Uttarakhand: NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Districts Programme awards given to Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar districts
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Under the Aspirational Districts Programme run by the NITI Aayog of the Government of India, two districts of Uttarakhand, Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar, were honored. A felicitation ceremony for the Sampoorna Abhiyan (Comprehensive Campaign) was held on Friday at the Chief Minister’s residence, where the Chief Minister presented certificates and medals received from the NITI Aayog, Government of India, to the districts and development blocks that performed well in the Aspirational Districts Programme and the Aspirational Blocks Programme.
During the event, the Chief Minister also released the book “Uttarakhand at 25: A Himalayan State With Infinite Possibilities”. It is worth noting that the Aspirational Districts Programme is being run by the NITI Aayog, under which Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar districts of Uttarakhand were awarded for their excellent performance in meeting the prescribed standards.
These development blocks were also honored: Along with this, the Gadarpur, Mori, and Syalde development blocks were also awarded under the Aspirational Blocks Programme. Under the program, two districts of Uttarakhand (Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar) were selected as Aspirational Districts out of 112 districts across the country.
Awards received for these programs: Udham Singh Nagar district secured the second position among all aspirational districts in the country in the field of education in July 2019 and in financial inclusion and skill development in November 2020. Udham Singh Nagar district secured the third position in the agriculture sector in August 2021 and the first position in the agriculture sector in July 2022.
Similarly, Haridwar district secured the first position among all aspirational districts in July 2019 and the first position in the field of basic infrastructure in June 2022. Haridwar district secured the first position among all aspirational districts in July 2022 and the second position in the field of health and nutrition in July 2022. The Aspirational Blocks Programme was launched by the NITI Aayog in January 2023.
500 development blocks were selected from across the country: Under the program, 500 development blocks were selected from across the country. A total of six development blocks in Uttarakhand – Bahadrabad from Haridwar, Dugadda from Pauri Garhwal, Mori from Uttarkashi, Gadarpur from Udham Singh Nagar, Syalde from Almora, and Kapkot from Bageshwar – were selected as aspirational development blocks. NITI Aayog had set a target for districts and development blocks to achieve saturation in six indicators. Of the selected development blocks in the state, three aspirational development blocks have performed exceptionally well in achieving saturation across a greater number of indicators.
During the program, CM Dhami said that significant improvements have been made in crucial areas such as health, education, nutrition, agriculture, infrastructure, social development, and financial inclusion through the Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Development Blocks program.
The CM said it is a matter of pride that under this scheme, Haridwar district secured the top position in the country in the Aspirational Districts ranking released by NITI Aayog in 2022. Similarly, Gadarpur, Mori, and Syalde secured top positions in the development block category. The country is witnessing overall development under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The CM said that to promote investment in the state, a Global Investors Summit was organized in 2023. More than ₹3.56 lakh crore worth of MoUs were signed at this summit, and investment proposals worth over ₹1 lakh crore have already been grounded. Additionally, a single-window system has been developed to simplify the licensing process for industries.
Self-employment schemes launched: To promote the local economy and tourism in the state, schemes such as One District Two Products, House of Himalayas, State Millet Mission, Farm Machinery Bank, Apple Mission, New Tourism Policy, New Film Policy, Homestay, Wed in Uttarakhand, and Solar Self-Employment Scheme are being implemented.
The state was in the Achievers category in the Ease of Doing Business ranking: Through the House of Himalayas initiative, efforts are being made to give traditional products wide recognition at the national and international levels. The state has performed exceptionally well in various national and international rankings. Uttarakhand secured the first position in the country in the Sustainable Development Goals Index released by NITI Aayog. The state was also placed in the Achievers category in the Ease of Doing Business ranking.
Record 4.4 percent reduction in unemployment rate: The Chief Minister said that the state has achieved a record 4.4 percent reduction in the unemployment rate, surpassing the national average. Uttarakhand secured the second position in Category-C in the Government of India’s State Mining Readiness Index, which is a testament to the transparent and efficient management of resources.
The Chief Minister said that the state’s Single Window System has been awarded in the Top Achievers category. The state has also set several records in the tourism sector. The national awards for Best Wildlife Destination and Best Adventure Destination have further strengthened Uttarakhand’s position on the global tourism map. In the National Tourism Awards 2024, Jakhol, Harshil, Gunji, and Supi villages were declared the best tourism villages.
The Chief Minister said that only with the right intentions, noble motives, and strong determination can we ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach the last person in line. NITI Aayog launched the Aspirational Districts Programme in 2018.
