Aim: $5 trillion Economy
New Delhi: Return from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit late on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled his vision for the Indian economy at the Niti Aayog's meeting held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday.
Modi said he wants India to be a 5-trillion-dollar economy by 2024, which is also the time by when he will complete his second term in office. "Goal to make India a 5-trillion-dollar economy by 2024, is challenging, but achievable, with the concerted efforts of states," he said.
Stressing the role of the Aayog, the Prime Minister said the body will play a key role in fulfilling the mantra of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas'. He also pointed out to his MPs that they must work for all, not merely those who voted for the BJP.
Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who is involved in a bitter tussle with the BJP in Bengal, and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who is reported to be busy due to inauguration of Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project, did not attend the meeting. Punjab CM Amarinder Singh too did not attend the meeting. He is reportedly unwell.
Modi spoke of waging a collective fight against poverty, unemployment, drought, flood, pollution, corruption and violence etc.
The Prime Minister said that everyone at this platform has a common goal of achieving a New India by 2022. He described Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and PM Awaas Yojana as illustrations of what the Centre and the States can accomplish together.
Noting that the export sector is an important element in the progress of developing countries, he said both the Centre and the States should work towards growth in exports, in order to raise per capita incomes.
He said there is immense untapped export potential in several States, including the North Eastern States. He said a thrust on export promotion at the State level will provide a boost to both income and employment. The Prime Minister called for effective steps to tackle drought.
He said that the spirit of per-drop, more-crop needs to be promoted. Reiterating the Union government's commitment to double incomes of farmers by 2022, he said this requires focus on fisheries, animal husbandry, horticulture, fruits and vegetables.
On the health sector, the Prime Minister said that several targets have to kept in mind, to be achieved by 2022. He also mentioned the target of eliminating tuberculosis by 2025.
Meanwhile, ahead of the meeting of the Niti Aayog, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Chief Ministers of states ruled by the Congress and its allies at the Congress headquarters.