STATE SUPPORT MISSION (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Governance)

Context: Recently, NITI Aayog organized a National Workshop on "Strengthening Mental Health Services and Care in India," as part of an initiative under the State Support Mission (SSM).

State Support Mission

• Launch: In July, NITI Aayog initiated a State Support Mission aimed at assisting states in the formulation of development strategies.
• Strategic Institutions: Under the mission, NITI Aayog will aid states in establishing Strategic Institutions Teams (SITs) or facilitating the overhaul of planning departments.
• Initial Target and Expansion Plans: The initial objective is to have 8-10 states establish such bodies, with a broader plan to extend support to all states by March 2023.
• Establishment of Mitra: In alignment with NITI Aayog's approach, the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (Mitra) was established as part of this initiative.
• Recognition of State Contributions to GDP Growth: Acknowledging that national GDP growth relies heavily on individual states, except in specific sectors, the initiative emphasizes the significance of state-specific growth rates.
• Role and Functions of Strategic Institutions Teams (SITs): SITs will play a pivotal role in crafting development strategies for states, reshaping state planning boards, formulating policy blueprints, and monitoring and evaluating government policies and programs.
• Encouraging Lateral Entry of Professionals: To enhance the analytical capacity and policy recommendations, the initiative encourages the lateral entry of professionals into SITs, fostering high-quality work and innovative policy suggestions.