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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PLANNING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4117
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2026
ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS PROGRAMME
4117. DR. RAJEEV BHARADWAJ:
Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of most backward and underdeveloped
districts selected under the Aspirational District Programme across
the country;
(b) whether Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh is included
under the said programme; and
(c) if so, the details of the efforts being made to unlock the
tourism potential and generate employment opportunities in the said
district?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY
OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF
STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING
AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE
(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)
(a) & (b) There are 117 Aspirational Districts selected across 27
States and 1 Union Territory under the Aspirational Districts
Programme (ADP). Chamba district is included under ADP.
(c) In order to promote tourism in Chamba District, the State
Government has taken initiatives including ‘Chalo Chamba’
campaign with the aim of highlighting immense tourism potential of
the district, showcase the unexplored destinations, as well as
turning this as provider of employment. In addition, the district also
organizes fairs during Minjar Festival which is attended by people all
over the country and across the world. It has been declared as one
of the international fairs of Himachal Pradesh by the State
Government which in turn has increased the overall tourism
potential of Chamba.
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