J&K to set up its own think tank on lines of NITI Aayog
The Jammu and Kashmir will be setting up a state-level public policy think tank on the lines of Niti Aayog to help the government set priorities and lay out policies to achieve rapid development across sectors. The body will be called the Jammu and Kashmir State Institute for Transformation(JKSIT).
This commission will also give its suggestions to the union territory administration in the preparation of plans for the overall development of the state on the basis of the geographical, socio-economic conditions of Jammu and Kashmir, involving the concerned parties and implementation of the plans.
The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) serves as a think tank of the government, which provides relevant strategic and technical advice on key policy matters.
Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta has been holding online meetings with the concerned heads of departments and experts regarding the formation of JKSIT. A team of NITI Aayog is also going to visit Jammu and Kashmir in near future to assist the state government in formation of JKSIT.
The UT administration a couple of days back also appointed Director (Coordination) in the department of Health and Medical Education, Dr. Yashpal Sharma has been named as the nodal officer.
The Officer, as per the government communiqué, will coordinate with the NITI Aayog and Development and Monitoring Department of J&K and heads of concerned departments, other stakeholders, non-governmental organisations and knowledge partners to chalk out the indicators and activities on “policy matters and other development activities.”
Think tank to be formed in Jammu and Kashmir on the lines of NITI Aayog, will work in the same manner as NITI Aayog does at the national level. “We are in constant dialogue and contact with the experts of NITI Aayog”, said Dr. Yash.
As per senior official the central government has asked all the states and union territories to form an organization like NITI Aayog with the idea of turning the country into a developed nation by 2047. The Center wants to achieve the target of making the country a five trillion economy by the year 2026.
The proposed think tank in Jammu and Kashmir will work in coordination with government and private stakeholders, government-non-government institutions, all government departments, Central NITI Aayog and civil society. The think tank will advise the government on policy matters to ensure holistic, coordinated and inclusive development of Jammu and Kashmir. It will work on increasing the use of information technology and technology.
Special attention will be given to agriculture and allied sectors, health, nutrition, education, skills and innovation, urban development and housing, land administration, finance, tourism, sports, energy, environment and wildlife protection, industry, information technology. There will also be a point of law and order in this. Drone technology, Internet of Things, cloud computing, cyber security, robotics and geographic information systems will also be part of it.
