https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

How Bihar’s Khagaria Scored Top Rank Among 115 Aspirational Districts in NITI Aayog’s Delta Ranking

Khagaria district of Bihar has topped the list of Aspirational Districts in Delta Rankings released by NITI Aayog.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Just few decades back, Bihar was considered one of the most backward states in the country. But things are changing now. This year, three districts of Bihar have been given top ranks in the Delta Ranking of Aspirational Districts by NITI Aayog. The list includes 115 districts, in which Khagaria district of Bihar has got the top rank.

This is the second time Khagaria emerged the topper. It got the top rank in 2019, also. The district earned this position for its achievements in various sectors like health, nutrition, skill development, education, agriculture, basic infrastructure development, etc.

The credit for this achievement goes to the district administration and the people of the district. In an exclusive interview to Indian Masterminds, the Collector of the district, Mr. Alok Ranjan Ghosh, talks about the challenges before them and how they tackled them to achieve this feat.

Mr Alok Ranjan Ghosh IAS

Khagaria has got the top rank for the second time. How does it feel?

It is definitely a pleasure to secure the overall top spot in Delta Ranking at the national level for the second time. The rankings are decided by NITI Ayog for the work done under the 5 indicators related to development among 115 aspirational districts. This, also, reminds us that good work gets acknowledged always.

On health and nutrition front, the performance of the district has been remarkable. Can you let us know some of the initiatives you took?

NITI Ayog indicators are quite well defined for nutrition and health. I believe a well thought out plan and targeted approach can work wonders. Our team realised that if ante natal check-up could be focused upon, then majority indicators would improve. Efforts were taken to ensure coordination between ICDS and the Health department. During the observation of Poshan Maah in Sep 2021, this was strengthened further. Timely data entry was done. Stakeholder participation was ensured.

The district had won 13 crores as the prize money in 2019. With the prize money won, we prepared detailed proposals, ANC setup at AWCs, ICU facility in DH, construction of special elevated HSCs designed for flood prone areas, modular OT, facility improvement of SNCU at DH being some of the key ones.

Khagaria has been marked on number 9 position in the ranking for education. What are your plans to be in top in this segment as well?

Education has been on our radar, but a lot needs to be done in order to improve the quality of learning and also retention in schools. Transition of students from primary to secondary to higher secondary needs to be worked upon. IT literacy-based projects focussed on girl students will be our focus in near future. We are also working on scaling up of the infrastructure in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya.

There is lot to learn from other aspirational districts, too. We are looking forward to replicating some good initiatives of other aspirational districts, like setting up of libraries, handwash units in schools, etc. Ranking improvement would definitely be the fallout of this.

Without the support of public, no initiative could be implemented well. Were you able to get it from start? How did they help your administration in implementing the plans?

No initiative becomes a success until it is meaningful for the society. So, it is important to take all the stakeholders on board, be it public representative, people, media or govt machinery. In all our initiatives, we received good support from them. MP/MLAs helped us with fund mobilization and CSR dove tailing, involvement of media helped in getting widespread publicity of our projects, so as to reach to the bottom most strata, while the felicitation of good performing health workers instilled confidence in them. All these efforts made it a Jan Andolan in the real sense.

Tell us about the biggest challenge you faced so far.

Every challenge we faced helped us come out of it stronger. If there was one thing that took a real toll on us, it was the oxygen crisis during the second wave. Fortunately, we are in better position today. Last year, we had no oxygen pipeline supported beds and as less as just 40 Oxygen D type and just 60 B Type cylinders. Oxygen concentrators were also just 28 in numbers and ventilators 6.

This year, with central government/state government assistance, CSR support, we have one 1000 LPM oxygen PSA plant in DH, 100 plus oxygen pipelined beds, 700 plus oxygen cylinders, 160 oxygen concentrators and 8 ventilators. We hope to cater to the needs of the people locally this time if the need arises.

The talk of a third wave is on. Covid protocols need to be strictly followed. How prepared is your district to avoid a situation like last year’s?

