NITI Aayog meet: Growth of India lies in growth of states, says Chandrasekhar Rao

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday pitched for more autonomy for states in sectors like agriculture, health, education, urban and rural development and said the Centre should focus on challenges faced by the country in the areas of external affairs, defence macro-economic and global issues.

Addressing the Niti Aayog’s 4th Governing Council meeting held in New Delhi on Sunday, Mr Rao stated that the growth of India lies in the growth of its states and fast-growing states must be encouraged by tax incentives.

He wanted the Centre to remove the rigidness of certain Centrally-sponsored schemes that curtail the initiatives of the state government.

In his seven-minute speech, the Chief Minister listed various farmer-friendly initiatives implemented by the Telangana state government including Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bhima Yojana and purification of land records. “The fast-growing states must be encouraged by tax incentives, if not by additional transfers from central funds,” Mr Rao explained.