Dehradun: NITI Aayog Member Dr. M. Srinivas and his team, currently on a visit to Uttarakhand, held a review meeting with senior state government officials at the Secretariat on Wednesday to discuss development, healthcare, and economic progress. Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan welcomed the delegation and held detailed discussions on the state’s development journey and future priorities.
Principal Secretary R. Meenakshi Sundaram presented the state’s development progress, while NITI Aayog Adviser and Programme Director Dr. Sonia Pant shared key achievements and Uttarakhand’s economic profile.
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan said that since its formation, Uttarakhand has made remarkable progress in economic development, infrastructure, education, healthcare, electricity, roads, tourism, and social development. He highlighted that the state secured the top position in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2023–24 and has also made significant improvements in ease of doing business and citizen-friendly governance.
He noted that providing affordable, quality healthcare in remote mountainous areas remains a major challenge. He sought NITI Aayog’s technical support in addressing malnutrition among women and children, expanding telemedicine, strengthening emergency healthcare, capacity building, and health research. He also proposed involving AIIMS and other premier institutions as knowledge partners.
Dr. M. Srinivas appreciated Uttarakhand’s progress but emphasized the need for further improvements in health outcomes and Sustainable Development Goals. He called for stronger efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality, improve institutional deliveries and tuberculosis treatment, strengthen primary healthcare, trauma and emergency services, and expand the AYUSH-based healthcare system.
Senior officials from the state government and NITI Aayog attended the meeting.
