25.5.21

Goa gives go ahead for setting up government think-tank

The state government has approved the constitution of the Goa Institution for Future Transformation, along the lines of Niti Aayog, to assist, advise and guide it in policy making and formulation under the chairmanship of the chief minister.

While the institute will monitor and guide the government towards achieving its sustainable development goals and Vision 2030, it will also work at doubling the per capita income by 2025.

“Overall, the institution will work with a ‘vision prosperity’ for Goa,” a senior officer said, adding that GIFT will function as an independent body.

Former chief minister Manohar Parrikar in his budget speech 2017-18 had stated that “with the disbanding of the planning commission at the national level, I propose to close the state planning board from the forthcoming financial year. Alternative mechanisms will be announced in due course of time.” Accordingly, the state planning board was disbanded with effect from April 1, 2017.

Chief minister Pramod Sawant in his budget speech 2019-2020 had announced that the “government will established state institution for transforming Goa on the lines of Niti Aayog, which will function as an autonomous body to assist, advice and guide the state government in policy making and formulation, implementation, monitoring of the sustainable development goals and evaluation of various development plans/programmes/schemes. It will also serve as a knowledge hub to the state in replicating best practices which are suited for the sustainable development of the state.”

Accordingly, in order to create appropriate institutional mechanisms to address issues pertaining to the government, a committee under the chairmanship of the chief secretary, Goa with eight members was established for the formation of the proposed GIFT.

The financial implication involved in constituting the institution is around Rs 2.5 crore per annum.

GIFT will be constituted on the lines of NITI Aayog and will coordinate and conduct techno-feasibility and viability studies and advise the state government on critical issues such as sick industries in the state, eco-friendly non-polluting industries, industrial and infrastructure development inline with ‘Make in Goa’ and take up development issues within the state for management as also development of inland rivers.

It will function as a one-stop solution provider, a knowledge and innovation hub for leveraging expertise and for analysing and suggesting improvements in financial management. GIFT will suggest necessary amendments with course corrections measures to deliver results on the basis of knowledge, measurement, monitoring and evaluation and innovation.

The institute will identify and explore opportunities in different sectors and areas for investment. It would also consist of a flexible number of teams organised on sector lines in order to deal with specific concerns, issues and problems of important sectors of the economy.

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