Amit Shah To Chair 25th Central Zonal Council Meet In Varanasi Tomorrow
New Delhi:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair on Tuesday the 25th meeting of the Central Zonal Council in Varanasi where a host of issues concerning the nation and the states are expected to be discussed.
The meeting will be attended by the chief ministers of member states along with two senior ministers from each state, an official statement said. The chief secretaries of states and other senior officials, as well as senior officials from the Centre, will also participate in the meeting.
The central zonal council comprises Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
The zonal council meeting normally discusses broad issues of national importance, including the speedy investigation of cases of sexual offences against women and children and the implementation of fast-track special courts for their swift disposal and providing brick-and-mortar banking facilities within the designated area of every village, among others, the statement said.
Implementation of the Emergency Response Support System and various regional-level issues of common interest such as strengthening nutrition, education, health, electricity, urban planning, and the cooperative system are also discussed at the meeting.
This meeting is being organised by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh government.
Five zonal councils were established under Sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. The Union Home Minister is the chairperson of these councils, and the chief ministers/lieutenant governors/administrators of the member states and Union Territories are their members.
Among these members, the chief minister of one member state (rotating every year) acts as the vice-chairperson. From each member state, the governor nominates two ministers as members of the council.
Each zonal council has also formed a permanent committee at the level of chief secretaries.
Issues proposed by the states are initially presented to the permanent committee of the zonal council concerned for discussion. After consideration by the permanent committee, the remaining issues are then presented to the zonal council meeting for further deliberation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised the need to leverage cooperative and competitive federalism for the all-round development of the country, the statement said.
With the belief that strong states make a strong nation, the zonal councils provide a structured mechanism for dialogue and discussion on issues affecting two or more states or the Centre and states. Through this, these serve as an important platform to enhance mutual cooperation.
The role of the zonal councils is advisory; however, over the past few years, these councils have proven to be an important factor in promoting healthy bonds of mutual understanding and cooperation in various fields.
With the cooperation of all state governments, central ministries, and departments, a total of 61 meetings of the various zonal councils and their permanent committees have been held in the last 11 years.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
36 minutes ago
- India Gazette
Amit Shah arrives in Varanasi to chair 25th meeting of Central Zonal Council tomorrow
Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 23 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Varanasi on Monday evening, a day before he is scheduled to chair the 25th meeting of the Central Zonal Council on June 24. The meeting, organised by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, will bring together key policymakers from the central and state governments. The meeting will be attended by the Chief Ministers of the member states (Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh) and two senior ministers from each state. Upon arriving at the airport, Amit Shah was welcomed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and party leaders. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath welcomed Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The Central Zonal Council comprises the states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. The meeting is being organised by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh government. Under Sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, five Zonal Councils were established. The Union Home Minister is the chairperson of these five Zonal Councils, and the Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors and Administrators of the member states and Union Territories are their members. Among these members, the Chief Minister of one member state (rotating every year) acts as the vice-chairperson. From each member state, the governor nominates two ministers as council members. Each Zonal Council has also formed a permanent committee at the level of the Chief Secretaries. Issues proposed by the states are initially presented to the permanent committee of the concerned Zonal Council for discussion. After consideration by the permanent committee, the remaining issues are then presented to the Zonal Council meeting for further deliberation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised the need to leverage cooperative and competitive federalism for the country's all-around development. With the belief that strong states make a strong nation, the Zonal Councils provide a structured mechanism for dialogue and discussion on issues affecting two or more states or the Centre and states, and through this, serve as an important platform to enhance cooperation. The role of the Zonal Councils is advisory; however, over the past few years, these councils have proven to be an important factor in promoting healthy bonds of mutual understanding and cooperation in various fields. With the cooperation of all state governments, central ministries, and departments, a total of 61 meetings of the various Zonal Councils and their permanent committees have been held in the last eleven years. The Zonal Councils also discuss broad issues of national importance, including the speedy investigation of cases of sexual offenses against women and children and the implementation of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) for their swift disposal; providing brick-and-mortar banking facilities within the designated area of every village; implementation of the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112); and various regional-level common interest issues such as strengthening nutrition, education, health, electricity, urban planning, and the cooperative system. (ANI)
