Odisha Holds Workshop to Review and Sensitize Stakeholders on Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programmes

Bhubaneswar: A one-day Review-cum-Sensitization Workshop on the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) was held today at the State Convention Centre, Lok Seva Bhawan, under the chairpersonship of Odisha’s Chief Secretary, Manoj Ahuja, IAS. The workshop, organized by the Planning & Convergence Department of the Government of Odisha, brought together key stakeholders from both state and central governments.

The event featured participation from the ADP & ABP team of NITI Aayog, led by Gitanjali Gupta, IAS, Additional Secretary to the Government of India and Mission Director for ADP & ABP, who delivered a comprehensive presentation on the two programmes. Dr. Pravakar Sahoo, Programme Director and State Adviser for Odisha, NITI Aayog, also attended the workshop, lending his insights on the programmes’ implementation.

The workshop saw the involvement of Secretaries from crucial departments of the Odisha government, including Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Health & Family Welfare, and School & Mass Education. Collectors from the 16 Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks, along with their CDO-cum-EOs, Zilla Parishad members, and Deputy Directors of the District Planning & Monitoring Unit (DPMU), were present. Block Development Officers from the 29 Aspirational Blocks participated virtually.

In her welcome address, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary of Odisha, Anu Garg, IAS, underscored the importance of achieving saturation of the ADP & ABP indicators, highlighting their role in reducing multidimensional poverty and advancing the state’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She emphasized the significance of these programmes in localizing the SDGs through departmental convergence, ensuring that benefits reach the last mile.

Chief Secretary Ahuja, in his keynote address, provided an overview of the history and objectives of the ADP & ABP. He encouraged stakeholders to view Odisha’s challenges, such as geographic isolation, infrastructure gaps, and capacity constraints, as opportunities for innovation and growth.

Gitanjali Gupta, Mission Director for ADP & ABP, NITI Aayog, outlined the core strategies of the programmes and urged all stakeholders to intensify their efforts during the ongoing Sampoornata Abhiyan to achieve the saturation of selected indicators.

Manish Agarwal, IAS, Additional Secretary, ADP & ABP, Planning & Convergence Department, presented the state’s perspective, highlighting the year-on-year performance of Aspirational Districts across five thematic sectors, the status of various ongoing projects, and the recruitment of Aspirational Block Fellows to enhance the Block Development Strategy.

The workshop also featured presentations from Collectors of Barpeta, Assam, Ayush Garg, who attended the programme in person, DC Saraikela Karsawan, Jharkhand, Ravi Shankar Shukla, and Dr. Syed Sehrish Asgar, former Deputy Commissioner of Baramulla, J&K, who participated virtually. They shared their experiences and best practices. Additionally, Collectors from Koraput and Mayurbhanj Districts in Odisha showcased the initiatives undertaken in their respective districts under the ADP & ABP.