The Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) Refresher Training on Health was organized by the NIRDPR in collaboration with NITI Aayog, concluded on October 15 at the NIRDPR North Eastern Regional Centre (NERC) in Guwahati. Over three days (October 13–15), thirteen participants from Northeastern states engaged in the capacity-building sessions, group work, and peer review.

Resource persons for the training included Dr R Murugesan, Director, NIRDPR-NERC, Guwahati, and Dr MK Shrivastava, Assistant Professor, NIRDPR-NERC. The participants from the Northeastern States included officials such as Dr Manas  Jyoti Kalita, Senior Medical Officer, Arunachal Pradesh; Dr Kishan Rupini, Medical Officer, Tripura; Lalnunpuii, ABF, Mizoram; Dr Samuel Akho Konyak P; Extra Assistant Commissioner, Nagaland;  Dr Niranjan R Marak, SDM & HO, Meghalaya;  and Diya Thapa, BPM, Sikkim and other health officials.

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During the course, participants worked in groups to identify and present interventions for achieving saturation across health indicators, developed Block Strategic Strategies (BSS) using templates provided by NIRDPR / SIRD, and conducted peer reviews of each other’s strategies. In the closing session, each group presented its BSS before a panel led by Dr Murugesan and Dr Shrivastava.

The training is part of a nationwide series of refresher programmes under the Aspirational Blocks Programme, with the aim of strengthening capacities at block levels to accelerate health outcomes in underdeveloped regions.