NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi will chair the fifth meeting of the Niti Aayog’s Governing Council on Saturday which will focus on issues like the drought situation, farm distress, rain-water harvesting and preparedness for Kharif crops.
The agenda before the Fifth Council Meeting include rain-water harvesting, drought situation and relief measures, aspirational districts programme, transforming agriculture, and security related issues with specific focus on Left Wing Extremism districts.
Union Ministers of Defense, Home, Finance and Agriculture will attend the meeting as ex-officio members. The Governing Council presents a platform to discuss inter-sectoral, inter-departmental and federal issues in order to accelerate the implementation of the national development agenda, in the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, however, has refused to attend the meeting, saying it is “fruitless” as the Niti Aayog has no financial powers to support state plans.
Headed by the Prime Minister, the Governing Council includes ministers of Finance, Home, Defence, Agriculture, Commerce and Rural Development, besides state chief ministers and Niti Aayog vice chairman, CEO and members.
The Governing Council reviews the action taken on the agenda items of the previous meeting and deliberates upon the future developmental priorities.