Punjab’s Jalandhar district has bagged the first prize in the country (Zone II) under NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP). Jalandhar’s Shahkot Block, which comes under this program, has been officially declared as the top-performing aspirational block in the country today.

With this achievement, the district has earned a development grant of 1.5 crore rupees for further improving key parameters under this project in Shahkot.

Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner, Dr Himanshu Aggarwal, said that the award money will be spent on the developmental works across various sectors in the block, including health, education, nutrition, agriculture, and basic infrastructure. At the same time, he said that the district administration is committed to transforming Shahkot from an ‘Aspirational Block’ to an ‘Inspirational Block.’

The Aspirational Blocks Programme launched by the Government of India aims to improve governance and enhance the quality of life in India’s remotest and underdeveloped blocks, focusing on uplifting them through measurable and sustainable development.