AMARAVATI: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday wrote a letter to NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar requesting postponement of the Niti Aayog Governing Council meeting from June 17 to June 18.
Welcoming the decision to hold the forth NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting, Naidu citing Ramzan festival on June 16 and Eid Milap on June 17 sought postponement of the meeting to June 18.
In his letter, Naidu said Ramzan is a big festival for Muslims and he need to be present in Amaravati as people in large numbers will visit him on the festive occasion.
The Chief Minister requested the Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman to postpone the meeting either to June 18 or at least to June 17 evening.
It may be recalled here that the meeting, which was initially scheduled to be held on June 16, was postponed to June 17 after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee making it clear that she would not attend the meet on June 16, on the occasion of Ramzan. And now, Naidu, citing Eid Milap, is seeking the postponement of the meet by another day.
Meeting agenda
Ahead of the NITI Aayog meeting, the Chief Minister discussed the agenda items and details on fund appropriation to be put forth during the meeting in New Delhi.
The Chief Minister directed the officials to prepare detailed reports on issues such as bifurcation and implications, Centrally-funded schemes and benefit to the State and details on districts receiving special assistance through government schemes.
Naidu discussed the methods to increase agricultural income, marketing strategies for agricultural produce and asked the officials to prepare a report on the funds the State yet to get from the Centre with regard to agricultural sector.
Naidu also sought details on implementation and beneficiaries under the Centrally-funded health schemes like Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, Rashtriya Poshan Mission and Indradhanush.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also welcomed suggestions from the officials over the programmes to be carried out in the State on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.