Aspirational Blocks Programme
Also called: ABP · Topic: Regional Planning and Sustainable Development in India · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) began in January 2023. It aims to quickly improve 500 backward blocks in 329 districts. A block is a smaller unit inside a district. The programme tracks about 40 indicators (measures of progress) in health, nutrition, education, agriculture and basic infrastructure. It takes the idea of target area planning (aiming development at backward places) down from the district level to the block level. This matters because a district's average can hide very poor pockets inside it.
Example
The Bharmaur tribal region in Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh, shows why block-level focus is needed. Villages along the Ravi in Holi and Khani gained the most from development. Remote Tundah and Kugti in the same project area still lag behind.
Don't confuse with
- Aspirational Districts Programme: it began in 2018 and works with whole districts. It covers 112 districts and tracks 49 indicators in five themes.