CM Yogi Adityanath, NITI Aayog discuss strategy to transform UP

Lucknow: Government think-tank NITI Aayog on Wednesday shared some key development strategies to transform Uttar Pradesh with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

A 17-member delegation led by National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya and CEO Amitabh Kant met the Chief Minister and other top government officials with specific strategies across sectors.

The think-tank said that the way forward to transform Uttar Pradesh was through transforming key sectors, including industry, agriculture, infrastructure, health and education.

"Upon constructive discussions, it has been decided that a Joint Working Group (JWG) will be set up with three members from NITI Aayog and three members from the state government.

"The JWG will prepare a road map and identify action points for the development of Uttar Pradesh within the next 15 days. Respective departments of the state government will then implement these action points," a NITI Aayog statement said.

During the meeting, Yogi Adityanath sought the cooperation of NITI Aayog and the Central Government and also asked for extension of the Bundelkhand package and special assistance in areas of the state where drinking water has been affected by arsenic and fluoride contamination.

NITI CEO Amitabh Kant made a presentation on where Uttar Pradesh stands today and what steps are needed to transform it.

"Pleasure making a presentation to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and his team... Cooperative federalism at its best!" Kant tweeted.

"Earlier, chief ministers used to come to the Planning Commission seeking funds and approvals. Now NITI Aayog goes to states to support and facilitate their growth," he said in the next tweet.

During the meeting, NITI Aayog Adviser Alok Kumar shared his views on maternal and child health and emphasised that "for India to move forward, Uttar Pradesh must improve".

Rural Development Secretary Amarjeet Sinha made a presentation on how to ensure poverty alleviation and rural housing in the state.

Another NITI Aayog Adviser-HRD Maninder Kaur Dwivedi talked about improving learning outcomes by enrolling and retaining children in schools.