On Sunday, the Minister for the Department of North Eastern Region (DoNER) stated that a sum of Rs 190 crore would be provided to all the eight North Eastern states to augment healthcare facilities in the states and to deal especially with infectious diseases like Covid. However, this amount would be made available to the 14 aspirational districts that fulfilled 49 key indicators of which healthcare was an important component. This was arrived at by DoNER through a scientifically designed mechanism. Each aspiration district was to focus on improving key indicators.
In Meghalaya only Ri Bhoi district has qualified to be the Aspirational District. One of the key indicators for qualifying to be on this merit list is the proper implementation of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) popularly known as Ayushman Bharat Yojana Scheme. This is the flagship scheme by the Government of India which is essentially a health insurance scheme to cater to the poorest section of society and the vulnerable population. The scheme offers financial protection in case of hospitalization due to medical emergencies.
Rs 190 crore if divided into 14 districts amounts to Rs 13.57 crore each. DoNER Ministry has also given the North Eastern states the option of availing funds for health projects from the Rs 500 crore North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NEISDS). All North Eastern states barring Tripura have applied for these funds. The Aspirational District scheme is meant to help backward districts catch up with their counterparts. It is ironic that just one district from the many backward districts of Meghalaya such as East Jaintia Hills, South and East Garo Hills, has qualified as the Aspirational District. Perhaps the district officials should work harder at meeting the 49 markers so that they can come all come up to level of their more progressive peers. And if Ayushman Bharat is a key indicator then its execution should have been more meticulous.
The Aspiration Districts programme was launched by the Prime Minister in 2018 to quickly and effectively transform these districts. The broad parameters of the programme administered under NITI Aayog are Convergence (of Central & State Schemes), Collaboration (of Central, State level officers & Deputy Commissioners) and Competition among districts driven by a mass movement. The areas of focus are Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development, and Basic Infrastructure. NITI Aayog in partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh has created a dashboard for monitoring the real-time progress of the districts. Assam has 7 aspirational districts out of a total of 33 districts while all other states have only one each.