Over 100 field officers from different States across the country are undergoing training in preparing action plans for the transformation of 115 backward districts into developed districts at Dr. MCR HRD Institute.
The three-day workshop on ‘Capacity Building for Preparation of the Districts Action Plan’ was rolled out here on Wednesday. B.P. Acharya, Special Chief Secretary and Director General, HRD Institute, in his keynote address underlined the need for a focused approach to understand the backwardness of a district in different areas and formulate strategies and action plans for their development.
The association of 15 officer trainees belonging to Indian Economic Service attending the 93rd Foundation Course, will add a professional touch to the exercise, he said. The institute will develop e-learning modules to enrich and diversify the core competencies of field staff of administration, he added.
Ashok Jain, IFS and former adviser, NITI Aayog, said the transformation of aspirational districts programme of Government of India aimed at development of 115 backward districts in such areas as Health and Nutrition, Education, Agriculture and Water Resources, Financial Inclusion, Skill Development, and Basic Infrastructure would not only raise the living standards of people but would also enable India to move ahead in its overall human development index.
The broad contours of the programme were convergence of Central and State Schemes, collaboration of central , State level officers and Collectors and creating healthy competition among districts.
Mr. Jain said inherent strengths of each district should be identified and unique intervention strategies should be formulated for their development. India could not become an economic super power as long as these 115 districts were caught in the vicious circle of poverty. The NITI Aayog has created a dashboard for continuous monitoring of progress of these districts.
UNICEF would work with State governments and district administrations to support the effective implementation of flagship schemes to enable the backward districts join the mainstream of development, said Meital Rusdia, Chief Field Officer, UNICEF.
M. Jagadeeshwar, Principal Secretary, DCWD, and Lipika Nanda, Vice President, Public Health Foundation of India, emphasised improvement of health and nutrition of women and children for overall development.