SRINAGAR, AUGUST 26: NITI Aayog Member Dr. M. Srinivas, accompanied by a team of senior officials, called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Lok Bhavan, Srinagar, and discussed key development priorities and measures to accelerate Jammu and Kashmir’s socio-economic growth.
The delegation included Senior Adviser Anurag Goyal, Economic Adviser Subhash Chandra Meena, Deputy Adviser Dr. Muniraju S.B., OSD (Health) Dr. Shobith and Innovation Lead, Atal Innovation Mission, Sumaiya Yousuf.
During the meeting, the NITI Aayog team presented a comprehensive assessment of J&K’s development landscape, covering human resources development, creation of economic opportunities and infrastructure development.
The assessment highlighted the need to improve the Gross Enrolment Ratio and learning outcomes in school education, strengthen industry-academia linkages and expand employment opportunities in higher education. While noting improved opportunities in medical education, Dr. Srinivas flagged the rising burden of metabolic and non-communicable diseases in the UT.
In agriculture and allied sectors, the delegation stressed reducing post-harvest losses, strengthening cold-chain and processing infrastructure, improving livestock services, developing value chains and establishing stronger market linkages.
To accelerate economic growth and employment generation, NITI Aayog suggested greater focus on industrial clusters, MSMEs, employment-intensive manufacturing, logistics and export infrastructure, green mobility, and the start-up and innovation ecosystem.
The assessment also covered sustainable urban development, including water security, sewage treatment and expansion of public transport.
Tourism was another key area of discussion, with emphasis on last-mile connectivity and visitor amenities and promotion of border, eco, rural, homestay and MICE tourism. The delegation also stressed timely completion of connectivity projects, improved water conservation and irrigation infrastructure and greater utilisation of renewable energy, including decentralised solar power and the PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
The Lieutenant Governor appreciated the sectoral assessment and outlined the development initiatives undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years. He said the Government of India and the UT Administration were working towards the vision of “Viksit Jammu Kashmir”, with emphasis on infrastructure, public service delivery, employment, investment and inclusive development.
Sinha suggested that NITI Aayog undertake a focused assessment of measures required to improve the ecological sustainability of Dal Lake.
He also called for an examination of factors, beyond land acquisition, contributing to delays in major development and infrastructure projects in J&K, and sought recommendations on institutional, administrative and implementation measures to ensure their timely completion.
Dr. Srinivas assured the Lieutenant Governor that NITI Aayog would continue working with the J&K Administration and relevant Union ministries to facilitate policy interventions, promote inter-sectoral convergence and address identified challenges.
The meeting emphasised a coordinated and outcome-oriented approach to harnessing J&K’s development potential and advancing its journey towards Viksit Jammu Kashmir and Viksit Bharat @2047.
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