As Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged states to work with the Centre as ‘Team India’ to realise the goal of a developed India by 2047, several non-BJP Chief Ministers on Saturday used the NITI Aayog’s 10th Governing Council meeting to voice pressing concerns ranging from the equitable share of central taxes to inter-state water disputes.
The meeting, held under the theme ‘Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat@2047’, was notably skipped by the Chief Ministers of Kerala, Karnataka, Puducherry and West Bengal. However, their counterparts from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand were present and forthright in their appeals.
Tamil Nadu seeks withheld education funds
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin demanded the immediate release of ₹2,200 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), which he said was withheld due to the state’s refusal to sign an MoU linked to the Union government’s ‘PM Shri’ scheme.
“Particularly, nearly Rs 2,200 crore of Union funds have been denied to Tamil Nadu in the year 2024-2025. This affects the education of children studying in government schools and children studying under the Right to Education Act (RTE). Therefore, I urge you to release this fund without delay and without insisting on unilateral conditions,” said Stalin.
He further remarked, “It is not ideal for the cooperative federal structure that states should be given funds after a legal battle. This will affect the development of the state and nation, as well.”
Stalin also pressed for increasing the state’s share in central taxes to 50 per cent and called for a dedicated urban transformation mission for Tamil Nadu.
Telangana proposes metro-focused task force
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, attending a NITI Aayog meeting for the first time in years, underscored the significance of equitable development.
“The progress of the nation is intrinsically linked to the progress of each of its constituent units. It is, therefore, imperative that we support, catalyse, and harness the potential of rapidly advancing states, while simultaneously extending all necessary assistance to those that are still catching up,” he said.
He proposed the formation of a national task force, headed by the Prime Minister, comprising Chief Ministers of the six largest metropolitan cities — Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad — to unlock their economic potential.
Punjab flags water-sharing bias
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann brought attention to the ongoing water-sharing disputes with Haryana, criticising the Centre’s deployment of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at the Bhakra Nangal dam.
According to an official release, Mann said, “Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers are already in deficit and water should be diverted from surplus to deficit basins.”
Also read: At Niti Aayog meet, TN CM seeks 50 pc share in central taxes
He demanded the construction of the Yamuna-Sutlej-Link (YSL) canal and added, “Punjab has repeatedly requested to be included in negotiations for the allocation of the Yamuna's water.” He also alleged bias by the Bhakra Beas Management Board and said Punjab had been generous in sharing its water resources despite relying heavily on groundwater for agriculture.
Andhra Pradesh calls for policy sub-groups
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, whose party is aligned with the BJP, suggested forming three Centre-state sub-groups focusing on GDP growth, population management, and Artificial Intelligence.
According to a TDP statement, “The first sub-group on GDP growth aims to boost investments, manufacturing, exports and job creation, supported by Central viability gap funding for PPP projects.”
He also recommended a population management sub-group to capitalise on India’s demographic dividend, and another to explore AI’s transformative potential.
Hill states need special attention: Himachal
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu highlighted the unique development needs of hilly states and demanded the release of pending funds.
“If the long-pending dues were released by the Centre well in time, Himachal Pradesh will itself become self-reliant,” he said, urging flexibility in scheme eligibility criteria for hill regions.
Jharkhand demands land reform in mining sector
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren called for reforms in the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act to mandate the return of land to the state after mining.
“The land acquired by mining companies, which falls under non-payment of land compensation, has led to an outstanding debt of Rs 1,40,435 crore to the state government. This amount should be disbursed at the earliest,” Soren said.
He further suggested that mining firms be required to establish captive power plants, utilising 30 per cent of energy output within the state, which would also promote local employment.
While several states laid out specific demands, Prime Minister Modi emphasised unity and cooperation. He said, “Team India is not just a phrase — it is the basis of our approach. The Centre and states must work together to build a developed India.”
The NITI Aayog meet, the first since Operation Sindoor, served as a reminder of both the promise and challenge of cooperative federalism as India charts its course towards 2047.
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