Days after the caste riots in Maharashtra involving Dalits, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday invoked Dr BR Ambedkar’s vision for the uplift of the under-privileged and urged Government officials to challenge themselves by taking postings in backward districts to serve the poor.

The Prime Minister was interacting with Collectors and Officers-in-charge of some of the backward districts at a conference organised by NITI Aayog at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The Government has embarked upon a major policy initiative for the rapid transformation of 115 districts that are lagging behind on specific development parameters.

Six groups of officers made presentations on the themes of nutrition, education, basic infrastructure, agriculture and water resources, eradication of left Wing Extremism, and financial inclusion and skill development.

Addressing the gathering, which also included many Union Ministers and senior Union Government officers, the Prime Minister said this is the first official programme at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre, and therefore has a special significance.

He said relative backwardness of some regions is an injustice to the people of those regions. This effort to develop 115 backward districts is in keeping with the vision of Dr Ambedkar, who worked for the uplift of the under-privileged, he added.

Giving the examples of the Jan Dhan Yojana, the construction of toilets, and rural electrification, the Prime Minister said, “Nothing was impossible if we have a firm resolve.” He also gave examples of success that is being achieved in entirely new initiatives such as soil testing.

He emphasised that there is limitless potential, limitless possibilities and limitless opportunities now in India. In this context, he mentioned the improvement in ease of doing business. He credited officials of the Government — and Team India — for this success.

The Prime Minister said that top-down solutions do not yield results. Therefore, the effort is that people on the field contribute to solutions. In this context, he appreciated the clarity of thought and faith in conviction, in the presentations on Friday.

The Prime Minister said that regional imbalances should not be allowed to increase indefinitely. Therefore, the development of backward districts is imperative. He said that success stories are vital to change the negative psyche and mindset in these areas. The first step is to convert this mindset of pessimism into one of optimism, he explained.

The Prime Minister said public movements for development require a meeting of minds in the core team and suggested brainstorming at the district level. There need to be systematic arrangements to involve people, he said, giving the example of the Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan. He emphasised the importance of building positive narratives and optimism in the achievement of development targets.