Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the first meet of the NITI Aayog on Sunday, in which he said growth, investment and efficiency were the priority areas of the government, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said.
“PM made an announcement saying NITI Aayog would constitute three subgroups on the rationalisation of schemes and chief ministers would indicate preference,” Jaitley told media persons after the meeting.
He said the PM had asked each state to set up two task forces, one on poverty alleviation and another on the agricultural sector. However, the Budget 2015-16 was not discussed.
The government set up NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) on January 1 to replace 65-year old socialist-era Planning Commission.
States were requested to give suggestion to make a success of the new central initiatives like Swachh Mission, Make in India campaign, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Smart Cities, Housing for All by 2022, Digital India, Skill India, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana.
Last Friday, Modi along with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had met economists at NITI Aayog to seek their suggestion on Budget and other policies to bring economy back on track.
The economists had asked the government to work towards high growth, predictable tax regime, fiscal prudence and rapid infrastructure development.
Setting the tone for the discussion, Modi had emphasised on the need for cooperative federalism and added that he favoured healthy competition for development amongst states.
