Niti Aayog to prepare a new framework for holistic growth

The meeting which will be attended by chief ministers of different states will be addressed, among others, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is, in addition, the chairman of the plan body.

A new strategy has to be formulated because the five-year plan has been reduced to three-year plan which was launched on the first of this month.

The Council is likely to stress on higher growth in agriculture sector to achieve the government's objective of doubling income of farmers by the year 2022. It hopes to reach this target mainly by improving infrastructural facilities and offering better prices for their produces.

Farm output may be doubled by bringing additional 18.5 lakh hectares under double crops and creating additional irrigational facilities .

Supply of additional quality seeds and better use of fertilisers are the additional requirements. The government may decide, at the meeting, ways and means to meet this end.

The opposition, however, sees the change of plan period from a different angle. Most of medium-term schemes under the new three-year framework will be either completed or nearing completion in next two years.

This, according to rivals, will give a talking point to the government on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections in the country. Thus, it will be an advantage BJP which will go to the next parliamentary polls.

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