Latest news with #AspirationalDistrictsProgramme
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Hry CM approves infra push to uplift Nuh
Nuh: Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on a visit to Nuh, on Friday, approved a series of welfare and infrastructure initiatives during the 31st meeting of the Mewat Development Board. The chief minister reaffirmed the state government's commitment to uplifting the region through educational incentives, infrastructure expansion and creation of jobs, officials said. Pointing out the significant strides made under the Aspirational Districts Programme, Saini said, 'Nuh has risen from the 108th to 20th position among India's aspirational districts due to the coordinated efforts of both the Central and state governments.' He said that the region, once considered remote and underdeveloped, is now witnessing transformative growth in key sectors such as education, health, agriculture and infrastructure. In an effort to boost academic excellence, Saini announced that under the Mukhyamantri Mewat Chhatar Pratibha Samman Yojana, general category students scoring above 90% in Classes 10 and 12 will be awarded ₹51,000, while SC students will receive ₹1,11,000. These scholarships, he said, would be part of a broader strategy to foster a better educational environment across Mewat. During the meeting, Nuh deputy commissioner Vishram Meena submitted a development report to the CM. The gathering also saw participation from several key officials and political leaders from Nuh, Ferozepur Jhirka, Sohna, and Hathin. Key infrastructure announcements included the transfer of the Government Model Sanskriti School under the Mewat Development Authority, the construction of an Unani Medical College in Akera, and the pending launch of the Mewat Model College in Ferozepur Jhirka. A driving training and research institute in village Chhapera is expected to begin operations by October, while a museum dedicated to Shaheed Hasan Khan Mewati will be established to honour the region's legacy. Further approvals included the construction of a ₹13.5 crore sports complex and an auditorium in Nuh, setting up a Hunar Haat in Tauru for self-help group women, and the development of two new transit hostels for girls at Mewat Model School in Ferozepur Jhirka. Libraries will also be established across the district to promote learning and skill development. A 200-seater library will be built in Nuh, while libraries with capacities ranging from 50 to 100 children will come up in Ferozepur Jhirka, Punhana, Tauru, and large villages with populations above 5,000. A Skill Innovation Centre will be launched in Nuh to train youth in vocational courses for self-employment, and a water harvesting project is also planned in the Aravalli belt to enhance rainwater conservation. The chief minister also unveiled key components of the Mukhyamantri Mewat Chatravriti Yojana, which offers annual scholarships of ₹75,000 or 75% of tuition fees—whichever is lower—for students pursuing professional, technical, tourism, and paramedical courses. For MBBS students, the annual cap is ₹1.25 lakh, with the government covering 100% tuition if fees fall below the threshold. To curb dropout rates, Class 11 and 12 students will also be supported through the Mukhyamantri Mewat Post Matric Scholarship Scheme. Additional aid will be provided for competitive exam preparation under the Mewat Utthan Yojana. The meeting marked a pivotal moment in Nuh's development roadmap, underscoring the government's focus on inclusive growth, skill development, and educational empowerment in a district long considered one of the most backward in the country.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Empowering women, tribal communities through digital access
The digital revolution is reshaping economies, businesses, and communities across the globe. Yet, millions in India—particularly women and tribal populations in rural and aspirational blocks—remain on the fringes of this growth story. While more than 55% of internet users in India are from rural areas, when it comes to daily internet usage, urban users surpass their rural counterparts. In many tribal and rural communities across India, digital exclusion goes beyond a lack of smart devices, creating a profound disconnect from essential services and opportunities. Representing some of India's most marginalised communities, the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are characterised by pre-agricultural economies, stagnant literacy rates, and minimal access to mainstream development opportunities. With a population of 44,71,005 individuals, these communities face fundamental barriers due to limited access to smartphones and digital infrastructure. Many remain unable to access even basic digital identity services and Aadhaar-enabled benefits, cutting them off from crucial financial aid, health care, and welfare mechanisms. As India's digital infrastructure evolves, this gap threatens to further widen existing inequities, reinforcing cycles of poverty and marginalisation. Bridging this gap is not just about providing access to technology but also about equipping individuals with the