Non-BJP states seek Niti Aayog-like body for revamping planning boards

After states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the NITI Aayog has received requests from other states as well for setting up of State Institution for Transformation (SIT), a NITI-like body, to reinvent their planning boards and drive inclusive growth.

“We have received requests from the state government of Rajasthan, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, etc for setting up of SITs to prepare their development strategies,” a NITI Aayog official said, seeking anonymity.

In July, the federal think tank started the work under its state support mission to assist five state governments — Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Maharashtra — in preparing their development strategies. The Maharashtra government recently formed the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA) on the lines of NITI Aayog.

Under the mission, NITI Aayog is supporting states to set up SITs, or facilitate the government to recast the role of planning departments.

“The State Support Mission has been conceived in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call for making India Viksit Bharat (developed country) by 2047,” said the NITI Aayog official.

“There has also been growing demand from the states seeking support from the NITI Aayog to prepare development strategies, state’s vision document for 2047. NITI Aayog with its mandate to actualise cooperative federalism has decided to play a lead role in bringing the states to work towards this National Development Agenda,” he added.

Health, education, and infrastructure development are sectors for which state governments are responsible. There is a need for the state governments to plan better to meet the growing demand and ensure ease of doing business. “We are providing assistance to state governments to re-imagine the role of their planning departments. We have identified knowledge partners such as IITs, IIMs, etc., in states to provide the SIT necessary assistance,” said the official.

The SITs can play a crucial role in bringing various stakeholders, private sector, and experts in addressing important state specific issues.