Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the second National Conference of Chief Secretaries in Delhi.
Since the last conference in June 2022, the country has achieved many development milestones, including the G20 presidency, becoming the fifth biggest economy in the world, the rapid registration of new startups, the venture into space by private companies, the launch of the National Logistics Policy, and the approval of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, among others. States and the center should work together and accelerate progress, he said.
To build a developed India, the Prime Minister said, the country is focusing on four pillars: infrastructure, investment, innovation, and inclusion. He said the entire world is putting its trust in India today, and we are being looked up for our ability to stabilize the global supply chain. Taking full advantage of this will be possible only if states take the lead, focus on quality, and take decisions with an India-first mindset. State governments should focus on pro-development governance, ease of doing business, ease of living, and robust infrastructure.
During the launch of the Aspirational Block Programme, the Prime Minister emphasized the success achieved in various Aspirational Districts across the country. The Aspirational District model should now be expanded to the block level with the Aspirational Block Programme. In the meeting, he asked the officials to implement the Aspirational Block Programme in their respective states.
According to the Prime Minister, states must act proactively towards formalizing MSMEs. To make these MSMEs globally competitive, he said, we must provide them with finance, technology, market access, and skilling. He also discussed bringing more MSMEs on board the GeM portal. MSMEs should be made global champions and part of the global value chain, he said. Asked about the success of the cluster approach to MSMEs development, the Prime Minister said that linkages between MSME clusters and self-help groups can be explored as a way to promote local products and register GI tags for them, associating them with the initiative ‘one district, one product, adding that it will strengthen the call for localization. States should identify their best local products and help them reach national and international prominence. Here, he also cited the example of Ekta Mall at the Statue of Unity.
Overregulation and restrictions once burdened the country, and reforms were implemented to end thousands of compliances at the state and federal levels. Also, he spoke of the need to end old laws that have persisted since independence.
Prime Minister said that today self-certification, deemed approvals, and standardization of forms are necessary because different government departments keep asking for the same documents. Also discussed was PM GatiShakti National Masterplan and how the country is improving its physical and social infrastructure. The importance of having a secure technology infrastructure for the seamless delivery of essential services was also discussed. States should adopt a strong cyber security strategy, he said, adding that this investment is like an insurance policy. He also discussed cybersecurity audit management and crisis management plans.
The Prime Minister also discussed the development of coastal areas in the country. He said the country’s expansive Exclusive Economic Zone is filled with resources and offers tremendous opportunities. The circular economy needs to be made more aware, he said.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of involving common citizens in the preparations for G20 meetings in the states. ‘Citizen Connect’ should be achieved through creative solutions, he said. He also advised the establishment of a dedicated team for preparations related to G20. Prime Minister also cautioned the states on the challenges posed by drugs, international crimes, terrorism and disinformation originating in foreign soil.
The Prime Minister discussed the need to enhance the capacity of the bureaucracy and the launch of Mission Karmayogi. The state government should also review its training infrastructure and launch capacity-building programs, he said.
For the conference of Chief Secretaries, more than 1 lakh 15 thousand man hours have been invested by about 4000 officers at various levels. In addition to these efforts, he asked states to develop and implement action plans based on the suggestions made at the conference. In this regard, NITI Aayog should also develop healthy competition between states.
*News Source: PIB India*