Nashik's Surgana Jumps 311 Places In NITI Aayog Rankings
Surgana taluka in Nashik district achieves best-ever performance, excels in health and infrastructure.

Surgana taluka in Nashik district has made a significant leap in the NITI Aayog's Aspirational Block Programme (ABP) rankings, jumping 311 places to 77th position among 515 aspirational blocks across the country. This achievement is attributed to effective planning, continuous monitoring, and coordinated efforts by various government departments.
The Nashik District Collector, Ayush Prasad, has been closely monitoring the implementation of the programme, while the Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer, Omkar Pawar, conducts weekly review meetings to assess progress across key performance indicators. Kashmira Sankhe, Project Officer of the Kalwan Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP), has been coordinating the programme as the nodal officer.
Surgana has outperformed state and national averages across several indicators related to health, nutrition, agriculture, and infrastructure. Some of the key achievements include 97.5% first-trimester registration of pregnant women, 100% institutional deliveries, and only 9.5% low birth-weight babies. The taluka has also achieved 84.9% hypertension screening, 90.8% diabetes screening, and 100% drinking water availability in functional Anganwadi centres.
In addition to these health achievements, Surgana has also made significant progress in infrastructure development. The taluka has achieved 99.7% toilet coverage in Anganwadis, 100% successful tuberculosis treatment, and 100% Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination of livestock. Furthermore, 100% of the targets for establishing Farmer Producer Companies (FPOs) have been met.
To accelerate development, the District Planning Committee had allocated an additional ₹7 crore during the previous financial year. Encouraged by the progress, the administration has now decided to provide a further ₹5 crore in additional funding.
District Collector Ayush Prasad stated that Surgana's success under the Aspirational Block Programme is the result of coordinated efforts by all departments. He emphasized that the administration remains committed to improving the quality of life of citizens through effective implementation, continuous monitoring, and people-centric planning. A focused action plan will also be implemented to bring other aspirational talukas into the mainstream of development.
The significant improvement in Surgana's rankings is a testament to the effectiveness of the Aspirational Block Programme in driving development and improving the lives of citizens. The programme's focus on health, nutrition, agriculture, and infrastructure has yielded positive results, and the administration's commitment to continued funding and support will likely lead to further progress in the future.
The success of Surgana taluka serves as a model for other aspirational blocks across the country, demonstrating the potential for coordinated efforts and effective planning to drive development and improve the quality of life for citizens. As the administration continues to build on this success, it is likely that Surgana will remain a top performer in the Aspirational Block Programme rankings.
In conclusion, the achievement of Surgana taluka in the NITI Aayog's Aspirational Block Programme is a significant milestone, reflecting the taluka's progress in health, infrastructure, and other key areas. The administration's commitment to continued funding and support will likely lead to further development and improvement in the quality of life for citizens in the region.
The impact of this achievement will be felt not only in Surgana taluka but also in the wider region, as it sets a precedent for other aspirational blocks to follow. The success of the Aspirational Block Programme in Surgana demonstrates the potential for targeted development initiatives to drive positive change and improve the lives of citizens.
Overall, the significant improvement in Surgana's rankings is a positive development for the region, and it is likely that the taluka will continue to be a top performer in the Aspirational Block Programme rankings in the future.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Aspirational Block Programme
The Aspirational Block Programme is an initiative by the NITI Aayog to drive development in aspirational blocks across the country.
What are the key achievements of Surgana taluka
Surgana taluka has achieved 97.5% first-trimester registration of pregnant women, 100% institutional deliveries, and only 9.5% low birth-weight babies, among other key indicators.