Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the fifth governing council meeting of the Niti Aayog on Saturday said the goal to make India a 5-trillion dollar economy by 2024 is challenging, but achievable with the concerted efforts of all states.

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

Delivering the opening remarks, he said states should recognise their core competence, and work towards raising GDP targets right from the district level.

The Prime Minister said the export sector is an important element in the progress of developing countries, adding that both the centre and the states should work towards growth in exports to raise per capita incomes.

He also spoke about water conservation and management stating that the newly-created Jal Shakti Ministry will help provide an integrated approach to water. He said the aim is to provide piped water to every rural home by 2024.

On the health front, PM Modi said tuberculosis should be wiped out by 2025. He urged states that have not implemented the central government’s health insurance scheme to come on-board.

Speaking on structural reforms in agriculture, the PM said the Union Government’s commitment to double incomes of farmers by 2022 requires focus on fisheries, animal husbandry, horticulture, fruits and vegetables.

He said the benefits of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana and other farmer-centric schemes should reach beneficiaries within time.

The Prime Minister also urged the members of the Governing Council to help create a government setup which works and has the trust of the people.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Telangana’s K Chandrashekar Rao and Punjab’s Amarinder Singh are not attending the meeting.

The meeting is being held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Chief Ministers of all the states and Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Narendra Singh Tomar, Nitin Gadkari, Thaawar Chand Gehlot and Piyush Goyal are present at the meeting.

This is the first governing council meeting under the new Modi government.

Last week, the PM had approved the reconstitution of NITI Aayog with Home Minister Amit Shah as an ex-officio member.

Headed by the Prime Minister, the governing council meets regularly, and its first meeting took place on February 8, 2015.

The second meeting of council on July 15, 2015, reviewed the progress made by the three sub-groups of chief ministers and the two task forces.

In the third meeting of the council on April 23, 2017, Modi had pitched for conducting simultaneous elections of the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies and shifting to a January-December fiscal year.

The fourth meeting of the council on June 17, 2018, deliberated upon measures taken to double farmers’ income and the progress of government’s flagship schemes.

The NITI Aayog has been mandated with fostering cooperative federalism through structured support initiatives and mechanisms with the states on a continuous basis, recognising that strong states make a strong nation on the principles of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwaas”.

It seeks to design and assist the implementation of strategic, long-term policy frameworks and programme initiatives besides monitoring their progress and efficacy.