Revanth Reddy urges NITI Aayog Vice Chairman more funds from 16th Finance Commission

HYDERABAD: A crucial meeting was held between the NITI Aayog team led by Suman Kumar Bery, Vice Chairman of the premier policy think-tank of the Government of India, and Chief Minister of Telangana State A Revanth Reddy.

The meeting on Tuesday at the State Secretariat served as a platform for in-depth discussions on key developmental issues, policy initiatives, and collaborative strategies aimed at fostering the overall progress of the state.

The Chief Minister highlighted the state's developmental priorities and key areas that required special attention. NITI Aayog officials actively engaged in discussions to understand the specific needs of the state and explore avenues for comprehensive development.

Discussions included the fair allocation of central funds and resources to the state for various development projects. Revanth Reddy requested NITI Aayog to consider increased allocations by the 16th Finance Commission.

He sought more funds for developing infrastructure facilities in the health and education Sector. He wanted the release of pending funds of Rs.1800 crore concerning the Backward Districts Development Grant as per Section 94(2) of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of sharing innovative governance practices and successful models. NITI Aayog encouraged the state to showcase and adopt practices that have demonstrated success in addressing local challenges.

The State Government insisted on recognising the importance of building skills among youth pursuing graduation courses in engineering colleges in the State with a special focus on artificial intelligence, cyber security, and data sciences.

The Meeting also emphasised the harnessing of solar energy and requested Central Support. Discussions also focused on the establishment of a State Institution for Transformation (SIT) in the State under the State Support Mission, a Central Sector Scheme to strengthen the capacities of the States.

The Chief Minister urged NITI Aayog for technical assistance in the development of the Musi River on par with National and International best practices such as Sabarmati River Front and Namami Gange through the PPP model. Also, for establishing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) across the Musi River Front.

Chief Minister emphasised and sought support from the Government of India in preparing a roadmap for developing Hyderabad as a pollution-free Urban Growth Hub.

NITI Aayog requested for State’s participation in governing council meetings for better collaborations and achieving a shared vision. Both the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister assured constructive support and cooperation for all the initiatives of the NITI Aayog.

The meeting between NITI Aayog and the Chief minister exemplified the spirit of cooperative federalism and the shared commitment to advancing the welfare and prosperity of the people. The meeting underscored the significance of cooperative federalism as a guiding principle for effective governance. Both NITI Aayog and the State Government expressed their commitment to working in tandem to address the unique challenges and opportunities facing the state.

Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, member NITI Aayog, Sanjay Kumar, IAS., director general DMEO, Abinash Dash, director, DMEO, Santhi Kumari, IAS., Chief Secretary to Government, K. Ramakrishna Rao, IAS., Spl. Chief Secretary to Government, Finance & Planning Department were also present.