PM Modi to Chair Crucial NITI Aayog Meeting Today
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to chair the ninth governing council meeting of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) on Saturday, July 27. As the apex body of NITI Aayog, this council includes all state chief ministers, lieutenant governors of union territories, and several union ministers, with Modi serving as the chairman. The meeting aims to foster participative governance and collaboration between the Centre and state governments, focusing on enhancing the quality of life for both rural and urban populations through strengthened delivery mechanisms of government interventions.
Chief ministers from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states are expected to attend the meeting. Among the confirmed attendees are Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Arunachal Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will also be attending the meeting. However, she plans to use this platform to protest against what she perceives as the Centre’s “step-motherly attitude” towards opposition-ruled states, particularly in the Union Budget 2024-25. Before leaving for Delhi, Banerjee told the media, “Before the budget, I said I would attend the meeting. A copy of my written speech was also sent to NITI Aayog as per their requirement. When the budget was placed, I found how states ruled by opposition parties had been neglected. They had been shown a stepmotherly attitude. I want to speak about this. If they allow me to speak, it’s fine. If they don’t, I will protest and leave.”
The agenda for the meeting includes discussions on the ‘Approach Paper’ for the vision document Viksit Bharat @2047, which outlines the roadmap for India’s development over the next few decades. The meeting will also focus on the recommendations from the third National Conference of Chief Secretaries held in December last year. Key themes from this conference include improving access, quality, and efficiency in areas such as drinking water, electricity, healthcare, schooling, and land and property management.
The NITI Aayog’s ninth governing council meeting represents a significant platform for state and central leaders to deliberate on strategies that will shape India’s future. By bringing together leaders from across the political spectrum, the meeting aims to foster a collaborative approach to governance and ensure equitable growth across all regions. The outcome of these discussions is expected to have far-reaching implications for the nation’s development, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, social services, and governance reforms. Additionally, the meeting will hold special sessions on cyber security, the aspirational districts and blocks programme, the role of states, and the use of artificial intelligence in governance. These discussions aim to address critical issues facing the country and find common ground to propel India’s development agenda forward.
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