inside month after being sworn in as India's 15th Prime
every person. God has given every person the ability Minister. Whether it is the formation of Niti Aayog
to rise above where they are. No matter how bad a in place of the Planning Commission or increasing
person is, he also thinks of doing something good in the speed of governance by bringing bureaucracy
his mind. Our job is to try to capture this goodness. and professional people into the government,
the Prime Minister has always preferred to work
GOVERNMENT IN "ACTION MODE" by making a 'bouquet'. As a result, instead of the
FROM DAY ONE old practise of stalling, distracting, and hanging,
When Narendra Modi took the oath of office as a new pace began to emerge in governance. The
Prime Minister on May 22, 2014, he was seen as most important initiative was taken in relation
a new player in 'Delhi politics,' but his approach of to bureaucracy in order to eliminate inertia, i.e.,

PM MODI'S Our success does not lie in the fact that I know more than you, our success lies in the fact that
my experience and your knowledge, my experience, and your energy, come together, which will
MANTRA bring some change to the country. We can choose this path. You will see the energy will change,
the scope will change. We will get a new power

20 New India Samachar April 16-30, 2023