Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio attending the virtual Niti Aayog’s Sixth Governing Council meeting on February 20. (Photo Courtesy: @MyGovNagaland/Twitter)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 20
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday attended the Sixth Governing Council meeting of Niti Aayog chaired by the Prime Minister Narendar Modi and among others, batted for improving service delivery at grassroot level and more flexible CSS for Agri and Allied sector.
In a series of tweets, the official Nagaland Government’s Twitter handle informed that the Chief Minister at the meeting requested to make Centrally Sponsored Schemes(CSS) under the Agri and Allied sector more flexible, with lesser “dependence on bank finance to enable the state to take advantage of the programs under #AtmaNirbharBharat.”
He also urged for consideration of a more equitable location of central projects particularly, Higher Education and research institutions to hill states of the North East, which will “strengthen the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat,” it added.
Meanwhile, tweeting after the meeting, Rio said he shared “points relevant to the state” such as agriculture, physical infrastructure, human resource development, and improving service delivery at grassroot level, and health & nutrition.
“I'm confident of continued support to small states like Nagaland & help NE to be an equal partner in transformation to a brighter India,” he added.
According to a Niti Aayog release, addressing the virtual event, the Prime Minister said that Cooperative Federalism is the foundation of India’s progress.
“Cooperative and Competitive Federalism should be made more effective and taken to the district level,” he said adding that the event was an opportunity to brainstorm and further strengthen Cooperative and Competitive Federalism, which are essential pillars for successful achievement of the national aspirations.
The Governing Council of NITI Aayog comprises the Prime Minister of India, Chief Ministers of all the States and Union Territories with Legislature, Lt Governors of other UTs, Ex-Officio Members and Special Invitees.
“It is the premier body tasked with evolving a shared vision of national development priorities, sectors and strategies with the active involvement of States in shaping the development narrative. Including today, a total of Six meetings have been held so far,” the release added.
