Chennai, October 2023: In the 24th meeting of the Central Zonal Council chaired by ShriAmit Shah, the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation. He underscored the collective responsibility in addressing malnutrition among children. Shah stressed that this issue demands sensitivity and prompt action. The meeting served as a platform to deliberate on strategies and policies to effectively combat this pervasive problem.
Furthermore, he urged member states to prioritize areas such as cooperation, reducing the school drop-out rate, and called for collective responsibility to resolve this too.
Addressing the assembly, ShriAmit Shah highlighted the evolution of Zonal Councils under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He emphasized that these councils have transitioned from advisory platforms to active mechanisms for policy implementation.
The states in the Central Zonal Council, including Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Chhattisgarh, have made significant contributions to the nation’s GDP and overall development. These states play pivotal roles in agriculture, animal husbandry, food grain production, mining, water supply, and tourism.
ShriAmit Shah reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on cooperative federalism. He noted that ZonalCouncils have played a crucial role in solving problems, enhancing financial inclusion, and driving policy changes. The states within the Central Zonal Council have successfully implemented the concept of “Team India” at the grassroots level.
To substantiate this, comparison between Congress and BJP regime sheds light on this. Between 2004 and 2014, a total of 570 issues were discussed in Zonal Council meetings, with 448 being resolved. From 2014 to 2023, a total of 1315 issues were discussed, with 1157 being successfully resolved, indicating the efficacy of these deliberations.
Also, during the meeting, a resolution was unanimously passed, congratulating Indian athletes for their exceptional performance in the Asian Games, securing more than 100 medals for the first time. The Central Zonal Council also commended the successful achievements of Chandrayaan-3, the well-organized G20 Summit, and the historic passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill by Parliament.
The Union Home Minister announced a significant step towards fulfilling the Prime Minister’s vision of ensuring prosperity for farmers. NAFED will now procure pulses, oilseeds, and maize from farmers across the country at Minimum Support Price (MSP). Further, discussions were held regarding the inclusion of lac production in the KisanCredit Card and Crop Insurance Scheme. This move is expected to benefit farmers engaged in lac production.
The meeting was attended by Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, ShriPushkar Singh Dhami, and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, ShriShivraj Singh Chouhan, participated via video conferencing.
Also present were Home Minister of Chhattisgarh, ShriTamradhwajSahu, Union Home Secretary, Secretary of Inter State Council Secretariat, Chief Secretaries of member states, as well as senior officials from state governments and central ministries and departments.
The meeting underscored the pivotal role of Zonal Councils in catalysing development and policy implementation across member states. It demonstrated the Modi government’s commitment to cooperative federalism and proactive measures in addressing critical issues.
