Modi visits J'khand today, to review aspirational districts' dev

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Jharkhand visit on Friday  sits with the Deputy Commissioners and officials of the 19 aspirational districts it would boost hope of speedy development of the areas that have been in the red zone.

It is learnt that all the DCs concerned have been told to be ready with crisp presentations highlighting not only the good works done in their areas identified but also others where more assistance would be required from the Centre.

"We all attended a meeting with the Chief Secretary this afternoon. We are working on the power point presentation which if the Prime Minister wishes to would be shown to him highlighting the works done on all the six parameters indentified by the NITI Aayog," Hazaribagh DC Ravi Shankar Shukla told The Pioneer on Thursday.

Hazaribagh along with Ranchi, Bokaro, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Ramgarh, Latehar, Lohardaga, Palamau, Simdega, Chatra, Garhwa, Giridih, Gumla, Khunti, Dumka, Pakur, Sahebgunj and Godda are the aspirational districts figuring into the list of the 115 districts shortlisted all over the country. The selection has been done due to their extremely poor show on six parameters of development such as health, skill development, education, financial inclusion, basic infrastructure and agriculture.

"Most of the districts were figuring into LWE (Left-wing extremism) districts as well. General belief is that the anti-social activities have taken roots there due to their lacking in even most basic facilities. Whole idea is to strengthen the ways that can improve situation there and bring hope for a wholesome change," said Additional Chief Secretary of Finance Department Sukhdeo Singh.

As per the data provided, Sahebgunj and Pakur have made their entries into bottom 20 districts of the 150 aspirational districts of the country on health ground while on skill development as many as six districts namely Simdega, Giridih, Dumka, Pakur, Godda and Sabebgunj are among the lowest 20 rung. Latehar, Simdega, Khunti and West Singhbhum are poor on agriculture front. Some solace is in the form of East Singhbhum that has topped in the better 20 list of districts for financial inclusion.   

"We are expecting that the meeting with the Prime Minister would give us some more directions to deal with the issues at hand. Some grey areas are there which needed to be clarified. As far as implementing the schemes directed to improve the situation into the six vital areas indentified under the aspirational district initiative is concerned, I have with me the whole list of works done so far and fund spent. We also expect more support from the Center and the State to work more intensively and improve our rankings," said a senior official of Chatra, the district marred with naxal activities.

For districts featuring into northern and eastern part of Jharkhand such as Garhwa, Palamu Latehar along with Hazaribagh, improving agricultural activities with the help of initiatives meant for irrigation and soil health would be the main focus. "Per drop-more crop, soil health card, e-NAM, crop insurance and farm loan would be the areas where the PM is expected to be talking about. It is worrisome that none of the farmer of the State so far has taken the benefit of six per cent interest rate waiver on bank loan offered by the Center and the State Governments," said an official of Agriculture Directorate.