Presentation tries to focus on approach to make backward districts of India, physically developed and socially vibrant and providing quality of life to millions who live there.

1. Rationalising
Growth and
Development of
Aspirational
Districts in India
**** Jit Kumar Gupta
Ex- Adviser, Town Planning, Punjab Urban Development Authority
mail—jit.kumar1944@gmail.com

2. Districts In India◦ Districts - third layer of administrative hierarchy in country,
after centre and states,
◦ Districts- also known as prants- has genesis in sub-division of
presidencies of Madras(19), Bengal(14) and Bombay(5)
besides 19 other for areas under British Rule- more than 3
centuries ago
◦ critical for development / governance of states/ country.
◦ despite vital role/ importance – districts continue to be
treated in most adhoc manner by states.
◦ Districts never planned/ developed in a holistic manner.
◦ Piece meal/ selective approach - invariably defined their
growth agenda.
◦ District planning conspicuous by absence in most states of
country
◦ majority of districts showing uneven / unbalanced
development.
◦ Large variation in area / population among districts within
state / within country
◦ No set norms/guidelines for defining districts –

3. Districts In India
◦ Districts Count;
◦ 2001 census- 593
◦ 2011 census- 640- an increase of 47 ( 8%)
◦ 2018 - 719- an increase of 79 ( 12.5%)
◦ State of UP has largest number of districts-75
◦ MP-52, Bihar-38, Maharashtra- 36, Gujrat /Rajasthan- 33
◦ Average Population/district- 17.12 lakh persons
◦ Districts of 10 states have higher population whereas 16
states lower than national average
◦ Most Populated District-- Thane, Maharashtra-11.06m
(2011)
◦ Least: Populated--Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh-
8,004 (2011 census)
◦ District with Largest Areas--Kachchh (Gujarat-)---
45,652 km2

4. Districts In India
 Analysis by Niti Ayog --out of 719 districts
 -- 117 fall in category of ,’Backward Districts”
renamed as Aspirational districts’, .
 Evaluated on 49 parameters with score of 81,
 Every seventh district in India --underdeveloped
district.
 Even developed states have share of backward
districts.
 India’s slow growth attributed to these districts
 India ranked 131/188 by UNDP in HDI
 Haphazard/unplanned Urban development/slums
can be largely attributed to migration from backward
districts
 Districts Need a new agenda / policy framework
 - to launch them on path of fast track physical,
social, economical/ environmental development.
 most of districts fall in backward

5. Districts In India
 117 Aspirational (backward) Districts in country
 Include 50 districts impacted by Left wing extremism
and terrorism
 State of Jharkhand has largest backward districts- 19,
 Bihar-13,
 Chhatisgarh-10;
 Madhya Pradesh-8, Orissa- 8, Uttar Pradesh -8,
 Assam-7;
 West Bengal -5; Rajasthan -5
 Maharashtra-4 ; Karnata-2
 Punjab -2,
 Haryana -1
 Goa – only state not to have any backward district

6. District
Planning and
Development-
Issues

7. Districts --Issues
 Absence of guidelines/ criteria to define districts in
States/UT– number, area, boundaries, population
 Creation of districts – purely a political agenda/historical
decision
 Large variations in area, population of districts-
creating unviable administrative/financial entities
 Despite being important part of governance- no
specific allocation of resources for districts
 Absence of appropriate institutional framework for
preparing and implementing District Plans
 District Planning- framework/structure- envisioned in
73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992- inappropriate
for preparing rational district plans
 Disconnect between urban and rural
planning/development at district level

8. Backward Districts --Issues
 Inadequate state initiative for development of districts --
 Low priority for District Planning, development and
management
 Absence of integrated Development at district level-
structure fragmented in line departments
 Multiplicity of agencies operating at district level
 Lack of co-ordination /duplication/ overlapping of
functions/operations
 Absence of Vision/ Roadmap for the Development of
districts
 Absence of a dedicated structure for development at
district level-- District administration including Deputy
Commissioners largely engaged in activities other than
development

9. District
Planning and
Development-
Options

10. Development of Backward Districts-
options Adopting a policy of Ruralization rather than Urbanization
 Treating backward districts not a physical problem but a human
problem where people have suffered for centuries due to
exclusion , poverty, acute deficiency of basic amenities and
neglect
 States to rationalize structure of backward districts based on a
detailed study and analysis
 State to mandate on priority- provisions of District Planning /
Metropolitan Planning ,envisioned in the 73rd and 74th
Constitutional Amendment Act , 1992 - to promote rational and
economical development of these districts.
 Districts to be made a critical planning and development Unit for
-- equitable distribution of resources
-- integrated development of urban / rural areas ,
-- removing disconnect between urban and rural settlements
- Promoting integrated development
--Rational Distribution of population
--Rational Distribution of economic activities/ industry
- -- Sharing of infrastructure and services
- -- Economizing on development
- -- Avoiding overlapping/ duplication of development efforts

11. Development of Backward Districts-
options Focussing Ru-urban mission only on backward
districts
 Adopting PURA ( Providing Urban Amenities in the
Rural Areas ) for taking these districts out of their
backwardness and improve quality of life .
 Earmarking dedicated funds/resources for
development of backward districts in state budget
 Central/state Finance Commission to define norms for
distribution of resources at the district level
 Prioritising connectivity between rural and urban
settlements in backward districts through a crash
program of village roads with surrounding developed
areas for availing services/marketing agricultural
produce
 Undertaking detailed study of backward districts
 ,- identify problems causing roadblocks in
development
 -- evolving strategies to overcome them on priority

12. Development of Backward Districts- optio
 Creating a dedicated structure at district level for
planning, development , management/ resource
generation
 Creating a dedicated, trained and expert cadre in IAS for
posting at district level with defined accountability and
responsibility
 Recognizing / acknowledging good efforts made at
district level through awards, incentives etc
 Districts planned on principle/ analogy of self-
containment and self-sufficiency.
 Promoting concept of Sharing and Co-operation.
 Setting up small scale industrial units for using
agricultural produce/ generate income through value
addition.
 Creating a value chain for marketing agricultural produce
at local level to eliminate middlemen and fetch optimum
price for produce- incentivising local handicraft /tourism
 Documenting good practices in district development -- for

13. Leveraging Backward Districts- Conclusio
 For bringing districts from state of backwardness to
the path of prosperity besides minimising the problem
of haphazard and unplanned urbanisation in India,
options would be --
 Treating district as third tier of administration /
governance
 Earmarking dedicated resources for backward
districts
 Defining a clear agenda for their
growth/development
 Prioritising provision of accessibility;
 Providing electricity/lighting using non- conventional
resources
 Making adequate provision of water for drinking /
agriculture;
 Rationalising agricultural practices;
 Connecting with agricultural markets;
 Adopting policy of co-operation and sharing;

14. Leveraging Backward Districts- Conclusio
 Planning backward districts as self-sustaining
districts based on the analogy of Green Districts using
FIVE basic elements involving Earth, Vayu, Jal, Agni
& Aakash
 Integrating planning / development of urban and rural
settlements based on the agenda defined for Green
Habitat
 Revitalising governance at district level;
 Sharing good practices of district development;
 Rationalising structure of districts in terms of
population and area;
 Mapping district resources;
 Focussing all missions and yojnas on backward
districts ;
 Setting up a dedicated structure for backward
districts
 Adopting a policy of Ruralisation rather than
Urbanisation