The Union Government has selected 115 backward districts for rapid transformation by 2022 in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to create a "New India" over the next five years.
These 115 backward districts include 35 districts affected by Left Wing Extremists (LWE) violence, 55 districts just affected by LWE and another 15 including districts in Jammu and Kashmir and northeast affected by terrorism.
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given a Vision for a new and vibrant India by 2022, the year when India celebrates its 75th year of Independence.
Inclusive development and improving the liveability of all are integral part of this vision.
One of the initiatives in this regard is to make a dramatic improvement in overall socio-economic development of backward districts.
The strategy envisaged is to adopt a focussed approach, ensure convergence of efforts of the Central, State and local Government and establish a real time monitoring mechanism to focus on outcomes that matter to common people in these districts beside giving rise to a virtuous cycle of economic development.
A total of 115 districts have been identified for this purpose on the basis of objective criteria. Such criteria include education, health, nutrition basic infrastructure like rural road connectivity, rural household electrification, access to potable water and individual toilets etc.
These districts include 35 districts which are affected by violence by Left Wing Extremists.
Besides, while selecting these districts, it has been ensured that Ministries of Government of India, implementing social sector Scheme would select at least one most backward districts in every State for extending the reach of the programme in different part of the country.
Improvement in one district is likely to spur similar growth in neighbouring districts through demonstration effect.
