Zonal councils acting as catalyst in financial inclusion, policy making: Shah
Sunday, 08 October 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Union Home minister Amit Shah has said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi the role of zonal councils has changed from that of an advisory body to an action platform. He said Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh which are part of the Central Zonal Council have a major role in the GDP and development of the country. Shah was delivering the presidential address of the 24th Central Zonal Council (CZC) meeting at Narendranagar on Saturday. He said that the zonal councils are acting as catalysts in financial inclusion and policy changes.
The Home minister directed the member states of CZC to focus on the dropout rate of the school children and malnutrition. In the meeting it was decided that the Kodo and Kutki (millets) will be purchased at the MSP equal to the Ragi. Shah said that the government has decided to procure 100 per cent pulses, maize and oilseeds produced by farmers at MSP.
In his address, the Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that 71 per cent area of the State is covered with forests and in view of tough geographical conditions, the cost of development of facilities and creation of essential services is higher than in other States. He added that environmental restrictions also act as an impediment in the developmental projects. Dhami said that despite these restraints the State government has succeeded in ensuring a per capita income which is double than the national average.
He suggested that efforts should be made to scientifically link the glacial fed rivers with the seasonal rivers. Dhami said that Uttarakhand and the entire country will benefit from such linkages.
Dhami said that infrastructural facilities are needed to be strengthened in the border areas of the state. He said that all weather road needs to be extended to the border areas and opined that the Tanakpur- Bageshwar rail line will be strategically important for the country. He said being a disaster prone State Uttarakhand needs to have a powerful weather forecasting system equipped with Doppler radar.
Dhami said that the State government is consistently working in the direction of increasing banking facilities, mobile connectivity and providing electricity in the rural areas. He said that the Union government should help in this endeavour.
