NITI Aayog Has Not Played Much Expected Role of Facilitator, Says CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said NITI Aayog had failed to perform its expected role of a facilitator in the last four years and not been able to substitute the erstwhile Planning Commission.

He was addressing a governing council meeting of NITI Aayog here.

Mr. Vijayan said doing away with the Five Year Plans meant the State governments had lost the grants that it used to get as Plan assistance and the States were now bearing a higher share of 40% instead of the earlier average of 25% for many Centrally sponsored schemes.

“I hope that my colleague Chief Ministers would agree with me that NITI Aayog in the present form has not played the much expected role of a facilitator in the last four years. There is a growing realisation that it is perhaps not a substitute for the erstwhile Planning Commission,” he said.