SRINAGAR: NITI Aayog Member Dr M. Srinivas and a delegation of senior officials on Wednesday met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and discussed key development priorities and strategies for accelerating socio-economic growth in Jammu and Kashmir.
The delegation presented an assessment of the Union Territory’s development landscape, highlighting achievements, sectoral gaps and potential interventions across human resource development, economic opportunities and infrastructure sectors.
According to officials, the discussions focused on improving Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) and learning outcomes in school education, strengthening industry-academia linkages and enhancing employment opportunities through higher education. The NITI Aayog team also reviewed healthcare indicators, appreciating the expansion of medical education facilities while highlighting concerns related to the growing burden of metabolic and non-communicable diseases.
In the agriculture sector, emphasis was laid on reducing post-harvest losses, strengthening cold-chain and processing infrastructure, improving livestock services and developing stronger value chains and market linkages.
The delegation suggested measures to boost economic growth and employment generation through industrial clusters, strengthening micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), employment-intensive manufacturing, improved logistics and export infrastructure, green mobility and a stronger start-up ecosystem.
Issues related to sustainable urban development, including water security, sewage treatment and expansion of public transport, were also discussed.
Tourism development featured prominently in the deliberations, with focus on improving last-mile connectivity and visitor amenities and promoting border, eco, rural, homestay and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism.
The NITI Aayog team also highlighted the need for timely completion of connectivity projects, improved water conservation and irrigation infrastructure, and greater utilisation of renewable energy through decentralised solar power and the PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
The Lieutenant Governor highlighted ongoing development initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir and said the administration, in coordination with the Central government, was working towards infrastructure development, improved public services, investment promotion and inclusive growth.
Sinha suggested that NITI Aayog undertake a focused study on improving the ecological sustainability of Dal Lake and examine factors responsible for delays in major infrastructure projects, besides land acquisition issues, to facilitate timely implementation.
Dr Srinivas assured continued support from NITI Aayog in facilitating policy interventions and promoting coordination with relevant ministries to address developmental challenges in the Union Territory.
The delegation included Senior Adviser Anurag Goyal, Economic Adviser Subhash Chandra Meena, Deputy Adviser Dr Muniraju S.B., Officer on Special Duty (Health) Dr Shobith and Atal Innovation Mission Innovation Lead Sumaiya Yousuf.
