https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

When a Small Block Starts Making Big Moves

How Lakhanpur block in Surguja is quietly rewriting the development playbook under the Aspirational Blocks Programme
Indian Masterminds Stories

It started as a dot on the development map; now, it’s leading the way.

Lakhanpur block in Surguja district, tucked away in northern Chhattisgarh, was once just another rural name in government records. But over the past year, it has turned into an unexpected success story, quietly outpacing expectations and clinching a ₹1 crore reward from NITI Aayog under the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP).

In places where progress often inches forward, Lakhanpur has picked up speed, and it’s not slowing down.

100% ANTENATAL REGISTRATION IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER

In a block where healthcare access was once a challenge, every pregnant woman is now registered for Antenatal Care (ANC) in her first trimester. This early detection and consistent monitoring ensure that pregnancy is no longer a risk borne in silence. Health workers on the ground now start tracking and supporting expecting mothers from the very beginning, building trust and enabling interventions when it matters most.

What was once an ignored checkbox in remote registers has become the norm. A routine. A quiet assurance that no woman will go unnoticed.

FROM HOME BIRTHS TO HOSPITAL CARE

Until recently, many women in Lakhanpur still gave birth at home, far from medical assistance. But things have changed. Today, 100% of recorded deliveries in the block happen in healthcare institutions.

Behind this shift are not just awareness campaigns, but also a better referral system, upgraded primary health centres, and frontline workers who’ve taken it upon themselves to walk families through the process. For the first time, both mother and newborn can count on care that begins at birth, and sometimes before.

A CLEAN 100% TREATMENT SUCCESS RATE

Lakhanpur’s fight against tuberculosis is no less impressive. What hovered around 98% success in December 2023 became a full 100% TB treatment success rate by March 2025.

This wasn’t achieved through high-tech clinics or expensive outreach. It was the result of rigorous tracking, timely medicine delivery, and community health volunteers ensuring no patient dropped off the radar. No missed doses, no lost follow-ups. Just a consistent, patient-focused effort that brought the disease under control.

THE FARMERS’ TURN

Lakhanpur isn’t just improving health; it’s growing its fields better too. Three out of five Key Performance Indicators in agriculture and water resources have reached saturation. What does that mean?

It means more farmers now have access to irrigation. More are receiving timely inputs like seeds and fertilizers. And more are part of training programs that teach techniques tuned to local soil and weather.

In a region heavily dependent on farming, this kind of support isn’t just useful; it changes livelihoods.

A COLLECTIVE PUSH WITH LASTING IMPACT

The progress in Lakhanpur didn’t happen overnight, and it didn’t come from the top down alone. Behind the block’s success is a network of healthcare workers, block-level officers, farmers’ groups, and women’s collectives, all working in sync.

District officials, including Surguja’s District Magistrate Vilas Bhoskar, have provided steady oversight without grabbing the spotlight, allowing local teams the space to innovate and deliver. It’s a development model that thrives not on individual heroism, but on coordinated, everyday action.

BEYOND AWARDS, TOWARD A MODEL FOR OTHERS

The ₹1 crore reward from NITI Aayog was a recognition, but Lakhanpur didn’t stop there. The block continues to improve across sectors, showing that small geographies, when given the right attention and autonomy, can move faster than expected.

In a country as large and diverse as India, big change often begins in the small corners. Lakhanpur is one such corner. And Surguja is showing what’s possible when change is steady, grounded, and shared.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Chhattisgarh South Korea
CM Vishnu Deo Sai Meets ATCA in Seoul, ICCK Onboarded as Knowledge Partner for Chhattisgarh's Industrial Push
Rail News
Government Clears Rs 12,328 Crore Railway Upgrades to Enhance Connectivity, Logistics and Sustainability
100th Foundation Course LBSNAA
100th Foundation Course at LBSNAA Mussoorie Begins with 660 Officer Trainees from 19 Civil Services
Two crossed national flags on wooden table
India Ramps Up Lobbying in Washington Following US Dual Charge for Ambassador in India - Details Inside
PMO-building
Third Bureaucratic Shake-Up: Centre Set to Fill 19 Crucial Additional Secretary-Level Posts
WCL Western Coalfield
Leadership Boost: PESB Recommends SECL’s Sandeep Paranjape as Director (Technical) of Western Coalfields Ltd – Details Inside
REC Ltd
REC Limited Reports Record Rs15,713 Cr Profit in FY25 at 56th AGM; Releases ESG Sustainability Report
POWERGRID
POWERGRID Holds 36th Annual General Meeting Virtually, Highlights Strong Operational Performance & Future Growth Plans
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-25 at 13.56
Operation Hunt: IPS Dr. Karanraj Vaghela’s Mission to Nab Valsad’s Most Wanted
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
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
Chhattisgarh South Korea
CM Vishnu Deo Sai Meets ATCA in Seoul, ICCK Onboarded as Knowledge Partner for Chhattisgarh's Industrial Push
Rail News
Government Clears Rs 12,328 Crore Railway Upgrades to Enhance Connectivity, Logistics and Sustainability
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-25 at 13.56
Dr
WhatsApp Image 2025-08-11 at 4.48
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT