Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired the fifth meeting of the Governing Council of Niti Aayog at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi.

PM Modi in his opening address said that the goal is to make India a five-trillion-dollar economy by 2024. He also said that the goal is challenging but achievable.

“Goal to make India a 5-trillion-dollar economy by 2024, is challenging, but achievable, with the concerted efforts of States,” PM Modi said.

He also said that the Niti Aayog has a key role to play in fulfilling the mantra of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas”.

“We shall collectively fight against poverty, unemployment, drought, flood, pollution, corruption and violence,” PM Modi said.

The prime minister also said, “We are now moving towards a governance system characterized by performance, transparency and delivery.”

PM Modi said that everyone at Niti Aayog has a common goal of achieving a New India by 2022.

PM Modi described Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and PM Awaas Yojana as illustrations of what the Centre and the States can accomplish together.

The prime minister said that empowerment, and ease of living, have to be provided to each and every Indian.

He said the goals that have been set for the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, should be accomplished by October 2, and work should begin in earnest towards the goals for 2022, the 75th anniversary of independence.

PM Modi also stressed that the focus should be on collective responsibility for achieving short term and long term goals.

Amid several parts of the country facing drought-like situation, PM Modi called for effective steps to tackle it by adopting ‘per-drop, more-crop’ strategy.

PM Modi said that the newly created Jal Shakti Ministry will help provide an integrated approach to water and states can also integrate various efforts towards water conservation and management.