Singapore President highlights India's Aspirational Districts programme at Philanthropy Asia Summit

Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam has singled out India's “Aspirational Districts Programme” as an example of giving power to people in developing regions.

- GURDIP SINGH

Shanmugaratnam was addressing the Philanthropy Asia Summit (PAS) 2025 on Monday.

Themed ‘Priming Asia for Good', the summit brings together thought leaders to spotlight solutions, innovations, and actions from across Asia to address global challenges in the interconnected areas of climate, education, and health.

The summit is being held from May 5 to 7.

Shanmugaratnam elaborated on the programme, saying “But innovation also involves organisation. For instance, if you look at India, one of the unsung successes is what they call the Aspirational Districts Programme. A well-chosen name for the most underdeveloped districts in India.”

He noted that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who launched the initiative in 2018 with the aim to quickly and effectively transform 112 most under-developed districts across the country.

“I believe Gates Foundation joined Piramal Foundation and Tata Trusts in helping to fund it,” he added.

He observed in detail that the programme gives ownership to the community - developing community health workers, para-nurses, and data systems, supported from the centre ~ targeted especially at maternal health and health of the child in the earliest years.