Modi, while calling upon NITI Aayog, directed to create a vision document that would chart a roadmap for India’s development for the next 15 years, and also lay the foundation for the country’s growth over the next decades of the 21st century.
At the meet, the PM also asked Niti Aayog to outline the flaws of the erstwhile Planning Commission from the time of its inception in 1938.
Interacting with members of the NITI Aayog, Modi said, “The time for incremental change, that was the norm across the world for quite some time, is now over. The current age is one that requires transformational change.”
Highlighting the importance of technology as an emerging driver of change over the last three decades, and asserting that this pace of change would not slacken, Modi said, “Main prayog karne wala insane hun aur mujme prayog karne ki himmat hai (I’m open to experiments and I have the courage to deliver it).” He pointed out that, historically, Indian policy-makers had tended to lament its constraints rather than play to its strengths.
Laying out the broad contours of country’s development path, Modi said that judicious and intelligent application of India’s natural resources and human resources would be at the heart of this change. Giving several illustrations of this theme, he mentioned use of available land, the country’s mineral wealth, and vast untapped solar energy potential.
Talking about human resource development, Modi said that focused skill development is vital, as India has the potential to fulfil the global requirement of human resources in the future.
“We have to create opportunities rather than employment,” Modi said during his above half-an-hour speech. The PM also stressed on partnership with states for promoting development and boosting exports is not just an element of cooperative federalism, but also the need of the hour.
Turning to agriculture, the PM said that the focus cannot be on increasing agricultural productivity alone, but should be on the overall development of a vibrant rural economy.
Modi also said that technology will continue to be a key driver of economic growth and instrument for poverty elimination in the country.
“India has not succeeded in making the best and efficient use of the natural resources such as solar energy, and there is need to make an exhaustive list of untapped natural resources and the potential of which that can be fully exploited,” the PM said.
Listing out policy initiatives of Aayog, its vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya said, “The Ayog has taken several major policy making initiatives in the last 18 months such as closure of sick CPSUs, strategic disinvestment of other CPSUs, reformation of Medical Council of India, UGC reforms, revitalisation of NGOs portal, post-metric scholarship for SC students, etc.”