Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh today made a strong plea for setting up a "Permanent Regional Council and creation of a separate Hill Division for Hilly and Special Category States" to meet people's aspirations.
Participating in the maiden meeting of Governing Council of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog in New Delhi today, Singh said that it would make NITI Aayog more relevant in the present perspective and help in safeguarding the interests and meeting the developmental aspirations of hill states with difficult topography, an official release here said.
He also suggested that the proposed Hill Division in the NITI Aayog could act as a permanent secretariat for this Regional Council.
Expressing his views on various agenda items, Chief Minister suggested that there should also be the representation from the States by rotation in the Executive Body of the NITI Aayog, irrespective of political party in the power in the States.
He also stressed that the resource allocation for financing the Annual Plans in the shape of Special Central Assistance and Special Plan Assistance should continue to flow to the Hill States, keeping in view the peculiar challenges prevailing in these States.
Singh also suggested that the process of consultation between the Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog and Chief Ministers as well as between the CEO of NITI Aayog and Chief Secretaries should continue for finalisation of Annual Plans.
Projecting his vision on developmental priorities particularly on creation of job opportunities and inclusive growth, the CM apprised that Himachal Pradesh has already launched various ambitious programmes and incentives for imparting vocational training to the youth in the State.
Skill upgradation of youth should be given top priority in order to increase the employability and also to fulfill the needs of skilled manpower in the industrial sector, he added.
Stressing the need for creating enabling environment for industries, Singh said that a definite mechanism should be evolved to clear projects in time-bound manner and apprised that the state has already started clearance to projects through a single window system.
