Itanagar, March 21: Namsai district in Arunachal Pradesh has secured the first position in the “Financial Inclusion and Skill Development” category under NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Districts Programme, earning a ₹3 crore award, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein announced on Friday.

In a social media post, Mein stated that the achievement reflects coordinated efforts in line with the national development agenda. “Namsai district has secured the 1st rank in the ‘Financial Inclusion & Skill Development’ sector under the Aspirational Districts Programme of NITI Aayog. In recognition of this achievement, the district has been awarded Rs 3 crore,” he said.

He acknowledged the contributions of the administration, departmental officers, grassroots workers, and local residents, describing the recognition as the result of their collective efforts. Mein also encouraged sustained focus on development across the state.

Launched in 2018, the Aspirational Districts Programme aims to improve performance in India’s most underdeveloped districts across sectors including health, education, agriculture, financial inclusion, skill development, and infrastructure. The programme uses real-time data to promote competitive federalism and rewards top-performing districts with incentives to enhance service delivery at the grassroots level.