Bhubaneswar: NITI Aayog should develop a repository of innovations drawn from the country and across the world and help replicate it, suggested Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Attending NITI Aayog's sixth governing council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on virtual mode today, he said that the futuristic technologies, new world economy, solutions for climate change and inclusive governance models are some areas that can be focused on to take the country forward instead of emphasizing the critical issues.

"Many critical issues are being raised in the NITI Aayog deliberations and excellent suggestions are also being made. It would be appropriate for NITI Aayog to share an action taken report to everyone concerned. This will make our deliberations more meaningful and action oriented," Patnaik said.

He sought for re-evaluation of pattern of the prestigious and highly sought-after examinations like UPSC, NEET and JEE.

"Should not we have exams that focus on equality and attracting merit as opposed to exam patterns that are heavily dependent on highly paid coaching classes. This will truly eliminate merit in the long run and deny justice to lakhs of our children who live in rural areas and don’t have physical or economic access to coaching classes. NITI Aayog should look into this very serious issue or else in a few years’ there will be serious
distortions," the CM said.

Patnaik raised his voice for inclusion of proposals of different States relating to tribal communities in the ST list that have been pending since 1978.

"Many of them are subsets on phonetic variations of the names of existing ST communities. It is unjust to keep these pending for years without a decision.

In view of present political scenario in the country, Odisha CM suggested that the governments need to work for people beyond party line.

"Elections are an essential feature of democracy. However, the Hallmark of a mature democracy is that once elected, Government are meant to work for people, beyond party line."

He expressed his views on the current trend of politics in the country where every crime is being politicised, every action of an elected government is being seen from a political angle.

"This kind of an atmosphere is one of the biggest threats to the pace of development and peace in the country. Its high time the country gets out of this election mode and allows elected governments to function," the CM said at the meeting.

On the proposed women's reservation bill, he said that the national parties had promised it both in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. The History will not forgive the parties if they renege on this commitment.

If the country has to really move forward, regions which are neglected and populations that are vulnerable have to be taken along. Committed and targeted action is needed for that.

As NITI Aayog has a major role to play to work for people, Patnaik opined that the Commission need to focus on specific sections like malnutrition, connectivity and sex ratio imbalances etc.