11 More Odisha Blocks Included In Aspirational Blocks Programme

Bhubaneswar : The NITI Aayog has approved the inclusion of 11 additional blocks
from Odisha under the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP), taking the total number
of blocks from the state covered under the initiative to 40. This development was
announced by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) through a post on the social media platform X. Of the newly added blocks, five are from Keonjhar district— Champua, Jhumpura, Keonjhar Sadar, Patana, and Telkoi—while six belong to Mayurbhanj
district—Bahalda, Bijatala, Jamda, Kusumi, Rairangpur, and Tiringi. The CMO stated that the inclusion of these blocks is in response to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s request to bring more underdeveloped regions of the state under the ambit of the developmentoriented programme. The Aspirational Blocks Programme, launched by the
Government of India, aims to fast-track development in underperforming blocks through the coordinated efforts of Central and State schemes. The programme also ranks blocks based on key development indicators, fostering a sense of healthy
competition Continued and accountability among districts for effective implementation of welfare initiatives.