By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, APR 28: NITI Aayog member Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat today said the North East is the priority of the Government of India as he emphasized “professionalism” in implementing the various programmes to ensure the growth and development of the region.
“Whether it is science & technology, agriculture, health, education, infrastructure are the priorities and various programmes are being initiated by the Centre in the last 2-3 years,” Dr Saraswat told reporters at the sideline of NEHU’s 24th Convocation held here on Friday.
He said that he is sure that with the help of the hard work and kind of motivation the people of this has, the Centre will convert this part of the country into a very develop region.
Dr Saraswat, also a key scientist for the development of Prithvi Missile said that there are many programmes which are NE specific like building of roads, making sure railways come to different parts where they are not there and others.
“All these can happen with the implementation of these programmes by our state governments in a methodological manner,” he said adding “Professionalism in implementing these programmes is essential and if we can do that I am sure NE will grow like any other states in the country.”
The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) is a policy think-tank established by the Narendra Modi government to replace the Planning Commission, which followed the top-down model.
Asked, Dr Saraswat said, “It (coming of NITI Aayog) has help a lot because now we are doing what is called planning process in synchronization with the state governments. It is not a top-down approach. The plans for this region are being developed by NITI Aayog in consultation with the various state governments of NE.”
Stating that the three-year action plan has been given by the NITI Aayog to be studied by all the states, he said that as per the suggestion of the PM, the NITI Aayog will interact with each states based upon what suggestions they have given and what has been identified as a priority area for action plan accordingly a final action plan for next 3 years will be evolved.
“There is a tremendous interaction that is taking place today between the NITI and various state governments and that is helping us to work out plans in a positive manner and also to monitor implementation and take feedback as to what corrective measures we need to take in case there are issues of implementation,” he added.
On the demand to retain the 90:10 funding pattern, the NITI Aayog member said that already this issue has been discussed by a committee of CMs and the recommendations are very clear adding the recommendations also include the demand from the NE states.
With regards to the funds given to the autonomous district councils in NE, he said, “We have a tri-monthly interaction where we review and that is going to take place in the next one month or so where the actual picture will be presented.”
Reacting to a query, Dr Saraswat said, “Everybody has their own view in a system of cooperative federalism. NITI Aayog’s first fundamental principle is that there is a body which is giving an unbiased thinking about how the country should progress.”
Stating it has no agenda except one which is the development of the nation, he said, “Any party, any human being in the country if he is looking at the direction of the development of the country within realm of develop nation I think will appreciate the existence of NITI Aayog.”
Earlier during the XXIVth convocation, nearly 9000 students were conferred with degrees which include – 128 Ph.D, 47 MPhil, 839 PG Degrees and 7975 Bachelor’s Degree.
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