The Government of India launched the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) on 7 January 2023 to improve the overall quality of life in 500 Blocks in 27 States and 4 Union Territories (UT). ABP aims to boost service delivery to enhance several socio-economic and development parameters, such as health and nutrition; education; agriculture and allied sciences; basic infrastructure; and social development.
NITI Aayog; national, state and UT governments; and district administration, with assistance from partners, are working in tandem to ensure improved planning and implementation, capacity building and establishing systems for efficient and sustainable service delivery for the rapid development of identified Blocks (sub-district administrative units).
The ABP gives flexibility to state governments and administrators to design customized strategies that are tailored to geography, social context, and local opportunities and challenges. Block officers are identified as ‘Leaders of Change’ and equipped with skills and competencies to drive transformative change in their respective Blocks.
Fifty-two aspirational Blocks in 10 states, including all 27 aspirational Blocks of Rajasthan, have been identified for direct Block support from WHO Country Office for India (WHO India) for improving seven key health indicators. The 10 states include Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
The seven key performance indicators for health and nutrition are:
WHO India teams are supporting public health system strengthening through advocacy, gap analysis, planning and implementation activities; stakeholder and intersectoral coordination; orientation and capacity building; programme-specific technical guidance; and supervision, progress tracking and documentation.
/countries/india/a-child-s-height-being-measured-for-the-health-monitoring-of-antenatal-women-and-children-under-five-years-on-village-health-nutrition-day-in-pangarne-primary-health-centre-in-surgana-block--nashik-district--maharash.jpg?sfvrsn=c858c359_3 "A child’s height being measured for the health monitoring of antenatal women and children under five years on Village Health Nutrition Day in Pangarne Primary Health Centre in Surgana block, Nashik district, Maharash")
A child’s height being measured for the health monitoring of antenatal women and children under five years on Village Health Nutrition Day in Pangarne Primary Health Centre in Surgana block, Nashik district, Maharashtra (Photo: Shital Gadhe / © WHO India)
/countries/india/blood-pressure-monitoring-at-noncommunicable-diseases-clinic-at-rural-hospital-barhe-community-health-centre-in-surgana-bloc-in-nashik-district.jpg?sfvrsn=f41597e8_3 "Blood-pressure monitoring at Noncommunicable Diseases Clinic at Rural Hospital Barhe Community Health Centre in Surgana bloc in Nashik district")
Blood-pressure monitoring at Noncommunicable Diseases Clinic at Rural Hospital Barhe Community Health Centre in Surgana block in Nashik district (Photo: Sumit Gaikwad / © WHO India)
/countries/india/a-woman-getting-screened-for-diabetes-at-an-ncd-clinic-in-health-sub-centre-potali-in-kuakonda-block.jpg?sfvrsn=ad0ab9c6_3 "A woman getting screened for diabetes at an NCD clinic in Health Sub Centre Potali in Kuakonda block")
A woman getting screened for diabetes at an NCD clinic in Health Sub Centre Potali in Kuakonda block, Dantewada, Chhattisgarh (Photo: Renuka Singh/© WHO India)
/countries/india/a-community-health-officer-ms-ritu-kunjam-screening-ms-kosi-markam-for-hypertension-at-health-sub-centre-potali-in-kuakonda-block.jpg?sfvrsn=390eab8e_3 "A community health officer Ms Ritu Kunjam screening Ms Kosi Markam for hypertension at Health Sub Centre Potali in Kuakonda block")
A community health officer screening Ms Kosi Markam for hypertension at Health Sub Centre Potali in Kuakonda block, Dantewada, Chhattisgarh (Photo: Gaurav Kumar/© WHO India)
/countries/india/a-mother-and-child-with-their-mother-and-child-protection-card-at-a-monthly-village-health-nutrition-day-session-in-tonto-block.jpg?sfvrsn=69e3ab36_3 "A mother and child with their Mother and Child Protection card at a monthly Village Health Nutrition Day session in Tonto block")
A mother and child with their Mother and Child Protection card at a monthly Village Health Nutrition Day session in Tonto block, West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand (Ekta Soni / © WHO India)
/countries/india/an-asha-(community-health-volunteer)-accompanying-pregnant-women-for-their-antenatal-checkup-at-community-health-centre-in-tonto-block.jpg?sfvrsn=dc1bd8a2_3 "An ASHA (community health volunteer) accompanying pregnant women for their antenatal checkup at Community Health Centre in Tonto block")
An ASHA accompanies pregnant women for their antenatal checkup at Community Health Centre, Tonto block, West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand (Photo: Ekta Soni / © WHO India)
/countries/india/a-one-who-team-on-a-supportive-supervisory-visit-to-sub-health-centre-do-katta.jpg?sfvrsn=c65dbdc1_3 "A One WHO team on a supportive supervisory visit to Sub Health Centre Do Katta")
A One WHO team on a supportive supervisory visit to Sub Health Centre Do Katta, West Singhbhum, Jharkhand (Ekta Soni / © WHO India)
/countries/india/a-who-team-providing-technical-and-monitoring-support-to-frontline-workers-to-enhance-access-to-public-health-services.jpg?sfvrsn=be435ed4_3 "A WHO team providing technical and monitoring support to frontline workers to enhance access to public health services")
WHO personnel are providing technical and field support for enhancing access to quality public health services in Rayagada district, Odisha. (Photo: Vishesh Kumar / © WHO India)
/countries/india/who-india-team-is-supporting-the-government-in-enhancing-the-delivery-of-primary-health-services.jpg?sfvrsn=31c98da5_3 "WHO India team is supporting the government in enhancing the delivery of primary health services")
WHO teams are providing field support for strengthening primary health services in the Muniguda block of Rayagada district, Odisha. (Photo: Santosh Kumar Sahoo / © WHO India)
/countries/india/technical-discussion-with-health-facility-staff-at-birshing-part-ii-sc-aam.jpg?sfvrsn=cc7f8cb_3 "Technical discussion with health facility staff at Birshing Part II SC-AAM")
WHO personnel mentoring frontline workers on quality services delivery at Birsing Part II Sub Centre–Ayushman Arogya Mandir in Dhubri district, Assam. (Mahmuda Parbin / © WHO India)
/countries/india/blood-pressure-measuring-of-geriatric-age-group-by-community-health-officer--birshing-part-ii-sc-aam.jpg?sfvrsn=2eef02dd_3 "Blood Pressure measuring of geriatric age group by Community Health Officer ,Birshing Part II SC-AAM")
A community health officer screening a man for hypertension at Birsing Part II Sub Centre–Ayushman Arogya Mandir in Dhubri district, Assam. (Birina Bharali / © WHO India)
Technicians at Hamar Lab, an integrated public health lab that takes high-end diagnostics closer to the community, in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh. (Abhaya Tomar / © WHO India)
Free health services and medicine being provided under the national Sampoornata Abhiyan initiative in Usoor block of Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh (B.R.Pujari / © WHO India)
Flood-affected areas being mapped in Konta block of Sukma district, Chhattisgarh for disease prevention, monitoring and response. (Babu Sethiya / © WHO India)
Ashas (community health volunteers) going back to their communities after a training session in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh. (Urya Nag / © WHO India)
