Centre, States Should Work As Team India To Fulfil Dreams Of 'Viksit Bharat’: PM Modi At NITI Aayog Meet

The PM urged the States and Union Territories to work with NITI Aayog so that the country can take a quantum leap towards achieving its vision for the Amrit Kaal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired the 8th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog where he stressed that the Centre along with States and Union Territories should work as Team India and fulfil the dreams and aspirations of people for a ‘Viksit Bharat’. He highlighted the “critical role” of NITI Aayog  in helping States to develop their strategies for the next 25 years and align the same with the National Development Agenda, said the NITI Aayog in a statement today. 

The meeting was attended by chief ministers of 19 states and Lieutenant Governors of six Union Territories while CMs of 8 states skipped the meeting. 

The chief ministers who were not in attendance in the meeting included Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, K Chandrashekar Rao of Telangana, Ashok Gehlot of Rajasthan, and Pinarayi Vijayan of Kerala. 

He expressed his gratitude to the CMs and LGs for participating in the meeting and sharing their views and experiences. 

The heads of the states and UTs  gave various policy-level suggestions and mentioned state-specific issues which require Centre-State cooperation. 

Some of the key suggestions and best practices highlighted by them included in areas like opting for green strategies, need for zone-wise planning, tourism, urban planning, agriculture, quality of workmanship, logistics, among others.

The PM urged the States and UTs to work with NITI Aayog so that the country can take a quantum leap towards achieving its vision for the Amrit Kaal, it said. 

During the meeting, the PM also noted the importance of skilling people with a view to meet global requirements, supporting MSMEs, developing the tourism potential of the country, reducing compliances at the State level including decriminalisation of minor offences, creation of Ekta Malls. 

He also emphasised on the significance of women-led development and ending the menace of tuberculosis by 2025. 

As India hosts the G20 Presidency this year, he said that while the G20 has brought glory to India on the world stage, it has provided States the opportunity for global exposure.