Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : PM Narendra Modi on January 5, 2018, interacted with Collectors and Officers-in-charge of aspirational districts at a Conference organized by NITI Aayog at Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.
This event is in keeping with PM Narendra Modi’s vision of Transforming India by 2022. The Union Government has embarked on a major policy initiative for the rapid transformation of 115 districts that are lagging on specific development parameters.
Six groups of officers made presentations on the themes of nutrition, education, basic infrastructure, agriculture and water resources, eradication of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) and financial inclusion and skill development.
Addressing the gathering, which also included many Union Ministers and senior Union Government officers, the Prime Minister said this is the first official programme at Dr Ambedkar International Centre and therefore has a special significance. He said that relative backwardness of some regions is an injustice to the people of those regions. The PM said this effort to develop 115 backward districts is in keeping with the vision of Dr Ambedkar, who worked for the uplift of the underprivileged, according to a PIB release.
Giving the examples of the Jan Dhan Yojana, the construction of toilets, and rural electrification, the Prime Minister said nothing is impossible in our country if we have a firm resolve. He also gave examples of success that is being achieved in an entirely new initiatives such as soil testing. He emphasized that there is limitless potential, limitless possibilities, and limitless opportunities now in India. In this context, he mentioned the improvement in ease of doing business. He credited officials of the Government – and Team India – for this success.
The Prime Minister said that top-down solutions do not yield results. Therefore, the effort is that people on the field contribute to solutions. He appreciated the clarity of thought and faith in conviction in the presentations made on January 5. The Prime Minister said that regional imbalances should not be allowed to increase indefinitely. Therefore, the development of backward districts is imperative. The first step is to convert this mindset of pessimism into one of optimism, he said.
The Prime Minister suggested brainstorming at the district level and stressed on systematic arrangements to involve people.He gave the example of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. He emphasized the importance of building positive narratives and optimism in the achievement of development targets.
” We need to recognise and channelize the aspirations of the people of the aspirational districts,” the Prime Minister said. He said the Collectors of the 115 aspirational districts have the opportunity to earn lasting satisfaction by delivering on development objectives. He called for a concerted effort to achieve visible results in three months by Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birth anniversary on April 14. He said he wishes to personally visit one such well-performing district in April. The PM said these 115 districts can become the foundation for developing New India, according to the PIB release.