Modi calls for cooperation from states

PM urges Centre, states to work as members of 'Team India'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked the Centre and states to shed their differences and work as “Team India” for the country’s development.

He also said India's biggest challenge was eliminating poverty, which can happen only through high economic growth. “The world has started looking at India differently, but our biggest challenge still is how to eliminate poverty. Jobs cannot be created, and poverty cannot be removed, without growth. Therefore, we should first and foremost aim at a high rate of growth,” said Modi, chairing the first meeting of the Governing Council of the NITI Aayog.

The council consists of chief ministers of states and lieutenant governors of Union Territories.

The prime minister asked states to set up two task forces — one each on poverty alleviation and increasing agricultural production.

Keen to hasten the pace of investment in the country, the prime minister also asked chief ministers to give personal attention to factors that delay development projects, and solve them.

Modi said the projects were often held up for want of timely decisions that prevented people from benefiting from them.

The prime minister also suggested that an officer be identified in state governments to monitor and ensure smooth resolution of pending issues so as to expedite project implementation.

Modi urged all chief ministers to focus on the cycle of investment, growth, job creation and prosperity, and promised to empower states with finances and technological know-how.

Mamata skips meet

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee skipped the meet, but Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who is facing political turmoil back home, was in attendance.

States like Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh demanded more funds, while Kerala sought greater flexibility in Central allocations.

Reflecting on the role of the NITI Aayog as a think-tank, the prime minister said he saw great scope for states to learn from each other, and work together among themselves as well as with the Centre.

He said best practices can be shared among states, and a portal created through which state functionaries share their experiences. The interaction was coordinated by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and the opening remarks were made by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya.

Later, briefing reporters, Jaitley said Modi told chief ministers his priorities are “growth, investment, jobs, poverty alleviation, decentralisation, efficiency, and no delay in execution of projects”.