The Mahabharata and other ancient scriptures emphasise the importance of preserving nature and the environment in order to ensure the well–being of the people and the nation. NITI Aayog aims to facilitate and foster this fundamental requirement of sustainability, based on the principles of conservation, and of using renewable resources judiciously.
Overview
NITI Aayog is an apex body which was constituted by the Government of India in 2015 to replace the erstwhile Planning Commission. It is a policy–making think tank of the Government of India, which is guided by the vision of inclusive, equitable and sustainable development. It is committed to the five guiding principles of Antyodaya, Inclusion, Village, Demographic Dividend, People‘s Participation, Governance and Sustainability.
Antyodaya
NITI Aayog is committed to the principle of Antyodaya, which was enunciated by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, who said that development is incomplete and of no use, unless it reaches the farthest individual. Poverty is the most painful form of deprivation, and NITI Aayog will prioritize service and upliftment of the poor, disadvantaged and downtrodden, in order to reduce poverty and inequality.
Inclusion
NITI Aayog is also committed to the principle of Inclusion, which involves empowering vulnerable and marginalized sections, to resolve identity–based inequalities of all kinds, such as gender, region, religion, caste or class. This will enable them to have equal influence over the choices the nation makes.
Village
NITI Aayog will integrate villages into the development process, to draw on the vitality and energy of the bedrock of our ethos, culture and sustenance. This will help to improve the quality of life in villages, and ensure that the benefits of development reach the farthest corners of the country.
Demographic Dividend
NITI Aayog is committed to utilising India‘s greatest resource, its people, by concentrating on their progress, by providing education and skills, and their empowerment, through productive livelihood opportunities. This will help to create an educated, skilled and empowered workforce, which will in turn be beneficial for the nation‘s economy.
People’s Participation
NITI Aayog will make the developmental process a people–driven one, creating an awakened and participative citizenry, which will be the driver of good governance. It will also include the Non Resident Indian community, whose significant geo–economic and geo–political strength must be harnessed.
Governance
NITI Aayog will nurture an open, transparent, accountable, pro–active and purposeful style of governance, transitioning focus from Outlay to Output to Outcome. It will facilitate and empower good governance, which is people–centric, participative, collaborative, transparent and policy–driven, and will provide critical directional and strategic input to the development process, focussing on deliverables and outcomes.
Sustainability
NITI Aayog is committed to keeping the factor of sustainability at the centre of planning and developmental process, building on our ancient tradition of respect for the environment. It will foster sustainability, based on the principles of conservation, and of using renewable resources judiciously.
Summary
NITI Aayog is committed to the vision of inclusive, equitable and sustainable development, and is guided by the principles of Antyodaya, Inclusion, Village, Demographic Dividend, People‘s Participation, Governance and Sustainability. It will prioritize service and upliftment of the poor, disadvantaged and downtrodden, empower vulnerable and marginalized sections, integrate villages into the development process, utilize India‘s people, make the developmental process a people–driven one, nurture an open, transparent, accountable, pro–active and purposeful style of governance, and maintain sustainability at the core of our planning and developmental process.
