PM Modi chairs NITI Aayog meet, says reforms needed to provide funds, technology for farm sector

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Feb 20, 2021:      Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday chaired the sixth meeting of the Governing Council of the NITI Aayog via video conferencing, during which he made a strong case for repealing archaic laws and making it easier to do business in India stating that the centre and states need to work closely to boost economic growth.

 

The Prime Minister also said that the private sector should be given full opportunity to become a part of the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat programme.

“Centre and states should work together for the nation’s progress and head towards a certain direction and make cooperative federalism even more meaningful. Not only this, we have to try to bring competitive, cooperative federalism not only among states but also districts. Government has to respect and give due representation to the private sector for economic progress,” Modi said.

“In the Covid-19 period, we saw how Centre and states worked together, the nation succeeded and a good image of India was built before the entire world. Today, when we are going to complete 75 years of independence, this Governing Council meet becomes even more significant,” the Prime Minister added.

Asserting that the initiatives taken by the government would provide opportunity to everyone to participate in nation-building to its full potential, PM Modi also underlined the need for reducing compliance burden on people and asked the states to form committees to reduce regulations which are no longer relevant in the wake of technology.

Referring to the farm sector, the Prime Minister said that efforts should be made to produce agriculture items like edible oil and reduce their imports. “This can be done by guiding farmers,” he said, adding the money being spend on imports can go to the accounts of farmers.

Highlighting the work done by the BJP government in the past years, PM Modi said, “In the past few years, we saw that opening of bank accounts, increase in vaccination and health facilities, free electricity connection, free gas connection to empower the poor has reflected a phenomenal change in their lives.”

On the Union Budget 2021, the Prime Minister said, “The positive response received for this year’s Budget has expressed the mood of the nation. The country has made up its mind that it wants to progress rapidly and doesn’t want to lose time. The youth is playing a major role in setting the mood of the nation.”

The Governing Council, which comprises PM Modi, chief ministers of states and UTs, legislators and Lieutenant Governors of other UTs, presents a platform to discuss inter-sectoral, inter-departmental and federal issues.

Those who attended the meeting include Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray. Among those who skipped Saturday’s meeting was Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh — state Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal was present in his place — and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

Others including ex-officio members of the Governing Council, Union ministers, Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar, CEO of NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant, and other senior officials.

Courtesy:Indian Express