Amit Shah to Chair 27th Western Zonal Council Meeting in Pune
Pune, 21st February 2025: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah will preside over the 27th meeting of the Western Zonal Council in Pune on Saturday. The council, which includes Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra, and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, will convene under the Maharashtra government’s leadership. The event is being organized by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs in coordination with the state government.
The meeting will be attended by the Chief Ministers of member states, the Administrator of the Union Territories, and two senior ministers from each state. Additionally, key officials, including Chief Secretaries, advisors, senior officers from state governments, and representatives from the central government, such as the Union Home Secretary and the Secretary of the Inter-State Council, will participate in the discussions.
Purpose of the Zonal Councils
The Zonal Councils were established in 1957 under the States Reorganization Act of 1956 to foster coordination among states and the central government. Each of the five Zonal Councils is chaired by the Union Home Minister, while the Chief Ministers of member states take turns serving as vice-chairpersons. The councils also include two additional ministers from each state, nominated by their respective governors. To facilitate ongoing coordination, each council has a Standing Committee led by the Chief Secretaries of the member states.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently emphasized the importance of cooperative and competitive federalism in driving national development. “Strong states create a strong nation,” he has stated, highlighting the role of Zonal Councils in promoting intergovernmental cooperation through structured discussions and problem-solving mechanisms.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also underscored the Modi government’s shift in approach, transforming the Zonal Councils from advisory bodies into platforms for actionable resolutions. “These councils now serve as an effective forum for dispute resolution and collaboration between states and the Centre,” he said.
Key Agenda Points
The Western Zonal Council meeting will address various inter-state and state-Centre issues, focusing on governance, law enforcement, and infrastructure development. Discussions will include:
Strengthening the investigation and prosecution of crimes against women and children, including the implementation of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs).
Expanding financial services through banks and India Post Payment Bank branches to ensure accessibility within a 5-km radius of every village.
Enhancing emergency response mechanisms through the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112).
Addressing regional challenges in infrastructure, mining, environmental protection, and forest conservation.
Reviewing food security measures and other key policy implementations at the regional level.
Additionally, national issues will be discussed, including power sector management, urban planning, strategies to combat child malnutrition under POSHAN Abhiyan, reducing school dropout rates, integrating government hospitals into Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, and strengthening Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).
The Zonal Councils have played a crucial role in fostering regional cooperation and resolving interstate concerns. With the Western Zonal Council meeting set to address critical governance challenges, it is expected to pave the way for enhanced policy implementation and collaboration between states and the central government.