skills to use it meaningfully. Digital literacy enables remote work, entrepreneurship, and access to e-commerce among other benefits, helping overcome mobility barriers, particularly for women and marginalised communities. For tribal communities, it unlocks government schemes, financial services, and agricultural advancements, fostering self-reliance. These are the foundation for socio-economic progress, ensuring no one is left behind in India's digital growth story. As digital access expands, so does the potential for empowerment. A well-structured digital literacy initiative must focus on training people in navigating the internet, cybersecurity, digital payments, and e-governance for a holistic understanding of the digital world. It must also foster entrepreneurial readiness, equipping individuals with tools for online business management and e-commerce platforms, leading to economic independence. For those who wish to join the workforce, digital literacy programs must provide certifications that align with industry needs and improve employability in tech-enabled jobs. Recognising the challenges of imparting digital literacy to vulnerable communities like the PVTGs, the government of India launched the Aspirational Blocks Programme as a targeted intervention to bridge the digital divide at the grassroots level. Building on the successful digital literacy initiatives of the Aspirational Districts Programme, this block-level approach enables focused empowerment of India's most underserved areas, particularly those with significant tribal populations. The programme combines technology-enabled learning with physical infrastructure and community engagement to ensure digital resources and e-governance services reach the last mile. Equipping marginalised communities with foundational digital skills and providing access to essential e-governance services is essential to fostering inclusion and enabling self-reliance in some of the most remote and disadvantaged regions of our nation. For India to become Viksit Bharat by 2047, it is imperative that they are brought into the digital fold through a targeted, scalable approach to digital literacy that provides tailor-made solutions. The Tribal Development Report 2022 highlights a concerning reality—literacy among PVTGs stands at just 47.7%, significantly lower than the national average of 77.3%. This underscores both the urgency of digital inclusion and the challenges of its implementation. For leaders determined to bring in change--solving this requires a hyperlocal, culturally attuned approach. Training modules must be designed in vernacular languages, incorporating visual and audio aids to ensure accessibility. More importantly, digital ambassadors from within these communities can play a transformative role in driving adoption. However, without upgraded infrastructure, even the best-designed interventions will fall short. Establishing community tech centres equipped with devices, internet access, and mentorship programmes through industry collaborations can help PVTGs see tangible benefits of digital literacy. Scaling these efforts however demands a collaborative ecosystem where policymakers, industry leaders, and non-profits must work together, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven, mobile-first vernacular platforms for accessibility. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives should integrate digital skills, complementing government-led programs. To ensure measurable impact, implementing monitoring frameworks tracking employment rates, entrepreneurship growth, and digital adoption is critical. We must focus on technology-enabled, sustainable solutions that bridge this divide and unlock true empowerment. Access to digital platforms enables participation in government schemes, digital banking, and e-governance services, improving transparency and financial autonomy, and hence, strengthening governance and social inclusion measures. With digital tools, people in even the most remote areas can access online education, vocational training, telemedicine, and awareness programs that significantly improve their quality of life. The Union Budget this year reinforces the commitment to digital empowerment through targeted provisions for women and marginalised communities. The Rural Prosperity and Resilience Programme, coupled with enhanced rural connectivity initiatives, positions digital literacy as a cornerstone of socio-economic progress. This strategic focus on digital inclusion promises to transform technology access from a privilege to an enabler of equitable growth. This article is authored by Jyoti Sharma, CEO, Nasscom Foundation.
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.
News18
06-05-2025
- Health
- News18
'One Of Unsung Successes...': Singapore President Lauds India's Aspirational Districts Programme
Last Updated: Shanmugaratnam observed that the programme gives ownership to the community – developing community health workers, para-nurses, and data systems, supported from the centre 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. 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. First Published: May 06, 2025, 07:32 IST
