NITI Aayog's task force on agri may finalise report by Aug 31

The task force on agriculture headed by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya is likely to finalise its report by August 31, the government informed Parliament today.
"The report is likely to be finalised by August 31, 2015 after seeking the inputs and recommendations of the states," Minister of State for Planning Rao Inderjit Singh said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.
The task force was constituted on March 16, 2015 in NITI Aayog. It held an expert consultation on March 31 followed by its first meeting on April 6, he said.
A consultancy meeting was held with farmers in late April while the third meeting held in early June to deliberate on the issues of organic farming, GM (genetically modified) crops and hybrids with NGOs, farmers' representatives and experts, he said.

Singh said the concept paper was prepared on the basis of discussions of first meeting of NITI task force and circulated to all states/union territories.
"Most of the states have constituted their task forces but only six states -- Telangana, Odisha, Maharashtra, Kerala, Meghalaya and Himachal Pradesh -- could provide their report so far," said the Minister.

Among others, a task force on Elimination of Poverty was also constituted in March under Panagariya. So far, three meetings were held of this task force and the Aayog has received confirmation from 17 states regarding the constitution of state-level task force.
He said NITI Aayog has prepared a concept note which has been circulated to all states and union territories for their views.

States have been requested to send their reports so that a final report may be prepared by NITI Aayog, he added.
Besides, a task force on creation of institutional arrangement in each state for faster completion of important projects has been formed.
Among others, NITI Aayog has also formed a Sub-Group of Chief Ministers on Rationalisation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Skill Development and Swachh Bharat Mission.