Editor
Three-day programme focuses on strengthening health governance and outcomes in aspirational blocks of Northeast India
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| Participants from Northeastern states attend the Health Sector Refresher Training organized by NIRDPR and NITI Aayog at NIRDPR-NERC Guwahati. |
Guwahati, October 16: The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), in collaboration with NITI Aayog, concluded a three-day Health Sector Refresher Training under the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) at its North Eastern Regional Centre (NERC) in Guwahati on October 15.
Held from October 13 to 15, the training focused on enhancing the planning and implementation skills of block-level functionaries in health-related initiatives. Thirteen participants from different northeastern states took part in sessions involving group work, peer reviews, and strategy development for improving healthcare outcomes in their respective blocks.
Experts lead sessions on local-level health strategy development
The training was facilitated by Dr R. Murugesan, Director, NIRDPR-NERC, and Dr M. K. Shrivastava, Assistant Professor, NIRDPR-NERC. Participants included senior health and administrative officials such as Dr Manas Jyoti Kalita (Senior Medical Officer, Arunachal Pradesh), Dr Kishan Rupini (Medical Officer, Tripura), Smti Lalnunpuii (Aspirational Block Functionary, Mizoram), Dr Samuel Akho Konyak P (Extra Assistant Commissioner, Nagaland), Dr Niranjan R. Marak (SDM & HO, Meghalaya), and Smti Diya Thapa (Block Programme Manager, Sikkim).
Participants developed Block Strategic Strategies (BSS) using templates provided by NIRDPR/SIRD to identify interventions that could achieve saturation in key health indicators. Each group presented its strategic plan during the concluding session, which was evaluated by a panel led by Dr Murugesan and Dr Shrivastava.
Empowering aspirational blocks through targeted capacity building
The training is part of a nationwide effort by NIRDPR and NITI Aayog to strengthen block-level governance under the Aspirational Blocks Programme. The programme aims to accelerate development and improve service delivery across critical sectors such as health, education, and nutrition in underdeveloped regions.
Through these refresher trainings, NIRDPR and NITI Aayog are empowering frontline officials to design and implement effective local solutions aligned with India’s national health goals. The initiative reflects the government’s continued commitment to achieving inclusive growth and improving quality of life in rural and remote areas.