The Jammu and Kashmir Government proposed to set up NITI Aayog-like body to frame long-term policies and programmes pertaining to development and planning and various other issues concerning the Union Territory. The new body will act as handholding for NITI Aayog.
“The concept for establishment of NITI Aayog-like body is OK. It has been approved in principle. How it will be implemented and what would be the mechanism is being worked out by the Government in consultations with concerned departments of Jammu and Kashmir and NITI Aayog,” official sources told the Excelsior.
They said the NITI Aayog members recently met the top officials of the UT Government and they will again be visiting here shortly for more discussions on framework of the body. The Aayog could become a reality early next year as its composition and tasks have to be formally approved by the J&K Government in consultations with the NITI Aayog.
“The Aayog in Jammu and Kashmir will be replica of NITI Aayog. It will be instrumental in long term planning, development and related works which are undertaken by the NITI Aayog at the national level,” the sources said.
It would have experts from various fields of national institutions including IIT, IIM, Agriculture University, Higher Education, Finance, Planning and other fields concerning the Aayog’s mandate. Experts can be from Jammu and Kashmir as well as from national level.
The Aayog is likely to have 8-10 members, the sources said.
All Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) above Rs 500 crore are sent to NITI Aayog for clearance. The UT-level Aayog will take up such projects with NITI Aayog.
However, as per the sources, finalization of annual budget of the Union Territory will remain in domain of the Finance Department in consultations with other departments and will be approved by the UT Government when there is an elected Assembly. Till the Assembly elections are held, the budget will continue to be tabled in the Parliament by the Union Finance Ministry.
Pointing out that some other States have also set up NITI Aayog like bodies to deal with their long-term needs of planning and development, sources said the feedback from those States is that experiment has been successful there and, therefore, Jammu and Kashmir is also going ahead with setting up of the body.
In the current financial year i.e. 2022-23 annual budget, Jammu and Kashmir was allocated Rs 1,12,950 crore and this was for the second straight time that the UT budget had crossed Rs one lakh crore. For next fiscal year of 2023-24, Jammu and Kashmir is expecting significant increase in the budget.
Jammu and Kashmir administration has conducted series of meetings with almost all departments to ascertain their requirements for the next year’s budget. Some of the major requirements will be incorporated in the budget. More such meetings could be held depending upon the budgetary needs.
During last three-four years, Jammu and Kashmir has been getting hefty grants in the budget as well as other Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) and Prime Minister’s Development Plan (PMDP) leading to acceleration of developmental works including major projects.
Besides Jammu and Kashmir has also received good funding in National Highways, major roads, tunnels, water supply schemes and other projects with a view to improve road connectivity including in the rural areas.
Allocations under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes and PMDP for next financial year of 2023-24 will also be reflected in the budget.
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