Narnoor Block in Adilabad gets award from PM Modi for work in health, education and agriculture

Adilabad: Adilabad District Collector Rajarshi Shah has received a national award from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the occasion of Civil Services Day, April 21, Rajarshi Shah was honoured with a prestigious award in New Delhi on Monday.

Narnoor Block in Adilabad District was selected for the award under NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Block Programme (ABP) 2024. The administration focused on health, education, agriculture, basic infrastructure, social development and financial inclusion.

Narnoor Block among the top five aspirational blocks in the country

Narnoor Block has emerged as a source of immense pride for Adilabad district and the State of Telangana, being recognised among the Top 5 Aspirational Blocks in India in the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2024.

Out of 426 aspirational blocks across the country, Narnoor showcased exceptional development and earned a place in the top five. This national-level award is given to districts and officials who have demonstrated outstanding performance in governance and development.

The evaluation considered key developmental works carried out between April 2022 and December 2024, focusing primarily on health, nutrition, education, agriculture, social development and infrastructure. Narnoor was specially recognised for its comprehensive progress across all five key sectors.

The evaluation process was conducted in multiple phases:

- Administrative Reforms and presentations were made before senior officials from the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).

- In the second phase, DARPG officials held a special call centre round, directly interacting with beneficiaries from Narnoor to understand the on-ground impact.

- In the third phase, two senior officials of the additional secretary Frank visited Narnoor to assess how various schemes were being implemented and their impact across the block. They also met with local stakeholders.

- In the final phase, a high-level assessment was conducted under the leadership of the Cabinet secretary.

After a rigorous, multi-layered evaluation, Narnoor Block was declared one of the Top 5 Aspirational Blocks under the ABP, setting a benchmark for holistic and sustainable development.

Role of district collector

District Collector Rajarshi Shah played a pivotal role in this achievement. Through his visionary leadership and tireless efforts, he provided direction to ground-level officials and ensured a remarkable transformation in Narnoor. His active involvement and strategic guidance led to this prestigious national recognition.

Under his leadership, Narnoor achieved progress in several key areas, including:

- Maternal and child health

- Addressing nutritional deficiencies among children at Anganwadi centres

- Growth monitoring and primary child care

- Improving educational outcomes

- Digital and financial inclusion

- Welfare of tribal students (through initiatives like MOAVA Laddoo)

- Promotion of natural and three-tier farming

- Construction of check dams

- Providing loans to self-help groups through bank linkage

- Innovative ICT interventions like the Narnoor Monitoring App and website

- Establishment of a model Common Service Centre (CSC)

Speaking on the occasion, District Collector Rajarshi Shah said that these initiatives significantly improved livelihood opportunities and the overall quality of life in the block. In addition to government support, many NGOs and corporate partners contributed through CSR funding, further driving the development of Narnoor and enabling more sustainable progress.

With strong community participation and a data-driven development approach, Narnoor has become a shining example of integrated growth and has inspired other aspirational blocks across India, he added.