PM to hold meeting with Niti Aayog on 15-yr vision document

New Delhi, Jul 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on July 28 hold a meeting with the Niti Aayog to take stock of the progress made on the 15-year vision document and also share his views on the development strategy with the government's think tank.

"The Prime Minister is scheduled to chair a meeting of the Niti Aayog on Thursday on the vision document, where the Aayog will make a presentation to him on the progress so far. The PM will also share his views on the document," a senior government official said.

The premier policy making body has been entrusted to prepare a 15-year vision document beginning 2017-18 fiscal, which will replace the Nehruvian five-year planning system followed for over six decades. "Before this, Niti Aayog will tomorrow hold consultations with the Chief Secretaries of the states to discuss the vision, strategy and action plan documents," he added.

States are required to be roped in because they would also work on their 15-year vision, which will eventually help the Centre to prepare its roadmap for development in the country, the official said. Apart from focusing on sectors such as infrastructure, commerce, education and health, the vision document will also cover internal security and defence, which were not part of the earlier five year plans. The vision document is expected to be finalised by the year-end.

An official privy to the development said: "The plan is to complete the work on the vision document by December before the general budget. This is the terminal year of the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17). Therefore, the feeling is that the next budget must be guided by this document." Besides the vision, the Aayog would be ready with seven-year strategy and three-year action plan on the basis of which funds allocations will be made in the budget.

PTI