Evaluating the Functions and Responsibilities of NITI Aayog vis-a-vis its predecessor the Planning Commission as well as the Central Finance Commission and the GST Council.
Late Manohar Parrikar as chief minister of Goa upon assuming office for the first time desired to know from the officers as to the consequence of not participating in the Annual Plan (approval) discussions conducted by the erstwhile Planning Commision!
Would the (Gadgil-Mukherjee) formula based Normal Central Assistance admissible to Goa be denied to it? Would it stand to gain anything extra and in a substantial measure at that if it participates in the exercise? The answer to both the questions was a clear 'no' then and during the subsequent years as well.
Twenty years down the line there has been a sea change in the situation and in the equation. Even though the NITI Aayog may not have any power of approval or sanction of largesse to a state, yet the "boycott" of a meeting of the GC may have umpteen consequences for it!
However, it would not be as if on the issues concerning them, the boycotting states have not furnished their official (written) response to the items identified in the agenda for the meeting. It is only that the Chief Minister chose not to participate.
In a true spirit of real cooperative federalism, therefore, would it not be incumbent on the part of NITI Aayog to accommodate the symbolic "boycott" in good faith as well? 😊
Late Manohar Parrikar as chief minister of Goa upon assuming office for the first time desired to know from the officers as to the consequence of not participating in the Annual Plan (approval) discussions conducted by the erstwhile Planning Commision!
Would the (Gadgil-Mukherjee) formula based Normal Central Assistance admissible to Goa be denied to it? Would it stand to gain anything extra and in a substantial measure at that if it participates in the exercise? The answer to both the questions was a clear 'no' then and during the subsequent years as well.
Twenty years down the line there has been a sea change in the situation and in the equation. Even though the NITI Aayog may not have any power of approval or sanction of largesse to a state, yet the "boycott" of a meeting of the GC may have umpteen consequences for it!
However, it would not be as if on the issues concerning them, the boycotting states have not furnished their official (written) response to the items identified in the agenda for the meeting. It is only that the Chief Minister chose not to participate.
In a true spirit of real cooperative federalism, therefore, would it not be incumbent on the part of NITI Aayog to accommodate the symbolic "boycott" in good faith as well? 😊
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