Latest news with #AspirationalDistricts
Hans India
12-08-2025
- Science
- Hans India
Mega Tinkering Day 2025: Over 4 lakh students unite to build, innovate together in real-time
New Delhi: In India's largest-ever school-based tinkering event, over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) mobilised more than 4 lakh students from across the country to build, innovate together in real-time, Niti Aayog said on Tuesday. The 'Mega Tinkering Day 2025' was hosted virtually and simultaneously in schools from 35 states and union territories by Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). A total of 4,73,350 students from 9467 ATL-equipped schools participated in the event and engaged in a hands-on project to design and build a DIY vacuum cleaner, using everyday materials available in their labs. The activity was guided by a step-by-step instructional session streamed online, enabling students to learn scientific concepts and collaborate in real time no matter where they were. 'Mega Tinkering Day 2025 is a milestone demonstration of the power of grassroots innovation,' said Deepak Bagla, Mission Director at Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog. He stated that the event is 'in line with the Prime Minister's vision of Viksit Bharat, where innovation and youth are one of the driving forces of national transformation'. 'In this live event, over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs came together in one synchronised hour of creativity, with thousands of students across India building, learning, and innovating as one. No other country in the world has mobilised innovation at this scale inside its school ecosystem,' Bagla said. The students were from schools belonging to the northernmost region of India, like Leh, Ladakh, and Kargil, Kashmir, from the remotest villages of Aspirational Districts like Virudhunagar, North East regions like Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and from southern regions like Kanniyakumari, and westernmost regions of Bhuj and Kutchh. 'This is India's moment to lead to show how young minds, when empowered, can shape solutions not just for our nation, but for the world. The future is being built in our classrooms today,' Bagla said. The AIM team also joined and built a vacuum cleaner. Since its inception, AIM has established over 10,000 ATLs in schools that offer students access to tools like 3D printers, robotics kits, IoT devices, and more. These labs provide middle- to high-school students with hands-on exposure to modern technologies and foster real-world problem-solving skills.
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Business Standard
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Centre launches targeted DMF push for aspirational districts initiative
The Union Ministry of Mines on Tuesday launched a focused programme to align District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds with India's Aspirational Districts initiatives, marking a major shift toward targeted welfare delivery in mining-affected regions. Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy announced that DMFs currently hold over Rs 32,000 crore in Aspirational Districts. He directed district collectors to ensure impactful and timely utilisation of these funds. Speaking at the National DMF Workshop organised in New Delhi, Reddy urged states to implement the new DMF–Aspirational Districts convergence programme in '100 per cent saturation mode' across key areas such as health, nutrition, education, agriculture and rural infrastructure. 'District collectors have to prepare an action plan and spend the funds on impactful projects in a time-bound manner,' the minister said. The Centre's push for convergence seeks to align DMF planning and implementation with central flagship schemes such as Jal Jeevan Mission, Ayushman Bharat and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, in line with guidelines under the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY). 'DMF has to be seen as a development mission,' said Reddy. Through project status tracking, transparency will be ensured. With forest-based livelihood investments, DMF implementation must advance inclusive and sustainable development, he added. Highlighting India's broader developmental trajectory, the minister noted that between 2011 and 2023, over 17 crore people came out of extreme poverty. Today, India is not only the fourth-largest economy in the world but also the fourth most equal country globally, he said. This change, he added, is the result of inclusive development initiatives launched over the last 11 years. The establishment and vision of DMFs reflect those efforts. The Union minister said over Rs 1 trillion has been deposited in DMFs since their inception, following the 2015 amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. Of this, Rs 90,000 crore has been allocated toward various development projects. However, Reddy also flagged serious implementation concerns. 'In many states, funds have been allocated, but projects remain incomplete. DMF funds are being transferred from the affected districts to others,' he said, urging officials to strictly follow guidelines and ensure the funds benefit directly impacted communities. Mine closures Addressing mine closure issues, the minister revealed that although 143 coal mines have been decommissioned, closure activities remain pending. 'District collectors must take responsibility. You must catch the company and ensure that closure work is implemented. For the first time, the government is itself spending money on mine closures,' he said. The workshop, held at the Scope convention centre in New Delhi, brought together state nodal officers, DMF district representatives, and officials from various ministries. The event also saw the launch of operational guidelines for the convergence of DMF with the Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks Programme. Simultaneously, an exhibition of Self-Help Group (SHG) products supported by DMF funds was inaugurated at Handloom Haat, Janpath, where women from mining-affected districts showcased their work. The exhibition will remain open to the public till July 15.
