Government charts roadmap for NITI Aayog's Vision 2030

BHUBANESWAR: THE State Government on Wednesday  initiated the process for formulation  of a long-term vision document with a focus on sustainable development to end poverty. National Institution  for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, which has kick-started the process to prepare a 15-year vision document in tandem with  global trends and economic growth, has urged all Chief Ministers to share their views on where they would want  to see their respective State and the country by 2030.

A high level meeting chaired by  Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi decided to constitute subject specific thematic groups to set the vision in each targeted area. “The ‘Vision 2030’ will be coterminous with the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) sustainable development goals. A seven-year National Development Agenda will be  prepared which will lay down programmes, schemes and strategies to achieve the long-term vision,” the Chief Secretary said.

Besides, a three-year action plan from 2017-18 to 2019-20 will be prepared  nd synced with the 14th Fin a n c e C o m m i s s i o n recommendations. Around 17 focus areas like poverty  eradication, sustainable production and consumption, health and well being, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable clean energy,  social peace and justice, development of partnerships, climate change action, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation, infrastructure, sustainable cities and communities  were identified to be included in the vision document. These goals were clustered to seven  broad categories and as many thematic working groups were constituted to look in to these clusters.

The working groups will develop the roadmap for implementation of sustainable development goals (SDG) in the State. Experts from various fields will be  involved in the process to bring in innovative perspectives. It was decided that a credible professional agency having considerable experience in Odisha will be picked up as the technical partner for the purpose.  “The thematic working groups have been asked to submit their suggestions within two months which will be sent to State  Government for consideration before onward transmission to NITI Aayog,” Padhi said. Development Commissioner R  Balakrishnan suggested that the proposed Vision 2030 should align with the State Vision Document-2036.  Planning and Convergence Department will be the nodal department for this exercise. SDG cells will be set up in each department by first week of July, official sources said.