Focus on procedural simplification for investment & natural farming- NITI Aayog
Dhami requests for extension of GST compensation, AIIMS in Kumaon & more funds in BADP
Sunday 10, 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
The vice chairman of the NITI Aayog Rajiv Kumar has said that Uttarakhand should initiate procedural simplifications for the investments and should focus on organic and natural farming practices to double the income of the farmers. Kumar held discussions on planned development of Uttarakhand with chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and senior government officers at the secretariat here on Saturday. In the meeting the CM requested that the centre should extend the GST compensation given to the state beyond the year 2022. He suggested that the floating population should also be included in the criteria for the central schemes. The vice chairman of the NITI Aayog Kumar said that the Aayog is playing a role in the development of the state and every possible help would be given to the state. He assured that the Aayog would take up the case of the state with different ministries of the central government. Kumar said that the state should make a wholesome and sector wise plan for development and key indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) should be closely monitored. He said that the state should focus on natural farming and one village in every block should be dedicated to natural agriculture. Appreciating the primary education status in Uttarakhand Kumar said that the state should focus on higher education. He said that a lot of work can be done on river rejuvenation and assured that the Aayog would try to provide help to the state from the Namami Gange project in this regard. He accepted that the process of forest clearance needed to be simplified and said that the state should send its recommendations to the Aayog in this regard. He said that in view of the increase in the population of Tigers and elephants, the carrying capacity of the national parks needs to be examined.
Welcoming the team of NITI Aayog, Dhami said that the state is completing 21 years of its formation on November 9 and that Prime Minister Modi wants the state when it completes 25 years of its existence to be among the developed states. He said that sustainable development and Antyodaya are top priorities of his government. The CM said that the state government is focusing on procedural simplification so that the benefit of development schemes reaches the people. He asserted that the investor friendly environment is being created in the state. The CM stressed that the union government should allot more funds to the Border Area Development Plan for the state. He requested setting up of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kumaon and final clearances for the Lakhwad Vyasi, Jamrani multipurpose and Song dam projects. Senior consultant of the NITI Aayog Neelam Patel, additional chief secretary Radha Raturi and other officers were present on the occasion.
