Himachal asks Niti Aayog for a Hill Division

Shimla:Himachal Pradesh has advocated the need for setting up a Hill Division for all hill states of the country at the NITI Aayog’s maiden meeting with all states Sunday

“The proposed NITI Aayog could act as a permanent secretariat for this regional council,” chief minister Virbhadra Singh said.

Himachal has demanded that hill and special category states should be provided special package of incentives to attract industries so that the ‘Make in India’ programme does not remain confined to a few industrially advanced states.

The state has also urged for liberal funding to protect the handicrafts sector .

Himachal Pradesh has also suggested to the Niti Aayog the need for skill up gradation of the youth to prepare a skilled manpower in the industrial sector which was expanding fast.