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Business Standard
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Centre launches targeted DMF push of ₹32,000 cr for aspirational districts
The Union Ministry of Mines on Tuesday launched a focused programme to align District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds with India's Aspirational Districts initiatives, marking a major shift toward targeted welfare delivery in mining-affected regions. Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy announced that DMFs currently hold over Rs 32,000 crore in Aspirational Districts. He directed district collectors to ensure impactful and timely utilisation of these funds. Speaking at the National DMF Workshop organised in New Delhi, Reddy urged states to implement the new DMF–Aspirational Districts convergence programme in '100 per cent saturation mode' across key areas such as health, nutrition, education, agriculture and rural infrastructure. 'District collectors have to prepare an action plan and spend the funds on impactful projects in a time-bound manner,' the minister said. The Centre's push for convergence seeks to align DMF planning and implementation with central flagship schemes such as Jal Jeevan Mission, Ayushman Bharat and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, in line with guidelines under the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY). 'DMF has to be seen as a development mission,' said Reddy. Through project status tracking, transparency will be ensured. With forest-based livelihood investments, DMF implementation must advance inclusive and sustainable development, he added. Highlighting India's broader developmental trajectory, the minister noted that between 2011 and 2023, over 17 crore people came out of extreme poverty. Today, India is not only the fourth-largest economy in the world but also the fourth most equal country globally, he said. This change, he added, is the result of inclusive development initiatives launched over the last 11 years. The establishment and vision of DMFs reflect those efforts. The Union minister said over Rs 1 trillion has been deposited in DMFs since their inception, following the 2015 amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. Of this, Rs 90,000 crore has been allocated toward various development projects. However, Reddy also flagged serious implementation concerns. 'In many states, funds have been allocated, but projects remain incomplete. DMF funds are being transferred from the affected districts to others,' he said, urging officials to strictly follow guidelines and ensure the funds benefit directly impacted communities. Mine closures Addressing mine closure issues, the minister revealed that although 143 coal mines have been decommissioned, closure activities remain pending. 'District collectors must take responsibility. You must catch the company and ensure that closure work is implemented. For the first time, the government is itself spending money on mine closures,' he said. The workshop, held at the Scope convention centre in New Delhi, brought together state nodal officers, DMF district representatives, and officials from various ministries. The event also saw the launch of operational guidelines for the convergence of DMF with the Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks Programme. Simultaneously, an exhibition of Self-Help Group (SHG) products supported by DMF funds was inaugurated at Handloom Haat, Janpath, where women from mining-affected districts showcased their work. The exhibition will remain open to the public till July 15.
The Print
16-06-2025
- Business
- The Print
Decorated civil servant & spearhead of key Modi govt initiatives, Amitabh Kant resigns as G20 Sherpa
In a post on social media platform 'X' and LinkedIn, Kant said that he was deeply grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accepting his resignation as India's G20 Sherpa and for the trust he placed in him to drive developmental initiatives that shaped India's growth trajectory. Kant told ThePrint that he would announce his future role soon. 'It was a fascinating experience… very unique. No institution could have provided me this kind of opportunity and experience,' Kant said about his 45-year stint in the government. On his future plans, Kant wrote, 'I now look forward to contributing to India's transformational journey towards Viksit Bharat (developed India) by facilitating and supporting free enterprise, startups, think tanks, and academic institutions.' Though Kant retired from the IAS in 2016, he has held high profile posts since then. He was appointed CEO of federal think tank NITI Aayog soon after he retired in 2016 for a two-year term. His dynamism at NITI Aayog in spearheading some of the Modi government's flagship initiatives like the Aspirational Districts Programme ensured that he got two extensions at the helm. But he was roped in again by the PM soon after his tenure ended in NITI Aayog. He was named India's G20 Sherpa, a position which he said was both challenging and one of his most memorable experiences in the 45 years of working with the government. 'It was a defining moment when amidst the geopolitical challenges, we achieved a unanimous consensus on the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration from all the G20 heads,' Kant told ThePrint. He wrote about the challenges he faced as a Sherpa in adopting a consensus declaration in his book How India Scaled Mt G20: The Inside Story of the G20 Presidency. 'The text continued to face constant revisions and objections after 300 hours of negotiations over 250 bilateral meetings… PM Modi was acutely aware of the stakes involved. He had asked me to send him urgent situation reports every two hours, a task that demanded immense multitasking and quick analysis. This constant communication kept PM Modi informed, but also spurred us into action, helping us map out the negotiations and take stock of our progress,' he wrote in the book. Prior to his appointment as G20 Sherpa, Kant held another challenging role as the CEO of NITI Aayog in 2016 soon after his retirement. He launched the Aspirational Districts programme in 2018 to transform 115 of the most backward districts of India across 28 states. 'Through the programme we transformed the lives of the poorest and under-served,' he said. The programme aims to improve socio-economic indicators in five major areas—health and nutrition, education, agriculture, drinking water and sanitation, financial inclusion, basic infrastructure and overall social development—across 329 of the most under-developed districts of India. He was also involved in some of the other big ticket initiatives of the government at NITI Aayog, like laying the foundation for India's digital public infrastructure and implementing the PLI scheme to boost manufacturing and exports. Transforming Calicut to God's Own Country campaign His diligence was evident from the time he was the collector of Kozhikode, also known as Calicut, and took up the challenge of transforming the largest urban area in the Malabar coast, where Vasco Da Gama landed in May 1498 as part of a trade mission from Portugal. 