Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched a week-long programme called ‘Sankalp Saptaah’ for the country’s aspirational blocks at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
Modi also interacted with three block level officers, which also included Junior Rural Development Officer from Resubelpara, North Garo Hills, Mikehenchard Ch Momin.
During the virtual interaction, the Prime Minister inquired about the solutions to the difficulties faced due to the extreme weather conditions in the Garo Hills region, changes in the quality of the output brought by the PM-Awas (Gramin) and production and marketing of cashews.
Momin urged the Prime Minister to issue preliminary orders to stock essential goods and to create a team to monitor the progress. Informing him about cashew production and how MNREGA and self-help groups are used to encourage its production, Momin also urged the PM to set up more cashew processing units in the region.
The Prime Minister also touched upon the popularity of music in the region to increase awareness and underlined the critical role of Gram Panchayat in the aspirational block and district programme.
During the launch programme, Modi said that the aspirational districts programme changed the lives of over 25 crore people in 112 Indian districts and its success will now form the basis of the aspirational blocks programme.
He emphasised that he wishes to work alongside the ground-level officers and laid stress on the importance of optimum utilisation of resources, convergence and public participation for development at the grassroots level.
According to an official press release, the week-long program is closely aligned with the nationwide Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP), which was launched by Modi on January 7 this year
‘Sankalp Saptah’ programme, which is being implemented in 500 aspirational blocks across 329 districts in the country, aims to improve governance at the block level in order to enhance the quality of life of citizens.
To facilitate the successful implementation of the ABP and craft robust block development strategies, ‘chintan shivirs’ were conducted at village and block levels across the nation. ‘Sankalp Saptaah’ represents the culmination of these thoughtful deliberations which will be observed in all of the 500 aspirational blocks.
Each day in ‘Sankalp Saptaah’, starting from October 3 till October 9, is dedicated to a specific development theme on which all aspirational blocks will work. The themes for the first six days include ‘Sampoorna Swasthya’, ‘Suposhit Pariwaar’, ‘Swachhta’, ‘Krishi’, ‘Shiksha’, and ‘Samridhi Diwas’.
The last day of the week-long programme, October 9, will be a celebration of the work conducted during the entire week, as ‘Sankalp Saptaah – Samavesh Samaroh’.
The inaugural event at Bharat Mandapam is anticipated to witness the participation of approximately 3,000 panchayat and block-level people’s representatives and functionaries along with about two lakh people including block and panchayat level functionaries, farmers, and persons from other walks of life, joining virtually, the release said.
