The Prime Minister emphasized the need for collaboration among the Central government, states, and Union Territories, urging them to work together as a unified Team India to fulfil the aspirations and dreams of the people, ultimately leading to a developed India by 2047.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi presided over the 8th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog. He encouraged the states and UTs to partner with NITI Aayog to advance the nation’s progress towards achieving its goals for a prosperous future.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister addressed several crucial development matters, such as maintaining financial discipline, promoting infrastructure development, conserving water resources, and other related issues.
The Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors provided policy-level suggestions and highlighted specific state-related issues that require cooperation between the central and state governments. The meeting saw the participation of 19 states and 6 Union Territories.
Aims Emphasised by PM
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration among the central government, state governments, and union territories, urging them to work together as “Team India” to fulfil the hopes and ambitions of the people for a developed India by 2047.
He highlighted the significant role that NITI Aayog can play in assisting states to formulate their long-term plans for the next 25 years and aligning them with the national development agenda.
The Prime Minister called upon the states and union territories to cooperate with NITI Aayog to propel the nation towards realizing its vision for a prosperous future. He highlighted that NITI Aayog is undertaking various initiatives to enhance cooperative and competitive federalism, such as the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP).
These programs demonstrate the effectiveness of collaboration among the central government, state governments, and districts, as well as the positive outcomes of governance based on data at the local level, benefiting the general public.
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of states and the central government in promoting Shree Anna during the International Year of Millets. Additionally, he discussed the significance of engaging in water conservation efforts through the Amrit Sarovar program.
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the States and the Central government supporting the “Shree Anna” initiative during the International Year of Millets. Additionally, he discussed the significance of focusing on water conservation through the “Amrit Sarovar” program. He highlighted the need for maintaining financial responsibility at the State level.
Furthermore, he encouraged the States to actively utilize the “Gati Shakti” portal for various purposes including infrastructure, logistics, local area development, and the establishment of social infrastructure.
India’s Global Visibility
He discussed the G20 meetings taking place in the nation and expressed that India has gained international recognition through its participation in these gatherings. Furthermore, he emphasized that the G20 has offered States the chance to gain global visibility.
The Prime Minister also addressed the importance of having skilled individuals to meet global demands, providing support to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), harnessing the country’s tourism potential, simplifying state-level regulations by decriminalizing minor offences, and establishing Ekta Malls.
Additionally, he highlighted the significance of women-led development under the Nari Shakti initiative. Lastly, he touched upon the goal of eradicating tuberculosis by 2025.
Active participation of CMs & LGs
The Chief Minister and Lieutenant Governors put forward several policy-level recommendations, addressing specific issues relevant to the states that necessitate collaboration between the central and state governments.
They emphasized various suggestions and exemplary approaches in sectors such as adopting environmentally friendly strategies, implementing zone-specific planning, promoting tourism, enhancing urban planning, improving agriculture, ensuring high-quality workmanship, and enhancing logistics, among other areas.
The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation to the Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors for their active participation in the meeting and for sharing their insights and experiences.
He mentioned that NITI Aayog would analyze the concerns, challenges, and best practices highlighted by the states, and subsequently develop a plan for the future course of action.
Opposition Parties who abstained from the meet
The leaders of the Opposition accused the Central government of lacking flexibility in considering their demands.
Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, had requested permission to send a representative Minister, but the Centre allegedly rejected the request.
Similarly, Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar, stated that the Centre did not agree to their request to change the meeting timing or send a representative. Mr. Kumar also mentioned that alternative names proposed by Bihar to represent the state were declined, resulting in Bihar being unrepresented. He further expressed his intention to raise the matter of a caste-based census if he had attended the meeting.
K. Chandrashekar Rao, the leader of Telangana, decided not to attend the event because he had organized a meeting in Hyderabad with Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, and Bhagwant Mann, the Chief Minister of Punjab.
Subsequently, they held a joint press conference to discuss their concerns about the Central government’s decision to introduce an ordinance. Previously, Mr. Mann had written to the Central government expressing his opposition to what he perceived as a biased approach and demanded the release of ₹3,600 crores allocated for rural development.
The Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, mentioned previous obligations as the reason for not attending the NITI event. According to a reliable source in the BJD government, Mr. Patnaik, who will complete 23 years as Chief Minister and four years in his fifth term on May 29, is currently occupied with overseeing multiple activities.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin was unable to be present as he is currently on an official visit to Japan and Singapore.
On the other hand, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan did not provide any specific explanation for his absence.
Out of the four states governed by the Congress party, Bhupesh Baghel of Chhattisgarh and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of Himachal Pradesh attended the full-day meeting.
However, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot skipped the event, citing health-related reasons.