States Getting Over Rs 11 Lakh Crore From Centre, PM At NITI Aayog Meet

• India has no shortage of capabilities, capacities and resources.
• In the current financial year, states are receiving over Rs 11 lakh crore from the Centre, an increase of about Rs 6 lakh crore, from the last year of the previous government.
• The target is universal coverage in seven important welfare schemes: Ujjwala, Saubhagya, Ujala, Jan Dhan, Jeevan Jyoti Yojana, Suraksha Bima Yojana, and Mission Indradhanush. This target was recently accomplished in about 17,000 villages.
• Gram Swaraj Abhiyan has emerged as a new model for implementation of schemes and has so far been extended to 45,000 villages in the Aspirational Districts.
• 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres are being constructed under Ayushman Bharat. About 10 crore families will be provided health assurance worth Rs 5 lakh every year
• Schemes such as Mudra Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana and Stand Up India, are helping in greater financial inclusion.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said India’s economic growth needs to be 8 percent and major states like Andhra Pradesh should grow at 10-12 percent. He added his state has been growing at 10.5 percent during last four years, tweeted Amitabh Kant.

In his opening address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks about cooperative and competitive federalism which holds the key to India's growth and progress. He recognised the key role of states in institutionalising the ‘One Nation, One Tax’, GST, tweeted NITI Aayog’s CEO Amitabh Kant.

Modi’s address focused on health, education, agriculture and emphasised the need for all to work for growth with equity.

The Governing Council of the NITI Aayog is discussing the implementation of key policies relating to various sectors today. The day-long meeting at the Rashtrapati Bhawan is being attended by union ministers, chief ministers of various states, lieutenant governors of union territories and senior government officials.

Issues, including measures taken to double farmers' income and progress of flagship schemes, will come up for discussion, an official statement issued had said yesterday. The development agenda for 'New India 2022' is also expected to be approved in the meeting, according to it.

The council, apex body of the NITI Aayog, includes all the chief ministers, lieutenant governors of union territories, several union ministers and senior government officials.

The Governing Council, according to the statement, is expected to take up important subjects, progress of flagship schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, National Nutrition Mission and Mission Indradhanush; development of districts; besides celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

(With inputs from PTI)