5.58 ndian onom
(the document quotes the idea of ‘Antodaya’ structure of the niti
as articulted by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay).
The Aayog will be a lean organisation, modelled as
Development is incomplete and meaningless, if it
a network of expertise, focusing on functionality,
does not reach the farthest individual. “Nothing
flexibility and domain knowledge, with the
is more dreadfully painful than poverty” (the
following ‘structure’ and ‘mechnaism’:
centuries old sage-poet Tiruvallur has been
quoted). (i) Chairman: the Prime Minister of India
(de-facto).
Inclusion: To empower vulnerable and
marginalised sections, redressing identity-based (ii) Governing Council: will comprise the
inequalities of all kinds—gender, region, religion, Chief Ministers of all states and Lt.
caste or class—the document quoted from Sankar Governors of union territories.
Dev—“to see every being as equivalent to one’s (iii) Regional Councils: will be formed to
own soul is the supreme means (of attaining address specific issues and contingencies
deliverance)”. Weaker sections must be enabled impacting more than one state or region.
to be masters of their own fate, having equal Strategy and planning in the Aayog will be
influence over the choices the nation makes. anchored from state-level; with regional
Village: To integrate our villages into the councils convened by the Prime Minister
development process, to draw on the vitality and for identified priority domains, put under
energy of the bedrock of our ethos, culture and the joint leadership of related sub-groups
sustenance. of states (grouped around commonalities
which could be geographic, economic,
Demographic Dividend: To harness our greatest
social or otherwise) and central ministries.
asset, the people of India, by focussing on their
The regional councils will have the
development, through education and skilling, and
following features:
their empowerment, through productive livelihood
opportunities. (a) Will have specified tenures, with
the mandate to evolve strategy and
People’s Participation: To transform the
oversee implementation.
developmental process into a people-driven one,
making an awakened and participative citizenry— (b) Will be jointly headed by one of
the driver of good governance. This includes the group Chief Ministers (on a
our extended Indian family of the non-resident rotational basis or otherwise) and a
Indian community spread across the world, corresponding Central Minister.
whose significant geo-economic and geo-political (c) Will include the sectoral central
strength must be harnessed. ministers and secretaries concerned, as
Governance: To nurture an open, transparent, well as state ministers and secretaries.
accountable, pro-active and purposeful style of (d) Will be linked with corresponding
governance, transitioning focus from Outlay to domain experts and academic
Output to Outcome. institutions.
Sustainability: Maintain sustainability at the (e) Will have a dedicated support cell in
core of our planning and developmental process, the Aayog’s secretariat.
building on our ancient tradition of respect for the (iv) Special Invitees: It will have experts,
environment. specialists and practitioners with relevant