Niti Aayog Meeting: PM Modi sets goal of making India $5 tn economy with concerted efforts of states

In the fifth meeting of Niti Aayog's Governing Council today in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the goal of making India a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024 is "challenging, but achievable" with the concerted efforts of states, said a press release, adding that Modi stressed that NITI Aayog has a key role to play in fulfilling the mantra of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, SabkaVishwas".

The Prime Minister spoke of a collective fight against poverty, unemployment, drought, flood, pollution, corruption and violence, while stressing on the goal to make India a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024. He said the states should recognise their core competence, and work towards raising GDP targets right from the district level.

Recalling the recent general elections as the world's largest democratic exercise, he said that it is now time for everyone to work for the development of India. He called for effective steps to tackle it by adopting 'per-drop, more-crop' strategy, as several parts of the country are facing drought-like situation.

He added that the newly created Jal Shakti Ministry will help provide an integrated approach to water and states can also integrate various efforts towards water conservation and management. 

NITI Aayog also tweeted about the meeting as "Since its inception in 2015, #NITIAayog is facilitating cooperative & competitive federalism, and providing fresh ideas and policy inputs for both Central & State governments: NITI VC @RajivKumar1, during his welcome address at the #FifthGCM"

Since its inception in 2015, #NITIAayog is facilitating cooperative & competitive federalism, and providing fresh ideas and policy inputs for both Central & State governments: NITI VC @RajivKumar1, during his welcome address at the #FifthGCM pic.twitter.com/qkKsAf9oLp

— NITI Aayog (@NITIAayog) June 15, 2019

Notably, the fifth meeting of Niti Aayog's Governing Council began in Delhi today with the main agenda being deliberations regarding the drought situation, farm distress and security concerns over Naxal-affected districts.

Union ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman and Rajnath Singh are attending the meet among others. The five-point agenda for the meeting also includes aspirational districts programme, transforming agriculture and security-related issues with special focus on left wing extremism (LWE) districts, an official statement said.

Mamata, KCR and Amarinder skip the meet

The meeting is being attended by all chief ministers, except Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal) and K Chandrashekhar Rao (Telangana), and Amarinder Singh. Banerjee refused to attend the meeting, saying it is "fruitless" as the NITI Aayog has no financial powers to support state plans. In her three-page letter written to Modi, she stated that it was "useless" to attend the meet as the agenda had been fixed by the Centre without consulting the states.

KCR could not attent the meeting as he was involved in preparations to inaugurate an irrigation project in Telangana, said a TV report.

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh could not attend the Niti Aayog meet due to poor health, according to a news agency report. 

(With agency inputs)