As compared to the last two waves, we are in a much better position this time. The infrastructure has greatly improved. I remember the day when even at the state level, the testing capacities were limited and, today, we have a fully functional RTPCR lab at the district level itself, where we are testing 1800 plus samples daily. Aggressive testing has helped detect cases early so that proactive measures can be taken. We have been doing 3700 plus sampling on a daily basis. Oxygen shortage has been taken care of by establishing a PSA plant in DH. Oxygen pipeline work has been completed. Oxygen concentrators and oxygen cylinders are in plenty now. Ventilators, too, are in place. And vaccination has been above the state average across all eligible categories.

What is the status of the new Omicron variant in the district?

Fortunately for us, the Omicron strain has been kind so far to us, as even with around 175 plus positive cases as on day, no one has required hospitalization. Each day, they are being contacted by Covid control room through tele conferencing and health status is being updated by the use of HIT app while being in home isolation. Medical kits are handed over to them directly (RAT positive) and by speed post (RTPCR positive). DCHC is ready to cater to any hospitalization need with 592 beds in all, with 200 plus oxygen beds.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
SEBI
SEBI Appoints 3 New Executive Directors: Amit Pradhan, Avneesh Pandey & Sanjay Purao Take Charge
Lateral_entry_resized
No Reservation in Lateral Govt Job Entries, Centre Tells Rajya Sabha Citing Single-Post Rule
DelhiPolice
Top-Level Shake-Up in Delhi Police: 3 IPS Officers Reassigned Amid Security Concerns; Chahal Named DG, Civil Defence
mp
MP’s ₹3 Lakh Crore Infrastructure Boom: 255 km Greenfield Highway, ₹5,500 Cr Tiger Corridor Among Key Road Projects
FINNOVATION 2025
SBI & IIT Guwahati Celebrate FINNOVATION 2025 Winners in Gurugram, Empowering Young Innovators to Solve Banking Challenges
nitish-kumar
Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar Inaugurates Rs 44 Crore Six-Lane Pull-Up Ramp in Patna, Aims to Ease Traffic Congestion- Know More
CM yogi
UP: CM Yogi Inaugurates Two New Kalyan Mandaps in Gorakhpur, Emphasizes Accessible Celebration Spaces- Full Details Inside
CISF
National Security at Risk: Centre Opposes Supreme Court Ruling Curtailing IPS Deputation in CAPFs, Says IPS Presence is Crucial
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
Resisted Flawed Schemes, Transferred Thrice In Three Months, Found Solace In Writing
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
IAS SVR Srinivas on Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Tough Calls, and the Real Power of IAS Officers | Video Interview
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
Dharavi Redevelopment: IAS Minds Turning 100-Year-Old Slum into a Modern City | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-12 at 7.27
First Attempt IRS, Fourth Attempt IPS: The Relentless Pursuit of Jitendra Kumar Yadav Who Cracked UPSC 3 Times
IPS Yadav is originally from Chhattisgarh. He was first selected for the IRS through UPSC and later for...
Social Media
Masahiro Hara
From Go Board to Global Use, How QR Codes Changed the World: IRAS Officer Ananth Rupanagudi Spotlights Masahiro Hara’s Vision
IRAS officer Ananth Rupanagudi shared a video on Masahiro Hara, the inventor of QR codes, highlighting...
IFS Susanta Nanda Video
A Mother’s Duty: Tigress Watches Over Cubs Splashing in Waterhole — Heartwarming Video Shared By Retd. IFS Officer Susanta Nanda
A tender wildlife video shared by Retd. IFS officer Susanta Nanda shows a tigress keeping watch over...
Mohanmala
Kaziranga Mourns: Beloved Elephant Mohanmala Passes Away After Five Decades of Service
Kaziranga National Park mourns the loss of Mohanmala, a beloved elephant who served over 50 years as...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
SEBI
SEBI Appoints 3 New Executive Directors: Amit Pradhan, Avneesh Pandey & Sanjay Purao Take Charge
Lateral_entry_resized
No Reservation in Lateral Govt Job Entries, Centre Tells Rajya Sabha Citing Single-Post Rule
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-08 at 5.25
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT