PM advises states to follow fiscal discipline; 11 CMs skip NITI Aayog meeting

Eleven state chief ministers did not attend the meeting for various reasons, including some who boycotted the meeting. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said at a briefing earlier in the day that the decision by eight chief ministers not to attend the eighth NITI Aayog governing council meeting was “totally irresponsible and also against the interest of the people they govern in their states.”

Subramanyam informed that the Prime Minister explained to the states that fiscal prudence is essential because one does not want to burden the future generations. The message was that this should be kept in mind while making decisions at the state level. The discussions were in a positive atmosphere, the NITI Aayog chief executive said.

Subramanyam also said quoting the Prime Minister that the Centre advanced the announcement of annual budget to 1 February from the last day of the month so that states know about central schemes and allocations while framing state budgets. States should take advantage of the fact that the Centre has advanced its budget so that states can plan better, the Prime Minister said.

Subramanyam explained that the PM has advised states that they should get cracking in the initial three months of the financial year in implementing projects and schemes so that they can then sit back and see development happening on the ground in the remaining nine months of the year.

Subramanyam said the political leadership is aware of the challenges in the journey towards becoming a developed state and the task ahead is to crystallise a vision and the steps needed. By 2047, India is expected to have around 150 crore people. The per capita income of a high income economy is taken as $13,000 by experts.

Modi urged states to grab the opportunity for development by taking the right policy decisions as India is going to be the largest provider of working age people in the near term and that bulk of the work needed to make the country a developed nation lay at state level.

“Vikasit bharat was the overarching theme,” Subramanyam said, adding that the meeting discussed skills, health, infrastructure and investment, application of PM Gati Shakti and micro, small and medium enterprises.

Prime Minister spoke about the importance of skilling people with a view to meet global requirements, supporting small businesses, developing the tourism potential of the country, reducing compliances at the state level including decriminalisation of minor offences and the significance of women-led development. He also spoke about ending the menace of TB by 2025, the official statement from NITI Aayog said.

Updated: 27 May 2023, 10:07 PM IST