'Calicut had encroachments all around… the infrastructure was crumbling. It had a decrepit look. There was a running joke that what Vasco Da Gama could not do, the Calicut collector will,' Kant recalled. He took up the challenging task and transformed the city in a short period. 'We got the encroachments removed, upgraded the civic infrastructure–be it reviving the Mananchaira Maidam or expanding the Calicut airport. I also worked with the traditional fishermen to transform their lives by introducing them to new technology,' he told ThePrint. Kant was also the brain behind the 'God's Own Country' campaign to promote Kerala as a must-visit tourist destination. Later as tourism secretary at the Centre, he was behind the 'Incredible India' campaign. Prolific career at the Centre As industries secretary, he led the government initiatives such as 'Ease of Doing Business', 'Make in India' and 'Start Up India' to promote manufacturing and create jobs. He was also the CEO of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation. It was during his tenure that the plan to develop seven greenfield industrial cities including Dholera was rolled out. His post retirement stint in NITI Aayog saw the release of a number of indices including the School Education and Quality Index and the Multidimensional Poverty Index. At NITI Aayog, he established India's National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage, which is responsible for driving the uptake of clean mobility in the country. The mission evolved policies and interventions which supported millions of citizens and hundreds of government agencies across the country to make the switch to electric mobility. A Delhi boy, Kant did his schooling from Modern School and graduated in Economics from St. Stephens college. He followed it up with a masters from Jawaharlal Nehru University before getting selected for the IAS. Extremely suave and dynamic, Kant was known to be close to PM Modi. He has authored several books including Branding India-An Incredible Story. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: G20 India leaders' declaration nearly failed. A non-negotiable plan saved it: Amitabh Kant
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Singapore president highlights India's Aspirational Districts programme at Philanthropy Asia Summit
Singapore President highlights India's Aspirational Districts programme at Philanthropy Asia Summit SINGAPORE: Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has singled out India's " Aspirational Districts Programme " as an example of giving power to people in developing regions. Shanmugaratnam was addressing the Philanthropy Asia Summit (PAS) 2025 on Monday. Themed 'Priming Asia for Good', the summit brings together thought leaders to spotlight solutions, innovations, and actions from across Asia to address global challenges in the interconnected areas of climate, education, and health. The summit is being held from May 5 to 7. Shanmugaratnam elaborated on the programme, saying "But innovation also involves organisation. For instance, if you look at India, one of the unsung successes is what they call the Aspirational Districts Programme. A well-chosen name for the most underdeveloped districts in India." He noted that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who launched the initiative in 2018 with the aim to quickly and effectively transform 112 most under-developed districts across the country. "I believe Gates Foundation joined Piramal Foundation and Tata Trusts in helping to fund it," he added. He observed in detail that the programme gives ownership to the community - developing community health workers, para-nurses, and data systems, supported from the centre - targeted especially at maternal health and health of the child in the earliest years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Jakarta Raya: AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Aroun... Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Shanmugaratnam said he has visited some of those districts, and seen how they are working because they give ownership and agency on the ground to the people in the village themselves. Shriti Pandey from Delhi, who was at the summit and has closely studied the programme for a year, agreed that the programme has empowered women in the villages. Pandey said she has seen women in these districts who were definitely empowered and were involved in projects such as running the clinics and Anganwardis. "A few baseline parameters are definitely getting better under the scheme, especially around health," said Pandey. Pandey has spent time a year in one of the districts in Madhya Pradesh and worked with a few in Bihar. "A lot of foundations and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) are adopting the scheme as a structure to fund projects," she told PTI on the sidelines of the summit. But there are a lot of infrastructural activities that still need to be done in terms of waste management, schools and education, said Pandey, who did a rural fellowship for a year and was a part of the programme in 2016-2017. Part of the fellowship condition was to live in one of the villages in Madhya Pradesh for an entire year, while working for Aga Khan Trust, said Pandey, Founder and CEO of the Strawcture Eco for empowering sustainable construction. Taking note of such programmes, and as part of ongoing efforts to support and scale solutions in climate, health and their intersection, Singapore's Temasek Trust and its ecosystem entities - the Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA), Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP) and Catalytic Capital for Climate and Health (C3H) - along with like-minded partners announced new global initiatives at the conference opening on Monday. PAA launched two new Communities - the Health for Human Potential (HHP) Community, which aims to mobilise over US$100 million by 2030 to improve maternal and child health and address infectious diseases, and the Just Energy Transition (JET) Community, which supports Asia's shift toward clean, inclusive, and people-centered energy solutions. CIIP and the World Economic Forum's Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) initiative, supported by PAA, highlights the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance in Asia, warning it could cost the region up to USD 700 billion by 2050 and surpass cancer as the leading cause of death. The report calls for urgent, coordinated action and outlines four high-impact intervention areas to guide funders and partners in tackling this critical health challenge. Co-Axis, a digital impact marketplace connecting funders with high-impact solutions aligned to the UN SDGs, has secured S$1.25 million in catalytic capital from the Richardson Family and Catalytic Capital for Climate and Health (C3H) to scale solutions in climate, health and their intersection, said the organizers in an official release.
