While asking for allocation of more funds for the “most backward districts”, changing the list of districts and appointment of fresh Prabhari Officers, the Odisha Government has agreed to participate in the Aspirational District Programme being organized by the NITI Aayog to scale up development in 115 districts.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has green-signaled to join the programme in which nine districts are needed to be included along with separate funds for these districts, urged the State Government in its request to the NITI Aayog. The State Government had rejected a proposal of Centre in this connection; however, after a recent visit of NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar to Odisha and meeting with the Chief Minister, the State Government has agreed to join the programme with clear cut terms and conditions.
Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi has written to NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer Amitabh Kant a letter in this regard, said sources.
Earlier eight districts from Odisha had been identified and listed as “Backward” by the NITI Aayog. Those districts were Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Koraput, Balangir and Dhenkanal.
However, the State Government while adding two most backward districts Nabarangpur and Nuapada in the list deleted Dhenkanal from the list.
Detailing out a comparison, the State Government said that both the tribal zone districts are lower than Dhenkanal, which has better socio-economic indicators.
The State Government said that in view of the latest Socio Economic Indicators and keeping State’s perspective in view, the NITI Aayog may revisit identification of the districts based on inputs provided by the State Government.
Similarly, the State Government provided a fresh panel for appointment of “Prabhari Officers”, while rejecting earlier list prepared by the NITI Aayog.
The Chief Secretary said after the fresh appointment of the Prabhari Officers, they will work jointly with the Secretaries nominated by the State Government for each identified district.
The Development Commissioner will be designated as Nodal Officer for the State and the Prabhari Officers along with the Secretary and above level officers identified for the districts will make a presentation before the State level Committee headed by the Chief Secretary.
Thereafter, the Prabhari Officers may submit their report incorporating the views of the State Government to the Empowered Committee of Secretaries constituted by the Government of India.
And the State Government said as of now the Aspirational District Programme has not been backed up by any financial commitment for upliftment of these districts.
The deployment of flexi funds under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) for addressing the specific developmental needs of these districts is not providing any additionality to these “Most Backward Districts”, pointed out the State Government.
Chief Secretary Padhi said that without substantial additional resource flow for the development of these districts the so- called new initiative would remain only a “statement of intent”.
So the State Government said restoration of the Central assistance for backward districts in KBK, Central assistance for Area Specific Development Programmes like Special Plan for KBK, Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF), Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for left Wing Extremists (lWE) Affected districts is needed.