India Gazette
36 minutes ago
- India Gazette
Odisha: Dharmendra Pradhan seeks Manohar Lal's intervention for timely release of 15th Finance Commission grants to ULBs
New Delhi [India], June 23 (ANI): Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday met Housing and Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to seek his intervention on the timely release of 15th Finance Commission grants to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Sambalpur and Deogarh for the year 2024-25. According to an official release from Dharmendra Pradhan's office, 'Union Education Minister and Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Sambalpur Dharmendra Pradhan met Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal Khattar to seek his intervention towards ensuring timely release of 15th Finance Commission grants to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Sambalpur and Deogarh for the Financial Year 2024-25.' 'These funds are critical for carrying out essential developmental initiatives and completing a wide range of civic and infrastructure works, including improvement of roads, sanitation, urban beautification, health and wellness, among others in the region,' it said. It added that Pradhan also sought his cooperation for affordable housing projects, PM-SVANidhi, e-bus services and effective regional waste management mechanisms. Earlier in the day, Dharmendra Pradhan paid tribute to Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee on his 72nd death anniversary, remembering him as a visionary whose principles continue to shape the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the country. Highlighting Dr Mukherjee's role in advocating for a unified India, Pradhan reflected on his 1953 protest against dual systems in the country, which led to Mukherjee's brave entry into Jammu and Kashmir. 'For the BJP and the Jan Sangh, Syama Prasad Mukherjee was a visionary whose thoughts still guide the Bharatiya Janata Party and the country. Seventy-two years ago, in 1953, he raised an important issue while protesting that there cannot be two systems within one country. He believed that if India had two separate laws or systems, it could not truly be called united or independent. To prove his point, he risked his life and entered Jammu and Kashmir. That moment became a part of history,' Pradhan said. He further emphasised that it took 72 years to fulfil his sacrifice, with the historic abrogation of Article 370 by the government in 2019, a tribute to Mukherjee's enduring legacy. 'If we compare both dates, it took almost 72 years to fulfil Syama Prasad Mukherjee's sacrifice. It was the privilege of the Prime Minister to make his dream come true. On August 5th, 2019, the government made a historic decision to abrogate Article 370, honouring Dr Mukherjee's vision,' Pradhan said. Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta, BJP MPs from Delhi, Delhi assembly speaker Vijendra Gupta and other senior members of the Bhartiya Janata Party accompanied him. Syama Prasad Mookerjee was the founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the ideological parent organisation of the BJP. He also served as the Minister for Industry and Supply in Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet. (ANI)
India Gazette
36 minutes ago
- India Gazette
SC notice to states on plea of Wazahat Khan, complainant against influencer Sharmistha Panoli
New Delhi [India], June 23 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to Centre and certain states on a plea filed by Wazahat Khan, the man whose complaint led to the arrest of influencer Sharmistha Panoli, seeking clubbing of FIRs lodged against him across multiple states for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through his social media posts. A vacation bench of Justices KV Viswanathan and N Kotiswar Singh issued notices to the government of Assam, West Bengal, Delhi and Haryana and posted the matter for hearing on July 14. 'These hate speeches lead us nowhere,' said Justice Viswanathan to Khan's counsel. On request of Khan's counsel, the bench further ordered that as an interim measure till the next hearing date, no coercive action shall be taken against him for the FIRs registered or may be registered, which are similar. The bench noted that Khan was arrested in two cases registered in West Bengal and was in police custody in the FIR registered by the Golf Link Police Station, Kolkata, and was remanded to judicial custody in the other Bengal FIR. Justice Viswanathan invoked a saying that wounds inflicted by fire may heal, but not the wounds inflicted by the tongue. During the hearing, Khan's lawyer said that cases have been registered against him nationwide in retaliation for his complaint against the social media influencer Panoli. Khan is 'reaping as he has sown' but he has apologised for the tweet, after having 'learnt the lesson the hard way', said the counsel. Khan, whose complaint led to influencer Sharmistha Panoli's arrest on May 30, was himself arrested on June 9 in Kolkata's Amherst Street area. Multiple FIRs were filed against Khan, including one in Assam, for 'allegedly spreading hatred on social media and hurting religious sentiments,' according to Kolkata Police officials. Panoli had posted a video on social media and allegedly made communal comments after Operation Sindoor, after the Pahalgam attack, which left at least 26 people dead in Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)
