NONGPOH, April 18: Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju on Monday visited Ri-Bhoi to review several works on the development aspect of Ri-Bhoi, one of the 112 aspirational districts across India, during which he spoke highly of the district for its climb in the overall ranking of aspirational districts.
Ri-Bhoi has made large strides since 2018, when it was ranked 51st, to the present where it ranks 5th among all the aspirational districts in the country.
The Union minister expressed satisfaction over the district’s remarkable progress, while reminding the district machinery to continue rendering services with more vigour so as to ensure that Ri-Bhoi climbs to the top.
During his visit, the Union minister also inspected some of the developmental activities in Ri-Bhoi villages.
A meeting was convened at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Nongpoh, where Additional DC MB Tongper presented a detailed overview of developmental activities in the district in the presence of Secretary Planning department Dr Joram Beda, Ri-Bhoi DC Arpit Upadhyay, Superintendent of Ri-Bhoi Giri Prasad, and others.
Addressing the meeting, Rijiju highlighted motive of the Centre’s Aspirational District programme which is speedy and effective transformation of the 112 aspirational districts.
Highlighting the importance of the programme, he added that the broad contours of the programme are convergence of central and state schemes and to build competition among the aspirational districts through monthly delta ranking.
The districts are ranked based on the progress they have made in different key indicators such as health, education, agriculture, basic infrastructure, financial inclusion, skill development etc.
Later in the day, the Union minister conducted a ground-level inspection of Aganwadi centre in Umdihar village and Health and Wellness Centre at Umsawnongkharai village.
