The Shravasti district of Uttar Pradesh has often made headlines for the ineffective implementation of development schemes, with progress falling short of expectations. According to the NITI Aayog’s 2018 ranking, it was the fourth most backward district in India. However, a transformation is underway, and the situation is steadily improving. The district is now gaining national recognition for its grassroots efforts. Recently, Jamunaha Block of Shravasti district secured the top position in the Government of India’s Aspirational Block Program, a significant achievement announced by NITI Aayog.
This announcement was made during a video conference attended by District Magistrates from across the country. The program identified 500 blocks that lag behind in development and evaluated them based on 40 indicators, including education, health, agriculture, and nutrition. Jamunaha Block excelled in this evaluation, receiving commendations from NITI Aayog for its outstanding performance. This success can be attributed to the effective leadership of District Magistrate Ajay Kumar Dwivedi, a 2015 batch IAS officer, and Chief Development Officer (CDO) Anubhav Singh, a 2018 batch IAS officer, whose guidance has propelled Shravasti district toward remarkable progress.
Indian Masterminds recently interviewed CDO Anubhav Singh to gain deeper insights into his transformative guidance and the effective implementation of initiatives.
Aspirational Block Program
The blocks identified under the Aspirational Block Programme are evaluated based on 40 indicators: 7 related to health, 7 to nutrition, 11 to education, 5 to agriculture, and 5 each for new infrastructure and social development.
Rankings reflect the work completed from March of last year to March of this year.
Jamunaha Block has particularly excelled in agriculture, education, nutrition, health, and social development. This success stems from both government schemes and targeted efforts aimed at socio-economic improvement within the development block. Consequently, Jamunaha Block has secured the top position in the Aspirational Block Program’s Delta Ranking.
Anubhav Singh noted, “We were already working on the indicators of the Aspirational Block Program even before its official launch, covering the entire district. After the program began, we intensified our focus specifically on Jamunaha Block, as it is a very backward area and predominantly minority-dominated.”
The Work
Health: In the health sector, significant improvements have been made in Shravasti district under the Aspirational Block Program. ASHAs conducted a census of newly married couples, resulting in ANC registration rates rising from 97.57 percent in March 2024 to 99.07 percent by August 2024.
To enhance institutional deliveries, remote health sub-centers were converted into delivery centers, with training provided to ANMs. This indicator improved from 90.13 percent to 91.00 percent in the same timeframe.
A campaign for Hypertension and Diabetes awareness led to a substantial increase in CBAC form completion rates, from 5.56 percent and 5.72 percent in March to 67 percent in August.
Furthermore, repairs and equipment issues in health units were resolved, allowing some to achieve NQAS certification, with the March ranking at 23.53 percent. Overall, these efforts demonstrate a commitment to improving health services in the district.
Nutrition: Nutritious food was distributed in a timely manner to pregnant women, students, and children under six years of age. In the Delta Ranking, the achievement for this initiative was 68.36 percent in March 2024, which improved to 100 percent by August 2024.
Weight and height measurements of children were conducted regularly at all Anganwadi centers. This effort led to an achievement of 98.40 percent in the Delta Ranking of March 2024, which rose to 99.54 percent in August.
Children with SAM (Severe Acute Malnutrition) and MAM (Moderate Acute Malnutrition) were identified, and necessary medications and advice were provided, resulting in a notable decrease in their numbers. In March 2024, the achievements were 0.71 percent and 2.58 percent, respectively, which improved to 0.92 percent and 2.29 percent in August 2024.
Training was provided to MS and CDPO personnel on SAM identification. Following this, all Anganwadi workers and ANMs were trained, enabling the Health Department to supply medications for managing SAM cases. Children with complications were admitted to NRC (Nutritional Rehabilitation Centers) for follow-up care.
Education: Basic facilities in government and primary schools in Jamunaha are being improved through ongoing campaigns, with the block nearing saturation in rejuvenation efforts. Monthly assessments are enhancing children’s learning outcomes, aided by the Nipun app. Transition rates from upper primary to secondary levels improved significantly, reaching 73.77 percent for boys and 64.37 percent for girls by August 2024.
Farming: In agriculture, seven Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) are successfully utilizing modern techniques, achieving 100 percent in production metrics. Soil testing and timely animal vaccinations also reached 100 percent completion.
Social Development: Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, 99.07 percent of housing targets have been met, while the Jal Jeevan Mission achieved 88.23 percent in domestic water connections. Cleanliness efforts reached 100 percent in ODF Plus indicators. Additionally, banking services are expanding in remote areas, and 13,807 families have been linked to self-help groups under the National Livelihood Mission, with 95 percent of groups receiving revolving fund transfers.
The Impact
Jamunaha Block’s rise to the top position exemplifies effective governance, community involvement, and a strong focus on developmental goals. This integrated approach has transformed the area and serves as a model for other underdeveloped regions.
